Banks and other financial
institutions keep sending you mails and make phone calls about lower home loan
rates for your home loan. Who doesn’t want a lower home loan EMI? But the
question is should you refinance your home loan or, as people would term it do
a balance transfer of your home loan? Here are the three major situations when
you should do it.
You are
paying a high home loan interest rate If you feel that you are paying a
high home loan interest rate, you would do well to do some market research. For
instance, you could take the help of a home loan calculator in an established
website and find out about the current home loan interest rates and EMIs,
especially from other home loan providers.
Cheaper
alternatives are available If you are being charged a high interest rate
while other lenders are offering home loan at much lower rates, you should
consider refinancing your home loan with a balance transfer. However, ensure
that the home loan provider will provide a home loan for your property.
When your
loan enters floating rate period Hybrid home loans have a fixed
interest rate for the initial years, followed by a floating rate for the
remaining period. If it’s not more than two to five years away, wait out this
period and refinance your loan. This will save you any prepayment penalty involved
with the fixed rate period.
After your loan enters the floating rate period,
compare the interest rate being offered by other home loan providers. If there
is a difference of 1 percentage point or more, refinance your home loan with a
balance transfer.
Home loan repayment is typically one of the
biggest financial obligations people have. It always makes sense to be on the
lookout for opportunities to reduce this financial burden. It is in this
backdrop that spotting and tapping balance transfer opportunities are so very
important.