Personal finance

Lower your Financial Liability through Refinancing

loan-refinanceIn the current economic climate, there is a pressing need for home and car owners to minimize their everyday cost of living. This not only enables them to apply the lessons taught by recent financial austerity and hardship, but it also provides them with a unique opportunity to adopt a frugal and ultimately rewarding lifestyle.

While individuals who own property and cars have the most urgent need to minimize their everyday living costs, the volatile nature of the global economy has forced lenders to adopt a more empathetic approach to managing their outstanding debts. As a result of this, it is far easier for debtors to communicate with creditors and amend the terms of their secured loans.

Refinancing your Vehicle: The Logistics and Benefits

One way through which car owners can reduce the cost of living and monthly instalments is by refinancing their existing vehicle. This involves applying for a new loan to replace the existing financial agreement, which upon approval will submit the previous lien holder with a payment in the amount of a predetermined payoff. Consumers will usually apply for a new loan with an alternative lender, rendering their previous agreement completely redundant.

This is a contemporary interpretation of debt refinancing, which has become extremely popular in the aftermath of the Great Recession and the subsequent economic stagnation. More specifically, plunging interest rates have created a unique opportunity for debtors to reduce their monthly finance repayments, while the softening attitude of lenders has also helped consumers to achieve this common, cost cutting goal.

While the principle of debt refinancing can be applied to any secured loan, it has particular merit when associated with an outstanding automotive loan. This is because the process is far easier than refinancing a mortgage or a home equity line of credit, while the risks involved are also significantly lower. Perhaps the single largest benefit of car refinancing is that it allows consumers to change the terms of the finance agreement in line with their own personal circumstances, which may have evolved since the initial loan application.

Adapting to Changing Economic Circumstances

If you are struggling with multiple debts, for example, there may come a time where you need to prioritize those that are not associated with your car loan. This means that you may have to reduce your monthly car finance repayments and reinvest this income into minimizing an alternative debt, and amending the terms of your agreement can help you to achieve this. In short, car refinancing helps you to adopt a more flexible approach to managing your financial burden.

In addition to this, you may find that your credit score has improved since your initial application for car credit. Negotiating a financing agreement from a more secure fiscal position can enable you to establish far better terms, with either reduced monthly repayments or a longer arrangement put into place. The savings that this can deliver are immeasurable, especially at a time when continuous economic pressure continues to squeeze financial margins and reduce the average amount of disposable income.

The Last Word

In order to determine whether car refinancing is right for you, it is important to understand its core purpose and how it may benefit your individual circumstances. As a starting point, consider using a car refinancing calculator to measure the fiscal benefits of the practice in precise detail, rather than simply garnering information and making a relatively informed guess. As with any financial agreement, debt or proposed payment plan, dealing in detail is absolutely critical if you are to make economically prudent decision.

This article was written by Nathan, who has a keen interest in finance and the development of a more frugal lifestyle.

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