How to refinance your mortgage

Steps to refinancing your mortgage

Shop around for the best mortgage rates and compare.

Even when interest rates go down, your bank won’t automatically offer you the better deal. You need to shop around to see what’s available and go after it. Sites like interest.co.nz and moneyhub.co.nz show rates from different lenders across New Zealand.

By shopping around and getting a view on what’s available, you can make the best choices.

Call your bank and ask them to email your break fee.

If you’re on a fixed rate mortgage and considering breaking your contract, you need to find out from your bank what they would charge you as a break fee. This is important as you need to compare this cost against the benefits of a new mortgage, to see if taking another deal is worth it. You can ask for your break fee to be emailed to you so you have it in writing.

With refinancing, you want to make sure you fully understand all the costs involved. These might include repaying any cash incentives you may have received or paying exit or discharge fees.

Calculate whether you’re better off by refinancing.

Online calculators like Sorted’s mortgage calculator can help you figure out what you’d save by switching to a lower interest rate. You can also see how much quicker you could pay off your loan if you keep the same repayments or increase them while at the lower rate. You could trim years off your mortgage!

For example, a $400,000 loan at 4% takes 20 years to pay off with a monthly repayment of $2,424. Switching to a rate of 3% but keeping the same repayments would reduce the term to but your mortgage is 3%, that would mean it takes 18 years and cost $65,300 less in interest.

But remember: Interest rates are not forever. They will likely change again in the next few years, perhaps back up again, which may mean the savings you make through refinancing does not outweigh the fees after all. It’s difficult to tell what the future may bring, so make sure it’s really worth it.

Work with your bank and a mortgage broker to compare all your options.

Your bank can help you determine whether refinancing is right for you by showing you the numbers. But if you’re not sure about staying with your lender, check in with a mortgage broker or two. They can shop around for you and help you find the right loan for your needs.

Many banks offer incentives for you to take out a loan with them, but there are typically costs that come with switching lenders, including solicitor fees to get the mortgage changed, new valuations and application fees.

Doing your homework will help you understand the overall costs vs the benefits.

Apply and qualify for your new home mortgage.

When you apply to refinance, you’ll need to answer basic mortgage application questions and provide proof of your income, assets and employment to show you can afford the new loan. If you switch lenders, there may be further checks, such as a property valuation. This can take some time and add extra costs.

Mortgages are typically set up with a monthly repayment amount. But work out if you can pay half of this each fortnight instead. Why? Because there are 26 fortnights a year and not 24, you will end up making an extra month of repayments each year and take down your mortgage more quickly and cheaply.

Frequently asked questions

What is a remortgage?

“Remortgaging” or “refinancing” is when you replace your current mortgage with a new one with different (hopefully better) terms. You can work with your current lender or bank, or you can switch your loan to another lender if they have a better deal for you.

Is refinancing a good idea?

Refinancing is often part and parcel of owning a home. It can be an opportunity to pay less in interest and finish off your mortgage more quickly. For many it’s about financing their lifestyle or consolidating debt, too.

What are the reasons people refinance?

In addition to saving on interest, there are many reasons you might be looking to refinance:In addition to saving on interest, there are many reasons you might be looking to refinance:

Your level of income has changed
Your situation has changed due to illness or redundancy
Your expenses have changed, for example, if children have left home
You may want to access a lump sum for renovations or medical treatment
You want to consolidate your debts
A windfall has come in, such as a bonus or inheritance, allowing you to make a larger repayment on your mortgage.

Is now a good time to refinance?

If you’re reading this and interest rates have been falling, you could grab a much better deal if you refinance. Your bank won’t automatically offer you the better deal – you need to shop around on sites like interest.co.nz and moneyhub.co.nz and then take the initiative to refinance.

How much will a remortgage save?

This will depend on how the terms on your current mortgage compare with your refinanced loan. To get an idea, fire up our mortgage calculator and plug in the interest rate and the length of the loan.

Is it worth refinancing to save $200 a month?

Saving $200 may not sound that significant when compared with a mortgage worth hundreds of thousands. But $200 every month over many months, could definitely be worth it. Take into account how long you expect to hold the mortgage.

More importantly, if you refinance and keep your current repayments as they are, how much could you save in interest? That will be worth much more, so enter your details into our mortgage calculator to get a view.

What should I watch out for when refinancing?

The key when deciding whether to refinance is to determine whether it is worth it. The only way to see that is by including all the costs involved and comparing them with the benefits you’re getting.

Only your current lender is able to show you the exact figures. If you are on a fixed rate mortgage and considering breaking your contract, ask your bank to email your break fee.

Are there fees involved when refinancing?

It’s important to take account of all the costs involved, and there can be additional fees when switching to a new bank as well. These costs include:

Break fees
Repayment of cash incentives
Exit or discharge fees
Solicitor fees to get the mortgage changed
New valuations
Application fees

How do I find out if I have a good credit history?

Lenders will check your credit history when you apply to refinance, so it’s good to know your credit score and see a recent report. Find out about who holds your credit details and how to get a free copy of your credit report.

Does refinancing hurt your credit?

When you apply too often for a mortgage or credit in general, it can drive down your credit rating. When you are shopping around for the best rate to refinance, different lenders will run your credit history.

So how to keep this from affecting your score? Do all your rate shopping within two or three weeks, so all your credit enquiries are treated as a single application instead of many.

Your credit history can also be affected negatively when you take out cash as part of a refinance arrangement.

Can you be refused a remortgage?

Yes. Just as when you apply the first time for a mortgage, you apply and qualify for a remortgage. And you can be turned down.

Should I consolidate my debts?

Wrapping all your debts together and paying them off all at once by refinancing can be helpful. With a lower interest rate you can save a lot.

But it also depends how quickly you pay it off: if whacking it on the mortgage keeps it around for longer, it’s not as helpful or as cheap.

Debt consolidation can even lead to more debt if we’re not careful, such as when we end up with empty credit cards that can be run up all over again. The goal is to become debt-free, after all.

Here are some other strategies for paying down debt.

What type of mortgage would suit me?

You’ve got a range of options available when you remake your mortgage, with various degrees of flexibility and different repayment structures. Find out more about the different mortgage options out there.