Your house is a potentially large source of ready money if you are willing to sacrifice some of your equity in return for liquidity. Cash-out mortgage refinancing is one way to access this cash but what is cash-out mortgage refinancing?
Cash-out refinancing involves refinancing your mortgage for more than you currently owe and pocketing the difference. If you have been paying down your mortgage for some time, then the principal on your mortgage is likely to be substantially lower than what it was when you first took out your mortgage. That build-up of equity will allow you to take out a loan that covers what you currently owe -- and then some.
For example, say you owe $150,000 on a $300,000 house and want $50,000 to add a family room. You could refinance your mortgage for $200,000, and the bank will then provide a check for the difference of $50,000.
You can take the difference and use it for home renovations, second-property purchases, tuition, debt repayment or anything else that needs a significant amount of cash. What’s more, you may be able to get a more favorable interest rate for your refinanced mortgage.
However, if the interest rate offered for your refinanced mortgage is higher than your current rate, this probably isn’t a sensible choice. A home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC) might be a better idea.
Of course, just like everything else in life, the process isn’t one of the easiest of things to do in the world. But if you take your time, do your homework, and find the right lender and loan officer, the task in front of you will be a lot less painful.