Refinancing your home after a bankruptcy is similar to purchasing a new home. A refinance creates a new mortgage to replace the existing mortgage. Thus, you are required to complete loan applications and pay closing costs and other fees. Some believe that obtaining credit following a bankruptcy is impossible. However, this is the best way to rebuild your credit. Some people choose to acquire new credit cards or lines of credit. On the other hand, if you are hoping to receive an interest rate reduction on your mortgage and receive cash-out at closing, refinancing after bankruptcy is a great idea.

Obtain a Lower or Fixed Rate

If you purchased your home before interest rates began to decline, you likely have a rate that is considerably higher than current trends. Various lenders are willing to lend money to people one day after a bankruptcy. However, if you wait two years after a discharge before refinancing your home, you may be able to obtain a reasonable, low rate. A lower rate will lower your monthly payments. Moreover, refinancing your home after bankruptcy is ideal for obtaining a fixed rate. Initially, some people accept an adjustable rate mortgage. These loans are risky because your mortgage rate will fluctuate according to current market trends. Thus, your mortgage may increase several times throughout the loan. With a fixed rate, your mortgage rate remains the same.

Improve Your Credit History

Refinancing your home after a bankruptcy is a perfect way to re-establish credit. Lenders review credit reports to determine our credit worthiness. A bankruptcy may disqualify you from receiving low interest rates on credit cards and other lines of credit. Once you have obtained three or four new lines of credit following a bankruptcy, and maintained a good payment history, other lenders will see you as a low risk and are willing to extend credit with reasonable rates. Moreover, mortgage companies are more ready to grant a loan because funds are secured by the property. If you choose to refinance and cash-out at closing, the funds received may go towards repaying chapter 13 debts, which will also improve credit.