Do You Need to Refinance Your Home Loan?

The number of people refinancing their home loans has steadily increased over the past few decades. With interest rates at an all time low and with better competitive deals on offer, more customers are looking to refinance their home loan to secure:

>> A lower interest rate

>> Saving money by reducing your loan repayments

>> A more flexible home loan product which offers redraw facilities and an offset account

>> A reduction in the time of their home loan

>> Access to the equity in their home loan to enable them to renovate their home, buy a new car or even build a swimming pool

Change in Circumstances

Change is inevitable and you may now find your situation has changed to the extent you are now looking at refinancing, as a result of any of the following circumstances:

>> You may want to invest in another property

>> You have a new baby, or another baby is due

>> You may want to consolidate your credit card and personal loan debts, or

>> Your current interest rate is locked-in above the market value

Performing an Annual “Financial Health Check” of your Finances is Important!

Regardless of your situation, it is always advisable to perform an annual “Financial Health Check” on your home loan and personal finances. As you would ask yourself some questions when you are feeling unwell, you should look at your finances in the same way and ask yourself the following questions to ascertain if your finances are in order:

>> Is your existing lender/credit provider meeting your needs?

>> Should you fix your home loan to create certainty around your monthly repayments?

>> Would you prefer a “combination” of both fixed and variable interest rates?

>> Does your current home loan product have all the features you need such as, redraw facilities and an offset account?

>> Will you save money by refinancing?

>> What will be the impact of any costs involved to refinancing your home loan?

>> Will you now better manage your personal and household budget by refinancing?

So, even if you don’t have any specific reasons in mind, it is always worth weighing up your options from time to time. Consider performing a “Financial Health Check” of your personal finances and household budget. The “Financial Health Check” will at least enable you to determine if you have a legitimate reason for refinancing and, if the long-term savings outweigh the short-term costs.

Refinancing can be very beneficial to you if done properly and if done for the right reasons. Remember to work out if you will be better off by switching to another lender/credit provider and if you will save money by switching.

Once you have determined that refinancing is right for your circumstances, you should seek expert advice from a professionally qualified finance broker. The finance broker should have access to interest rate comparisons and should be able to show you the long-term savings and confirm to you if these savings outweigh the short-term costs.

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