What to Know About ARM Refinance

What to Consider if You Are Refinancing an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

Are you considering refinancing your adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)? Whether you should depends on the specific details of your loan circumstances. If you want a fast answer to your "Should I refinance my ARM?" question, then spend a couple minutes with the Bills.com quick refinance calculator to see if refinancing is right for you. To learn more about the nuances of an ARM refinance, read on.

ARMs have advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, lenders charge lower initial interest rates for ARMs than for fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs). This makes an ARM easier to afford than an FRM for the same loan amount. An ARM could be less expensive over a long period if, for example, interest rates remain steady or move lower.

On the negative side, when rates adjust upward, you may not able to afford the new, higher payment amounts. This is called "payment shock" when a rate increase pushes up payments beyond what the homeowner can afford. The possibility of interest rates moving up and causing your home loan payment to jump is the major risk and downside to ARM loans.

Big & Small Questions for an ARM Refinance

Whether you should refinance an ARM depends on your circumstances and goals. If you have an ARM and consider refinancing, ask yourself several big questions about the specifics of your loan before you commit yourself to the idea of refinancing. Here are the key questions you need to ask yourself:

• What are your goals or motivations for refinancing your ARM. Are you seeking to:
  • Cut your monthly payment?
  • Refinance to a FRM with stable payments for the life of the loan?
• How much is the next interest rate adjustment on your existing loan likely to increase your monthly payments?
• Will the next interest rate adjustment be two or three percentage points higher than the current rates offered for either fixed-rate loans or other ARMs?
• If the current mortgage sets a cap on your monthly payments, are those payments large enough to pay off your loan by the end of the original term?
• Will refinancing to a new ARM or a fixed-rate loan enable you to pay your loan in full by the end of the term?
• In which direction do you guess interest rates are headed? (As of late 2012, rates are at historic lows. It is unlikely rates will go lower, and will remain at current levels for a year or more. Long-term, rates can only go higher, and the only question is when.)
• How long do you plan to own the property?
• How many payments remain on your existing loan?

The eight questions just mentioned are important to understand your particular situation. If, for example, you plan to sell the property in the next three years or so, then refinancing may not make sense. Also, if you are nearing the end of the your existing loan, refinancing to a new loan with a longer term will increase your lifetime interest expense. This may not make sense, unless your payments are unaffordable and you do not wish to sell your home. Again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, "Should I refinance my ARM?"

What to Watch For When ARM Refi Shopping

Here are the six key points to watch for when ARM refinance shopping:

Monthly payment

If your motivation to refinance is affording your monthly payment, then your payment will be your primary focus. If this is the case, then you will probably be refinancing to an ARM because of the lower interest rate than FRMs. Regardless of whether the loan is fixed or adjustable, be aware there is no free lunch when you strive for the lowest possible monthly payment, as we shall see in the discussion of maturity.

Time to maturity

If you can afford your current payment, then refinancing to a low rate and a short term will result in a lower lifetime interest cost than your present loan (assuming the cost of the refinance is reasonable). However, if you cannot afford your current payment, then refinancing to a lower interest rate and a longer term will result in a lower monthly payment. But a longer time to maturity comes at a price. A long time to maturity results in a lower monthly payment, but a higher lifetime interest cost than a short time to maturity, assuming the same interest rate and costs.

Interest rate

If you have an older ARM, it is possible the interest rate you pay now is similar to today's FRM. As mentioned, ARMs have lower initial interest rates than FRMs. However, 95% of Freddie Mac's refinances in 2012 are FRMs, which means homeowners desire the security of knowing their monthly loan payment amount will never increase, even if it means they are refinancing to a higher interest rate.

Discount points

Paying discount points can be a good deal or bad depending on their cost and the rate you are buying. Decide if the interest rate you get by paying for points is worth the expense, in comparison to what you could get from another lender with fewer or no points. One point equals 1% of the loan. For example, one point on a $85,000 loan is $850. Points paid can sometimes be financed and added to the loan amount. The points a lender charges will depends on market conditions and the loan's interest rate.

Fees - variable

These include application and origination fees, which vary by lender. The application and origination fees cover the lender's costs of doing business. In some cases and situations, the lender's profit is found in these two fees and can be negotiated. The total fee amount often determines whether a refinance makes sense. If, for example, the total refinance fees are low and you plan to reside in the property for the foreseeable future, then it makes sense to refinance, generally speaking. However, if the fees are high and you plan to sell the property in 5 years or less, then it may not make sense to refinance.

Fees - fixed

Fixed fees are set by locale, and include appraisal, surveys, title search, home inspection, lawyer review, mortgage insurance, and recording the title. Some of these fees can be waived in a refinance.

Shopping for a new loan is your best and only way to make sure you get the best deal on an ARM refi. Below, find a Refinance Shopping Worksheet that can help you compare the costs of ARM and FRM loan offers. Bills.com recommends ARM refi shoppers talk to at least two lenders to compare costs and rates.

One lender to consider is your existing mortgage servicer (the company you send your monthly loan payment to now). It may agree to waive some closing fees, especially if your work relating to your existing loan is current. Some of these costs that could be waived may be the title search, inspections, surveys, and so on.

Mortgage rates fluctuate from lender to lender. It pays to shop around. Get a mortgage refinance quote from a bills.com mortgage provider to start your loan shopping.