Refinancing a mortgage is something that many homeowners in Albuquerque do at some point. There are a wide range of reasons why a homeowner would want to refinance their mortgage. Yet along with the benefits of refinancing come some risks and costs. The question you need to ask is, if in your case, do the benefits outweigh those risks. Here's a list of pros and cons of refinancing to help you decide if it's the right decision for you.

Refinancing Pros

Free Up Money

If you replace your mortgage with a rate-and-term refinance at a lower rate, you will pay less each month. You could save anywhere from $75 to several hundred dollars a month.

Pay Off Your Home Faster

A loan with a lower interest rate and shorter term means you can pay your home off faster, especially if you go from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan. The down side of this is you may pay more per month, meaning you'll have less cash on hand.

Get Cash

Albuquerque homeowners who want to get money for remodeling or other important matters can get what's called a cash-out refinance. This is a loan that let's homeowners with at least 20% equity in their home refinance for a larger amount and get the difference in cash.

Lock in a Fixed Rate

If you have a loan with an adjustable rate and you want to lock it into a lower rate so that it doesn't rise, you can get a fixed-rate loan. The rate may be higher than what you have now, but it will not rise in the future, giving you more financial predictability.

Refinancing Cons

It Costs Money

Remember the fees you paid on your original mortgage? You will have tp pay them again for a refinance. This includes origination fees, an appraisal, title insurance, taxes and other fees. If you are refinancing to save monthly costs, you should calculate how long it will take to make up the difference between your monthly savings and the refinance costs.

Prepayment Penalty

You may have to pay your current lender extra to pay off the loan early. If that amount is too high, you might want to just stick with your current loan.

Total Costs Can Increase

The interest and fees over the life of a new 30-year loan can increase. This could also offset the advantage of refinancing.

Make sure to join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque.

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Albuquerque is more walkable than the average New Mexico city. It received a walk score of 43. It has a public transit score of 30. Where it shines is its bike friendliness. It has a bike score of 60, well above the national average of 50.This is aside from the many bike trails in the Sandia Hills.

The abundant outdoor recreational opportunities and service providers make it a great place to live, though it isn’t so popular that it is overloaded with tourists.