Refinancing is simple. With our home refinance calculator, we’re sure our tool can help kickstart your home buying journey! If you need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us!
Complete our application and a loan specialist will review and contact you.
There are numerous reasons customers refinance the loans they already have. Some of these are:
If you haven’t tried our home refinance calculator above, go ahead and do so! Our home refinance calculator makes comparing your current loan with other refinancing options super easy!
There are numerous reasons customers refinance the loans they already have. Some of these are:
If you haven’t tried our home refinance calculator above, go ahead and do so! Our home refinance calculator makes comparing your current loan with other refinancing options super easy!
Interest-only loans are not for everyone, and because of the risks, the pros and cons of an interest-only loan should be considered thoroughly. If you prefer lower payments, borrowers on an interest-only loan make only monthly payments of interest for a set number of years before they begin to make principal payments. During this period, you won’t build any additional equity in your home unless the home appreciates in value.
When the interest-only period ends, your mortgage payment will increase to include principal to ensure the outstanding balance gets repaid. This increase is often substantial. If you are comfortable with managing the risks, an interest-only loan does provide some flexibility in managing month-to-month cash flow.
The interest-only feature is not offered on all loan products and is only available to those who are well qualified, so contact one of our Home Loan Originators to see if this option is right for you.
Interest-only loans are not for everyone, and because of the risks, the pros and cons of an interest-only loan should be considered thoroughly. If you prefer lower payments, borrowers on an interest-only loan make only monthly payments of interest for a set number of years before they begin to make principal payments. During this period, you won’t build any additional equity in your home unless the home appreciates in value. When the interest-only period ends, your mortgage payment will increase to include principal to ensure the outstanding balance gets repaid. This increase is often substantial. If you are comfortable with managing the risks, an interest-only loan does provide some flexibility in managing month-to-month cash flow.
The interest-only feature is not offered on all loan products and is only available to those who are well qualified, so contact one of our Home Loan Originators to see if this option is right for you.
An appraisal is a type of valuation developed by an independent, unbiased, qualified, and licensed or certified professional. Appraisals and valuations are opinions of the market value for the property used as collateral for the requested loan. Written reports of appraisals are sometimes referred to simply as “appraisals.”
In almost all situations, a home appraisal will be needed. The appraisal helps a lender determine the fair market value of the home you will mortgage with your refinancing. Since the property will be used as collateral against the mortgage, lenders want to make sure the house is worth at least as much as the loan being requested.
Market value is the likely selling price of a home with a willing buyer and a willing seller on the open market.
Will Be Provided A Copy Of The Appraisal?
Lenders are required to provide applicants with all completed appraisals and written valuations related to their first-lien mortgage and home equity loan and line applications.
A comparable sale is a property that has recently sold and is similar to the subject property in most respects, including size, location and amenities. The selection of comparable sales is an important determining factor in providing an opinion of market value.
It is the appraiser’s responsibility to adequately research the local real estate market and to determine which comparable sales best represent the value characteristics of the subject property. Compare your current loan with other refinancing options with our home refinance calculator!
On a refinance, funds are normally disbursed on the fourth business day after you sign your loan documents. This is because federal regulations require a three-day rescission period. That means you have three business days to change your mind and cancel your loan outright.
Take a look at your options and availability to see if you can refinance with our home refinance calculator!
Points, also known as discount points or mortgage points, are a one-time fee that you can choose to pay to get a lower interest rate. One point equals one percent of your loan amount and will usually result in a rate that is one-eighth to one-quarter of a percent lower. If you’re looking to calculate your points and fees for refinancing, our home refinance calculator can help!
The interest rate is the cost to actually borrow the money disbursed in the loan. In addition to the interest, the APR (annual percentage rate) adds in some of the upfront refinance costs of getting the loan, including points and lender fees.
When you make your mortgage payment on the first of the month, you are actually paying for interest charges that accumulated during the previous month (also called “paying in arrears”). For example, a mortgage payment due on August 1 would cover the interest charged from July 1 to July 31.
As the name indicates, “pre-paid” interest is paid in advance. It is the per diem interest charges that begin accumulating on the day your loan is closed until the end of the month in which the closing occurred. In a refinance transaction, pre-paid interest is calculated from the time the new loan is funded because of the three-day rescission period.
So, for example, if your loan closed and funded on June 15, the pre-paid interest would be calculated based on the number of days left in the month of June, or 15 days (June 16 through June 30).
Using this same scenario, your first monthly mortgage payment would be due on August 1. The August 1 payment would cover interest charges that occurred between July 1 and July 31 (covering the days after the pre-paid interest period ended).
