If you are considering mortgage refinancing with a recent bankruptcy on your record, qualifying for a good interest rate is essential for your new loan. Finding a good deal when mortgage refinancing can be difficult, especially if you have not built up your credit. Here are three tips to help you qualify for the best rate when mortgage refinancing with your financial situation.
The mortgage industry is extremely competitive; this means there are opportunities available to you that did not exist ten years ago. Having a recent bankruptcy no longer prevents you from refinancing your mortgage; however, the amount you pay depends on how savvy a shopper you are. Online search makes it easy to compare loan offers from a variety of different lenders.
Watch out for "Computerized Origination Fees," as many sites like Lending Tree charge ridiculous fees for filling out a form on their site. Lending Tree is notorious for this and will charge you as much as $1300 while claiming there is no fee to you for their service. The bottom line with online mortgage refinancing is to carefully comparison shop and read all the fine print before you decide on a loan.
If the mortgage lender you find is not requiring you to pay points for mortgage refinancing, consider paying a point or two to buy down your mortgage rate. Negotiate with your mortgage refinancing lender for lower rates and better terms. One of the most important aspects of your negotiations is that your loan must not include a prepayment penalty. Once you have build up your credit you will be refinancing this loan with a traditional mortgage lender and do not want to be hit with a hefty fee. Paying a point or two might not only get you a better rate but might convince your mortgage company to remove a prepayment penalty.
Mortgage brokers can be an excellent resource for homeowners with a recent bankruptcy. Be careful with mortgage brokers, you have to watch them like a hawk as they are just like used car salesman when it comes to overcharging for their services. Mortgage brokers routinely mark up your interest rate to boost their profits at your expense.