Below is a continuation of our focus on traditional refinancing options for consumers. Please be advised that new legislation has caught steam in Congress that would put open up an ability to refinance through new initiatives with FHA loans to millions of Americans.

Fixed Rate Mortgage—Borrowers who are preparing to permanently stay in their home often choose a fixed rate mortgage to refinance. The most popular terms are 30-year or 15-year fixed. Borrowers who like stability and no surprises tend to go for fixed rates because the rates are steady.

One drawback, however, is that mortgage payments will go up if borrowers refinance an existing loan for a shorter term. On the other hand, borrowers will ultimately end up paying more principle and less interest, which means that the equity of the home starts to add up.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages, or ARMs—In this option, the interest rate of the mortgage adjusts over a period of time, eventually resulting in a higher mortgage monthly payment. An ARM is a great refinancing option for borrowers that foresee an increase in income, if the fixed rate is too high, or for those planning on living in their home for a short period of time.

The interest rates for ARMs are usually lower than those carrying a fixed rate. Some choose ARMs because they usually do not have to pay prepayment penalties if they choose to refinance in the future. However, some struggle with their ARMs if interest rates drive their mortgage rates to significantly increase in a short time period.

When you refinance your residential mortgage loan you can enjoy a variety of money saving benefits. This is because there are several alternatives to your current mortgage. Refinancing your home loan gives you a chance to review the terms of your current mortgage and choose terms that can help you save money in the long run — often thousands of dollars.

Saving on interest

If you refinance your residential mortgage loan to a lower rate, you can save thousands of dollars on interest alone. If you have a high rate, you can refinance to a lower rate. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), you can refinance to a fixed rate. Changing your terms so that you pay less in interest is one of the most basic ways that people can save money on their home loans. Additionally, in most cases, the interest from your residential mortgage loan refinance is tax-deductible, meaning that you save money when it comes to paying Uncle Sam as well.

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WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Thursday that he did not believe the growing number of mortgage defaults would seriously harm the economy.

Facing criticism from members of Congress about lax regulation, Bernanke also promised that the Fed would do everything possible to crack down on abuses that have put millions of homeowners in jeopardy of defaulting on their mortgages.

“We at the Federal Reserve will do all that we can to prevent fraud and abusive lending and to ensure that lenders employ sound underwriting practices and make effective disclosures to consumers,” Bernanke said in remarks prepared for a financial conference in Chicago.

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