Is Refinancing the Right Way to Buy a Vacation Home?

Jul 29, 2013

There is nothing like owning a vacation home where you can spend quality time with your loved ones and recharge your batteries. However, buying a holiday house can mean depleting your finances. That is why many people opt to refinance this purchase. Refinancing involves replacing your existing mortgage on your primary home with a new debt, which has new terms and conditions for repayment.

Before you jump to refinance your current home to buy a vacation home, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully to determine whether this purchase option is viable and feasible. There are many factors to consider when you want to use refinance as a means of buying a vacation home. The terms and conditions of the new loan should suit your financial situation. You also need to consider whether your vacation rental will be an investment or a place for you to relax and get away from it all.

Here are the 6 Aspects of Refinancing Your Vacation Rental.

1. Planning

Before looking for lenders to refinance your primary home, you need to sit and think about the new mortgage carefully. First, you need to calculate the amount it will cost you to buy a new vacation house. Then, try to figure out the number of years you expect your mortgage to be extended if you intend on proceeding with the refinancing. Also, take into account your income from all sources and whether it will be sufficient to meet the monthly installments for the duration of the new mortgage. What will the new interest rate be; how will the conditions of the new mortgage affect you; and what happens if you sell your primary home? Make a list and speak with your lender about these issues before taking the plunge.

2. Check Out Your Credit Score

If you have a poor credit score, refinancing will not be an option. Before you apply for a fresh mortgage, you will need to improve your credit score. You can do this by reducing your debts and making regular payments on your credit cards.

3. Home Equity

Equity plays a big role in refinancing. You would need to have a minimum of 20 percent equity on your primary home before you can approach a lender for refinancing. If you do not have the minimum required equity, your loan application will be rejected, or you may get the mortgage at high interest rate and unfavorable conditions.

4. Timing of the New Mortgage

You need to interest rates and watch to see if they are increasing or decreasing. For instance, if you have a fixed rate mortgage on your primary home and you find out that interest rates are falling, it would be better to opt for refinancing so that you can enjoy the lower rate. On the other hand, if interest rates are increasing, you may want to wait before you refinance your current mortgage.

5. Vacation Rental as an Investment

If you intend to treat your vacation home as an investment, refinancing is the way forward. You can rent it out and receive a second source of income from it. However, you need to consider whether the rental will cover the monthly installments of the new mortgage. Also, you would have to do research on rental homes in the area to find out what other homeowners are charging and what the rental market is like.

6. Tax Implications

Do speak to your financial adviser to figure out the tax implications. If you are buying a vacation house to live in, you can enjoy tax deductions. However, if you are renting it out, to receive these deductions you will have to live in the house for more than 14 days in a year. So, it is best to speak to a tax consultant and figure out what your tax liabilities will be if you use the house as a vacation rental property.

Refinance a Vacation Home

Refinancing is a major step and should be thought through carefully. If done for the right reasons and in the right way, you will benefit from it. This will allow you to have a vacation property that lets you spend quality and memorable time with your loved ones and also serves as an investment. Research is the key to finding the right lender and the right vacation home.

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