Cash-Out Refinances Reach 12-Year High

Blog posted On December 24, 2019

Earlier this month, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to leave interest rates unchanged and will likely not move rates next year.  This year, mortgage rates reacted by trending downward, incentivizing many homeowners to refinance their mortgage loans.   According to data analytics firm, Black Knight, refinance volume climbed 132% in the third quarter of 2019, the highest level in three years.  Of those refinances, 52% were cash-out refinances, where homeowners withdrew equity from their home.  In 2019, homeowners withdrew $36 billion in home equity, a 12-year high.

Homeowners refinance their mortgage for many reasons. 

• Lower Mortgage Rate – you can refinance to lower your rate if you’re in a low interest rate environment or your credit conditions have improved.
• Change Loan Terms – you may also wish to change your loan terms, like switching from a 30-year term to a 15-year term or switching from an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) to a Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM).
• Switch Loan Type – you can also refinance your loan to change loan programs. For example, you may have purchased your home with an FHA Loan as a first-time home buyer and want to change to a conventional mortgage to remove the mortgage insurance premium.
• Cash-Out Refinance – with a cash-out refinance, you can withdraw equity from your home to use for other expenses.  

Most financial professionals recommend waiting until you have at least a 20% equity cushion in your home before getting a cash-out refinance, so you are protected if your home’s value drops.  When you get a cash-out refinance you originate a new mortgage loan equal to your existing mortgage balance plus the amount of cash you are withdrawing.  Since you are originating a new loan, and average mortgage rates are low, you may also be able to get a lower mortgage rate than when you originally took out your loan.

You can use the cash you withdraw to pay off higher-interest debt, cover other costs, or reinvest in your home with a home repair or renovation project.  Using a cash-out refinance to improve your home could increase the resale value of your home when it’s time to sell.  If you’re renovating to improve your home’s value, avoid purely aesthetic upgrades.  Functional upgrades like energy-efficient appliances or a new plumbing or HVAC system tend to get a greater return on investment. 

If you have any questions about a cash-out refinance, or refinance of any kind, please let me know. 

Sources: CNBC