Refinancing a mortgage loan is one of the options that most people take when they are in danger of foreclosure. This procedure, in its simplest terms, is like trading in your old first mortgage for a new first mortgage, making it easier for you to pay your debts.
This process may sound easy, but it's not. You might even think that you can save a few pennies by doing it yourself. However, this is not something we'll definitely encourage you to do. Usually, what we'll recommend is for you to hire lawyers who know the process better than you. For instance, here are some questions that your lawyers can answer for you that you wouldn't know yourself.
Inadequate equity
The most common problem that a lot of people have is that they don't have enough equity. This term is important, as it measures your loan-to-value, or LTV ration. Usually, homeowners who encounter these problems have experienced refinancing their original mortgage to take out cash, bought their homes without giving any down payment, got an interest-only or payment-option mortgage, or had their own property that lost a lot of its value.
The LTV ratio that most lenders set is around 80 percent, though they can adjust it from time to time.
Solution: Principal Reduction
Most mortgage lawyers say that the best strategy to change this problem is to lower the loan amount, so the LTV will fall within the guidelines. This can be done through lump-sum payments and gradual reduction of principal. A lump sum can be applied in many ways, such as savings or retirement account, sale of another asset, income tax refund or bonus.
According to some lawyers, if you apply $300 - $500 to your principal for some time, you may be able to increase your chances of lowering your principal and also the interest that's charged on your outstanding principal.
And if you have a second loan and your lender does not want to subordinate, then you might try to combine both of your loans into just one new loan. This is more possible if you obtained both of these loans through the same lender as part of your purchase-money financing. However, expect stricter guidelines than the conventional rate and term refinancing, because your status be considered a cash out already.
Refinancing a mortgage loan is not easy. But if you ask the advice of lawyers who have the expertise and knowledge to guide you in the process, then you can be assured of a better chance of success.
