Refinancing and Your Credit: What to Anticipate and Be Informed About

Refinancing your mortgage or any other loan is a financial decision that can have a significant impact on your credit score. While the process can potentially improve your financial situation, it’s crucial to understand how it may affect your credit and what you should expect throughout the journey. In this blog, we’ll explore the relationship between refinancing and your credit, providing you with valuable insights and tips.

The Basics of Refinancing

Before delving into the impact on your credit, let’s clarify what refinancing means. Refinancing involves taking out a new loan to pay off an existing one, typically with more favorable terms, such as a lower interest rate or a longer repayment period. It can be applied to various types of loans, with mortgage refinancing being one of the most common.

The Initial Credit Check

When you decide to refinance, lenders will perform a credit check as part of the application process. This credit inquiry, known as a “hard pull” or “hard inquiry,” can have a temporary negative impact on your credit score. However, the impact is usually minimal and short-lived.

Impact on Credit Score

1. Credit Inquiry: As mentioned, the initial credit check can slightly reduce your credit score. On average, this reduction is around 5-10 points. It’s essential to minimize additional hard inquiries on your credit report during the refinancing process.
2. Loan Age: When you refinance, you’re closing your existing loan and opening a new one. This can potentially affect the “average age of accounts” on your credit report, which is a factor that contributes to your credit score. An older account can positively impact your score, so closing it may have a minor adverse effect.
3. Debt-to-Income Ratio: Refinancing might allow you to secure more favorable terms, which can reduce your monthly payments. This can improve your debt-to-income ratio, a factor that lenders consider when assessing your creditworthiness. A better ratio can have a positive influence on your credit profile.

What You Should Expect

1. Rate Shopping: If you’re considering multiple lenders for your refinancing, try to complete all your rate shopping within a short period, typically 14-45 days. Credit scoring models usually treat multiple inquiries within this time frame as a single inquiry, minimizing the potential negative impact on your credit.
2. Keep Up with Payments: Throughout the refinancing process, continue making payments on your existing loan. Missing payments can harm your credit score.
3. Communication with Lenders: If you face difficulties making payments during the transition, communicate with your existing lender and the new one. They may be able to offer solutions to prevent any negative impact on your credit.

Conclusion

Refinancing can affect your credit, but the impact is often minimal and short-lived. In many cases, the potential benefits of lower interest rates, reduced monthly payments, and improved financial stability far outweigh any temporary credit score fluctuations. To ensure a smooth refinancing process, be proactive in managing your credit, choose the right lender, and maintain open communication. Understanding the dynamics between refinancing and your credit will help you make informed decisions and pave the way to a more secure financial future.

See how Sagemore Financial can help you on your financial journey!