| Technically, you can take out any kind of loan and use | | | | According to Payment Terms |
| your loan proceeds to pay off your mortgage. Viewed | | | | Interest-only mortgage refinance loan: This type of |
| this way, any type of loan can be a mortgage | | | | mortgage refinance is one where you will be asked to |
| refinance loan. However, some have restrictions (i.e. | | | | pay only the interest for a certain period of time. After |
| some loans do not offer a big enough credit for paying | | | | the set interest-only payment period has passed, you |
| off a mortgage) so they don't make good refinance | | | | will have to start making payments towards the |
| loans. | | | | principal. |
| This article is about the loans you can use for | | | | Balloon-type mortgage refinance loan: This type of |
| refinancing your mortgage. Since these are loans that | | | | refinance loan is one with an initially low, fixed interest |
| banks have specifically designed for paying off | | | | rate (the actual period varies from lender to lender but |
| mortgages, they are also known as the common | | | | this period doesn't usually exceed 10 years). After the |
| types of mortgage refinance loans that are available in | | | | period for the low interest has passed, however, full |
| the market. | | | | payment is required on loan balance. |
| According to Variability of Interest Rate | | | | Fully-amortizing mortgage refinance loan: This type of |
| Fixed-rate mortgage refinance loan: This type of home | | | | refinancing loan is one where monthly payments are a |
| refinance loan is one where the interest rate is | | | | combination of interest charges and payments |
| locked-in to a fixed amount for the whole duration of | | | | towards the balance. This type of loan is ideal for |
| the loan. Simply put, the home refinance loan will be | | | | people who wish to add to their equity as well as |
| kept at a constant interest rate for the whole life of | | | | reduce the balance with every payment. |
| the balance. | | | | Home equity mortgage refinance loan: This type of |
| Variable-rate mortgage refinance loan: This type of | | | | loan is one where you actually apply for a loan using |
| home refinance loan is one where the interest rate | | | | the equity you have stored in your home as your |
| varies with a certain, predetermined index. The interest | | | | security for the loan. In this case, you give up your |
| rate, in this case can be equivalent to the index or | | | | equity for money which you can get as outright cash |
| greater than the index by a fixed margin. In this type of | | | | or as a revolving credit line. Such a loan usually has a |
| mortgage refinance loan, there is usually an | | | | very good interest rate. However, this type of loan is |
| introductory rate period where the interest rate is fixed | | | | ideal for mortgage refinancing ONLY if you have |
| for a few years (3 and 5 years are common) at a | | | | enough equity in your home to pay off your original |
| very low rate. After this introductory period has | | | | mortgage lender. This can happen if your home has |
| passed, the rate becomes a true variable rate - | | | | appreciated considerably. If you don't have enough |
| subject to the whims of the market. However, there's | | | | equity to pay off your original lender, you will only be |
| usually a cap or interest rate ceiling to protect the | | | | taking on a second mortgage, not a refinancing loan. |
| consumers from excessive index rate increases. | | | | |