Closing costs include items like title insurance fees, attorney fees, pre-paid interest and documentation fees – to name a few. These items vary for each customer due to differences in the type of mortgage, the property location and other factors. You’ll receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining your closing costs when you formally apply for your mortgage. You’ll also receive a HUD-1 Settlement Statement before closing that will list all of the costs, credits and fees needed to complete the mortgage refinance. It’s similar to the Good Faith Estimate however the costs have been finalized at that point.
When you refinance, you can pay the fees out of pocket or sometimes roll them into the loan amount. If you have the cash on hand, then consider paying the costs out of pocket. This will keep your monthly payment lower. If you roll the fees into the loan amount, this will increase your monthly payment, but the increase is usually nominal.
Principal & Interest
With most mortgages, your monthly mortgage payment will include amounts that go toward loan principal and interest. For an interest-only mortgage, monthly payments will include only the interest that is due on the outstanding principal balance until the interest-only period ends.
Mortgage Insurance (MI)
If your home loan requires mortgage insurance, such as private mortgage insurance or PMI, your monthly payment will usually include a mortgage insurance premium.
Real Estate Taxes and Insurance
Your monthly payment may include a portion to cover real estate taxes, homeowners’ insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance. This money will be held in an escrow account, and we’ll pay your real estate tax and insurance bills on your behalf when they are due. Remember, no matter the type of mortgage you have, you can always make additional payments toward the principal without a penalty. That will help you pay off your loan more quickly. If you would like an estimate on your tax rate, try out our home refinance calculator for an accurate measurement!
If you’re refinancing a first mortgage, and have less than 20% equity in your home, mortgage insurance, such as private mortgage insurance or PMI, is usually required. The mortgage insurance premium is typically included in your monthly mortgage payment.
LTV stands for loan-to-value. It’s used to determine how much you are eligible to borrow and whether mortgage insurance, such as PMI, will be required. It’s also one of the factors used in determining your interest rate.
It equals:
When you first apply for a loan, give your best guess as to your home’s value. A good starting point for determining your home’s value is by looking at your most recent tax assessment. Or you can also talk to a Home Loan Originator about other methods of figuring out the value. However, we will verify the market value of your home as part of the application process.
Interest you pay on a loan that is secured by your primary residence may very well be tax deductible. Consult with a tax advisor to find out whether the mortgage interest will be tax deductible in your situation.
When reviewing your application information, an underwriter examines three main factors to assess whether you qualify for the loan:
This is an important question when asking yourself, “Should I refinance my mortgage?” There are many factors that impact what interest rate you will be offered – from daily changes in the market to individual qualifying. There’s no way to say what your exact interest rate will be until your application is completed, but we will give you our best estimate based on preliminary factors. Your final interest rate will be influenced by where the market is when you apply as well as factors such as the loan purpose (purchase or refinance), your credit history (FICO score), your home’s value and the loan amount, to name a few.
If your credit score is high you may receive better rates and have more options available to you. But simply having some credit issues in the past won’t necessarily disqualify you from refinancing. However, your credit history needs to demonstrate both willingness and ability to repay on time.
If your credit score is high you may receive better rates and have more options available to you. But simply having some credit issues in the past won’t necessarily disqualify you from refinancing. However, your credit history needs to demonstrate both willingness and ability to repay on time.
Typically, bills paid out of an escrow account will be for real estate taxes and required insurance premiums, which may include homeowners insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance and/or private mortgage insurance. Escrow accounts usually do not cover funds for interim bills, homeowner association fees, non-required insurance, special or added tax assessments, supplemental tax bills or any type of non-real-estate-based taxes unless they are included on real estate tax bills.
We typically estimate the real estate tax portion of your escrow based on the most recent tax assessment on the property and your homeowner’s insurance based on information provided by your insurance company. We may also use the escrow information from your previous mortgage.
The amount we collect each month may change based on increases and decreases to your real estate taxes and/or insurance premiums. We’ll review your escrow account at least once a year, then we’ll notify you of any changes to your required escrow payment in an Escrow Account Disclosure Statement.
If you have an existing escrow account with us, log in to our mortgage servicing website for helpful answers to FAQs. You will also find information about your existing mortgage loan, including balance and payment details, as well as contact information if you have additional refinancing questions.
With the help of our home refinance calculator, you may wonder what the next step is? You can try submitting an online application, where you can see if you refinance eligible! If you’re still in need of assistance, feel free to reach out to our team of specialists! We would be more than happy to help.
Pioneer’s vision is to be your #1 mortgage broker to ensure you the lowest interest rate with the highest qualify of service. Pioneer’s agents are committed to educating and communicating with every single client with two goals in mind: To show every client we care and to earn their trust.
