Skip to main content
Back
Scroll to top

Get a Lower Interest Rate By Refinancing Your Mortgage Today

Homebuying 2 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

With mortgage rates remaining low, whether to refinance or not has been a common question asked among our customers. Read on to learn more about the “the what” and “why” part of refinancing if you’re debating whether or not to refinance your current loans or if you just want to know what refinancing is all about.

What You Should Know About Refinancing Your Mortgage

Refinancing your mortgage* means you pay off your current loan and replace it with a new one.

Reasons to Refinance

  • Reduce your current interest rate expense. For example, switching to a 30-year mortgage to lower your monthly payments.
  • Get out of, or into, an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). ARMs have lower interest rates than fixed-rate mortgages to begin with, but it later leaves you open to periodic adjustments that could result in large interest rate increases.
  • Get a better rate as the market shifts, allowing you to save money over the long term with your new loan.

Contact a First Bank Specialist Today

Still wondering if refinancing is right for you? Use our calculator to help you decide if it makes sense for your situation. To learn more, contact one of our loan officers to set-up a consultation at a First Bank branch near you.

———

*Loans subject to credit approval. First Bank is an Equal Housing Lender

Sources:

Locate a Loan Officer | First Bank

Refinance Calculator | First Bank

Investopedia

Ready to talk to an expert?

Share:

You may be interested in...

Construction Loans 101: Adjustable Rates If you’re considering building a home, one of the more pressing concerns is the rate you’ll receive for a construction loan. For residents of the Carolinas, First Bank* has convenient locations to stop by for a discussion about your construction loan options. With our One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent loan, you have the potential to build the house of your dreams. Construction-to-Permanent Loan First Bank offers a One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent Loan.** With this loan, the cost of your lot, construction, and permanent mortgage is covered in a single loan. Our construction loan rates vary, but you can choose from a variety of fixed or adjustable rate loan options for your permanent financing. Our One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent Loan consists of two phases: the construction phase and the permanent phase. During the construction phase, you will only make interest payments. When the construction is complete, the permanent phase modifies the loan into a permanent loan. During the permanent phase, the construction loan will be converted to a permanent loan. Other benefits of First Bank’s One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent Loan include: No prepayment penalties A single set of closing costs Flexible use to finance a primary residence Ability to purchase your lot Benefits of Building a Home If you are thinking about building a home, consider these benefits: Customization—Building a home gives you the opportunity to make everything look exactly how you want it. Low Maintenance Costs—Because homes are built with all new materials and typically have all new appliances, you will spend less on repairs and updates. Efficiency—As technology improves, new homes are becoming increasingly more energy efficient. When you build a new home, you have the opportunity to include as many green materials as you want. Value—New homes have a longer life expectancy so they typically appraise higher than older homes. Ready to get started? You can begin your mortgage application or visit a First Bank branch to speak with a mortgage loan expert today. *Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #474504. **Loans subject to credit approval. ——— Source: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/062614/should-you-buy-or-build-home.asp 2 min read
Where To Get 20 Year Mortgage Rates When you’re ready to buy a house, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the excitement of shopping and forget about the financial part. Once you’ve found the perfect house, the first thing you may be wondering is where to get 20-year mortgage rates. First Bank can help you determine what type of mortgage works best for you, and help structure a loan that meets your individual needs. What are 20-Year Mortgage Rates? 20-year mortgages are typically offered as fixed-rate mortgages, meaning your interest rate—and your total monthly payment of principal and interest—will stay the same for the entire term of the loan. A fixed-rate mortgage offers a predictable monthly payment, making it easier for you to follow your budget. With fixed-rate mortgages, you also have the option to take them out in 15 or 30-year terms. While a 20-year mortgage helps you pay off your home faster and build equity quicker than longer-term fixed-rate mortgages, a 15-year mortgage will help you pay it off even faster, and pay less interest. However, 15-year mortgages have higher payments than other longer-term mortgages. Additionally, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages allow you to pay off your loan with lower monthly payments, but since the life of the loan is longer, you’ll pay more interest and build equity slower than you would with a shorter-term loan. Visit Your Local First Bank First Bank offers conventional fixed-rate mortgages in 15, 20, and 30-year terms, and we also offer adjustable-rate mortgages. To learn more about our loan options, or if you’re still wondering where to get 20-year mortgage rates, visit your local First Bank branch. Our loan experts will be happy to teach you more about mortgage loans and rates, or help you structure a loan* that meets your needs. *Loans subject to credit approval. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fixed-rate_mortgage.asp 2 min read
FHA Mortgage Loan Insurance If you’re in the market for a new home, it’s quite likely that you have thought about acquiring mortgage loan insurance through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Established in 1934, the FHA has helped millions of people insure their properties. Over the years, especially following the economic crisis of 2008, the FHA has implemented requirements for potential homebuyers. Loan Limits To remain eligible for FHA loan insurance, consumers must fall within the loan limits. These limits are not only divided by state but are also doled out per county. If you’re curious as to what your state’s FHA loan limits are, you can refer to the Federal Housing Administration’s website. Debt-to-Income Ratio This ratio was set to ensure homebuyers do not purchase a property that they cannot afford. By using these calculations, it can be determined whether or not a person has the potential to meet the demands of owning a home.  The ratio is looked at in two different ways: Mortgage payment expense to effective income = Total mortgage payment divided by gross monthly income. The maximum qualifying ratio is 31%. Total fixed payment to effective income = Total mortgage payment added to monthly revolving and installment debt, which is then divided by gross monthly income. The maximum qualifying ratio is 43%. Credit FHA requires that a borrower have good credit standing. In order to receive approval, a lender analyzes the borrower’s past credit performance. Loan approval will likely be declined should the credit history reveal slow payments, poor financial decisions, and delinquent accounts. Other issues are having no credit history, filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, making late payments, being subjected to foreclosure, and receiving collections, judgements, or federal debts. Apply for an FHA Loan with First Bank You have a friend at First Bank to better understand the loan requirements. We work with the Federal Housing Administration to offer FHA insurance mortgages. In order to quicken the process, you can apply online. Just be prepared with some financial information, such as income, assets, and expenses; you will also have to know the property’s information, like the estimated purchase price and down payment (if buying) or estimated property value and loan amount (if refinancing). ——— Sources: 2 min read
First Bank logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website are the most popular and useful.