Loans are financial tools that can be your best ally but also your worst enemy, depending on how you behave towards your obligations. By taking a loan, you can afford something you don’t have enough money for and pay it off over time. Also, these deals can help you cope with some unexpected expenses and financial difficulties that may arise down the road.
As long as you pay off your obligations regularly, you’ll stay on top of your finances, and everything will be fine. But as soon as you start to fall behind on these payments or if unexpected expenses pop up, the first problems may arise.
That often happens when you have several lines of credit you pay off every month. You pay multiple installments and interests on different dates, so there’s a high chance of missing or skipping these deadlines.
To prevent this problem, you can visit https://besterefinansiering.no and consider debt consolidation by refinancing current loans with a single arrangement. And if you need extra cash, you can apply for more money than the current amount of your debts. In any case, refinancing can be a good decision if it really brings you certain benefits.
You Can Get a Lower Interest Rate
When you applied for a loan, you accepted the current interest rate and lending terms. Interest depends on market conditions, and it follows the global APR. When this parameter falls, now is the time to refinance the current loan, especially if you pay a fixed interest rate.
With the new arrangement, you can tie your payments to a new, lower rate, which is also fixed. Your new installment will be lower, so you’ll pay less interest during the loan lifetime. It’s an excellent way to save money in the long run,
If your current loan has a variable interest rate that moves along with global rates, you can also benefit from refinancing. You can look for a fixed financial arrangement to help you secure a new loan at a low interest rate. Switching to a fixed rate brings predictability because you’ll pay the same installments during the loan lifetime.
You Can Switch Rate Types
Financial arrangements with variable interest rates may initially be more favorable than those with fixed rates. However, those savings can be quickly overcome when the interest increases. That can significantly increase your loan installment, making it much more expensive than at the beginning. Switching the variable installment to a fixed one can be a good move, especially if it’s a longer-term loan.
There are also situations when replacing a fixed-rate loan with a variable can bring certain benefits. One of those is when you have a fixed-rate mortgage. In case you don’t plan to live in a house for a long time, you can refinance your mortgage when interest rates start to fall.
By taking advantage of this favorable market moment, you get a new loan with a variable interest rate. It goes down when the APR goes down. That way, you can cut the monthly installments, save money on interest, and don’t stress out what’ll happen during the mortgage repayment period (you will probably pay it off by selling the house).
You Can Save Money
In the case of long-term loans like a mortgage, there’s a good chance you’ll think about refinancing at some point. You will most likely do that when it’s a favorable moment to speed up the loan repayment without affecting the monthly payment too much. You can do that when the current global APR goes down, so you can apply for a refinancing loan with a fixed rate and a shorter repayment period.
It’s a big deal if you manage to replace a 30-year mortgage with a 15-year mortgage and a lower interest rate. It’s even better if you do this in the first couple of years of repayment. If you succeed in cutting the interest rate by one or two percent, it can slightly increase your monthly installment. But if you look at it in the long term, it can save you a significant amount of money that you would otherwise spend on interest.
You can also achieve savings if you refinance for debt consolidation (here you can see why’s that a good idea). Instead of several installments on different high-interest loans, which can be a significant burden on your budget, you will pay only one. Its installment will be way lower than all those you paid before.
Your Circumstances and Finances Have Changed
When you applied for a loan, you did so under the lending terms that prevailed at the time. It’s possible that your salary was lower, so you had to agree to a longer loan tenure to get lower monthly payments. Or you simply didn’t have enough credit history to get a more favorable loan.
After some time, you’ve got a raise or a better-paying job. In the meantime, you have built a solid credit history, so now you rank much better with lenders. You finally have a chance to apply for more favorable loans with a shorter repayment term, increase the monthly installment, and get rid of the debt as soon as possible.
On the other hand, it may happen that your life circumstances have changed for the worse. Maybe you lost your job or got a salary cut for some reason. These are situations when you are worried about whether you’ll be able to handle the current installments and interest. To prevent this situation, consider refinancing and opt for a longer repayment term and lower monthly installments that can bring much-needed relief.
Your Credit Score Got Better
Another situation when you can think about refinancing a loan is when your credit score has improved. Perhaps your income has increased recently, and you’ve become a regular payer and improved your credit ability. Or you finally paid off some old, high-interest debt, so your DTI dropped drastically.
Whatever you’ve done, responsible behavior toward finances will reflect on your credit score sooner or later. Eventually, it’ll make your standings as a borrower much better. With these new circumstances, you can apply for more favorable loan deals and use them to refinance your existing debts.
Depending on your financial goals, it will help you cut interest costs, reduce the burden on your monthly budget, or simply get debt-free as soon as possible.
When Refinancing Isn’t a Good Idea
The good thing about refinancing is that you can do it as many times as you want as long as it brings you the already-mentioned benefits. Also, you should do that only when you’re a creditworthy borrower with a sound credit score. But there are situations when refinancing isn’t a good idea.
One such situation is when your current loan carries high prepayment penalties. The savings from refinancing would most likely be waived by this cost. It would only extend the repayment period, and you’d pay more interest than if you’d stuck to the current financial arrangement.
In the case of most long-term loans, the rule applies that in the first years of repayment, most of your payments go toward the interest, while the principal is paid off minimally. Refinancing in that period makes no sense because the new loan would be almost the same as the current one, plus additional interest fees on this new arrangement.
Calculating a break-even point can be a good guideline on when to refinance and whether it’s worth the cost. If you can reach it fast, you should go with refinancing.
Refinancing allows you to switch your current loan or a few to a new, more favorable deal. It’s a good move as long as it brings you savings, allows you to pay off debt faster, or doesn’t stretch your budget. If you can enjoy these benefits, you should find a reliable lender and a suitable refinancing deal.
