{"id":4555,"date":"2015-05-20T01:00:38","date_gmt":"2015-05-19T15:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realestatetalk.com.au\/?p=4555"},"modified":"2015-05-20T01:00:38","modified_gmt":"2015-05-19T15:00:38","slug":"top-5-insider-refinancing-tips-john-mcgrath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/channels.realty.com.au\/realtytalk\/top-5-insider-refinancing-tips-john-mcgrath\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 insider refinancing tips | John McGrath"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his recent column in\u00a0Switzer<\/a>, John McGrath discusses mortgage refinancing, the potential benefits and possible pitfalls.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what he had to say:<\/h4>\n

So far this year, 34.3% of new home loans issued nationally* are for refinancing borrowers, most of whom are either switching to another lender for a better deal and\/or accessing equity to invest or upgrade their homes.
\nRefinancing is pretty much on the cards for everyone in today\u2019s marketplace.
\n\"John
\nAt some point, another lender will make it worthwhile to switch, or you might want to refinance with the same lender to release equity for your next move.
\nAnd with interest rates so low and lenders competing fiercely for your business, consumers definitely have the upper hand right now in pursuing a better deal.
\nRefinancing is an opportunity.
\nYes, it can be a pain \u2013 in fact a major inconvenience, especially if you have to move all your accounts across to your new lender as part of a \u2018package deal\u2019, but you could save thousands of dollars every year so it really is worth the trouble, especially today with variable and fixed mortgage rates so low.
\nThe most important piece of advice I can give you on refinancing is to get advice before you do it!
\nIt really pays to sit down with a reputable mortgage broker who will assess your current position; discuss what you want to do next; and then determine which lenders are most appropriate for you.
\nThen there\u2019s the power of their relationship with your preferred lender and their ability to negotiate special deals on your behalf.
\nIt\u2019s one of the true win-wins in life.
\nMortgage brokers work for you and are paid by the banks.
\nAnd they know more than you could ever find out researching the net.
\nI asked Alan Hemmings, General Manager of McGrath\u2019s mortgage broking division, Oxygen Home Loans, for his Top 5 insider tips on how to do refinancing well.<\/p>\n

Top 5 Insider Tips for Refinancing<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. Do not accept the advertised rate\u00a0\u2013 Most lenders advertise standard variable rates, others advertise with the \u2018standard\u2019 discounts available under their package. The truth is that lenders are discounting well beyond the rates they advertise, particularly for variable loans.<\/li>\n
  2. Be aware of other costs\u00a0\u2013 Exit fees on loans were banned a few years ago but you\u2019ll still need to pay a discharge fee. Then there\u2019s the establishment fee on the new loan, plus some other fees. It could easily add up to around $1,000. Ask yourself, will the interest rate saving cover the refinancing costs? Also be conscious of ongoing fees, such as annual package fees.<\/li>\n
  3. Buyer Beware\u00a0\u2013 Don\u2019t fall for \u2018honeymoon\u2019 rate offers. Lenders use them to attract new business but what does the rate convert to after the introductory (honeymoon) period? You might find it goes to the standard variable rate or a \u2018standard package\u2019 discount of say, 0.3% for the rest of the loan. A negotiated discount of 0.9% for the life of the loan right from the start would work out cheaper.<\/li>\n
  4. To fix or not to fix?\u00a0\u2013 Understanding your likely future circumstances should guide you here. Most lenders now allow some additional repayments on fixed rate loans without penalty, however should you wish to \u2018break\u2019 the loan then you\u2019ll be up for a fee. Remember, fixed rate loans provide certainty of your repayment amounts but not much flexibility.<\/li>\n
  5. Do you want fries with that?\u00a0\u2013 What other banking facilities do you require? Do you need an offset account, credit card, access to free ATMs? Your overall banking needs might also dictate the type of loan you need. If you\u2019re looking at a transaction account and credit card, a \u2018package\u2019 loan might suit you better than a basic loan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    *AFG, Australia\u2019s largest mortgage broking group.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In his recent column in\u00a0Switzer, John McGrath discusses mortgage refinancing, the potential benefits and possible pitfalls. Here\u2019s what he had to say: So far this year, 34.3% of new home loans issued nationally* are for refinancing borrowers, most of whom are either switching to another…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176692471,"featured_media":4385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-story"],"yoast_head":"\nTop 5 insider refinancing tips | John McGrath - Realty Talk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/channels.realty.com.au\/realtytalk\/top-5-insider-refinancing-tips-john-mcgrath\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Top 5 insider refinancing tips | John McGrath - Realty Talk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In his recent column in\u00a0Switzer, John McGrath discusses mortgage refinancing, the potential benefits and possible pitfalls. 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