When your fixed rate mortgage comes to the end of its term, most lenders will automatically transfer you to a new fixed rate or floating rate home loan.
As a homeowner, this type of set-and-forget arrangement might sound convenient, but it also means that you could miss out on the opportunity to refix or refinance your mortgage – both of which can potentially save you significant amounts of money in the long-run.
In this blog post, we discuss the benefits of refixing and refinancing, and highlight the key advantages of working with an independent mortgage broker.
Why refix or refinance?
The economy as well as your personal financial circumstances are constantly evolving. A home loan product that may have been a good fit for you a few months ago may not be the best option for you now.
When you come to the end of your home loan’s fixed interest rate period, you might want to consider refixing or refinancing your home loan. There are many reasons to do so, including:
- Securing a more competitive rate: Current market conditions may be more attractive than they were in the past. Locking in a lower interest rate could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your loan.
- Tapping into another lender’s services: Refinancing gives you the opportunity to take advantage of another lender’s products or services, which may offer a better rate or greater flexibility than your current home loan provider.
- Borrowing more money: Depending on your financial situation, refinancing may allow you to borrow more money – perfect if you’re planning on carrying out renovations or have some other large expenses coming up.
When is a good time to think about refixing or refinancing?
For most people, the best time to think about refinancing or refixing is near the end of your current fixed rate term. Most lenders allow you to refix your mortgage 30 to 60 days before your existing loan comes to the end of its terms, which can be useful for taking advantage of movements in the market. While you don’t necessarily have to wait until the end of your contract to refix your mortgage, you will be charged a break fee if you choose to break your fixed rate term, which may offset your potential savings.
You might also want to explore refinancing or refixing your mortgage if your personal circumstances change in a way that could significantly affect your income or expenses. For example:
- Increased income: A pay rise, bonus or inheritance could allow you to increase your payments or pay a lump sum off of your mortgage.
- Selling the property: If you sell your home during a fixed interest rate period, you’ll likely have to pay a break fee to the lender. As such, if you’re thinking about selling your property in the near future, you may wish to opt for a floating mortgage or refix for a shorter period of time.
- Growing household: A change in the household dynamics – due to, say, a baby on the way or older relatives moving in – can affect your expenses and might motivate you to refix to the lowest interest rate for the longest period of time.
- Reduced childcare costs: Whether the kids are leaving home, changing schools or graduating from daycare, a reduction in childcare costs might allow you to up your mortgage repayments.
- Renovating: Refinancing can be a smart way to fund future renovations.
Refix or refinance your mortgage with iLender
The best way to refix or refinance your mortgage is to talk to a mortgage broker. Technically, it is possible to do it on your own and work directly with a bank, but negotiating the right home loan for your financial goals and unique circumstances can be extremely time consuming.
Here at iLender, we have a comprehensive understanding of the home loan market. We’ll work with you to understand your needs, and negotiate with lenders on your behalf to help you secure the home loan that best suits your requirements. Best of all, we earn our commission through the lenders, which means our services won’t cost you a cent. These commissions are more or less the same across lenders, so you can be confident that you’re getting honest, unbiased advice every step of the way.
If you’d like to enquire about our services, give us a call on 0800 536 337 and speak to one of our Advisers.
