Refinancing private student loan debt should lessen your burden of paying off the debts for the upcoming years throughout your life. You can lower your interest rate to reduce the overall costs and monthly payments. Are you interested to know more about refinancing your private loans? Check the know-how below.
What is Refinancing Private Student Loan Debt?
Refinancing private student loan debt means combining individual student loans into one new loan. These student loans may have different lenders, interest rates, and repayment terms. After that, the new loan will be offered only by one private lender with a low-interest rate and better terms than the previous loans.
The option for refinancing is available for federal and private student loans. On the other hand, the process of refinancing can be different according to the loan types that you have. Some banks, credit unions, and specialized student loan lenders can offer refinancing.
You also need to know that refinancing your debt isn’t the same as consolidating the debt. Consolidation is only available for federal lenders by combining multiple loans. However, this process will not lower your interest rates.
Instead, by choosing student loan consolidation, you may be eligible for different income-driven plans. Moreover, you can get specific loan forgiveness programs.
When Should You Do Refinancing Private Student Loan Debt?
The essential goal of refinancing private student loan debt is to save money when you work to repay the debts. Therefore, you can decide whether or not you should refinance by looking at your existing loans.
Then, you can determine if refinancing can reduce your monthly loan costs or even it can improve your financial situation in some way. If you’re interested, please consider several factors. Here are things to ponder for refinancing private student loan debt:
1. Steady Income
By having a stable income, you can assure potential lenders that you will make your monthly payments in full and on time. This steady income is a good indicator for earning the potential lenders’ trust.
2. Private Loans with Hight Fixed Interest Rates
Loans with high fixed interest rates will remain the same for the entire life of the loan. So, when you find out that you are qualified for the loan, it is important to consider the interest rate that you will receive.
After that, you can ask yourself if there’s anything about your financial situation that might make it possible to qualify for refinancing. Whether your credit scores or the economy improved? If the answer is yes, then refinancing private student loan debt can be a good option for you to save your money by lowering the interest rate.
Even though the percentage is small, this can have a significant difference to the total amount of interest you ought to pay on a loan.
3. Private Loans with Variable Interest Rates
Loans with variable interest rates change accordingly as a response to market fluctuations. So, you can secure a loan with an improved fixed interest rate when the economy is strong and interest rates are low.
4. Private Loans with Short Repayment Methods
These kinds of loans that come with short repayment methods may put a strain on any cash-strapped borrowers because they require you to have higher monthly payments. Choosing to refinance allows you to get a longer repayment term by spreading out what you have borrowed.
By securing smaller monthly payments, you can help yourself to save money monthly. On the other hand, you may eventually be spending more on interest payments over the life of the loan.
5. Access to A Co-Signer
Someone who agrees to be legally responsible for repaying the loan when you can’t do it is a co-signer. Usually, a co-signer can be a family member or a friend. When you have a co-signer, the lenders may think from their perspectives that you are a less risky borrower.
6. A Good Credit History and Scores
Generally, if you have a good credit history and scores, you will have a better chance of lowering your interest rates. Also, you can get many other favorable loan terms from the lenders.
When you notice your credit scores have improved since taking out loans, refinancing private student loan debt might help you qualify for better interest rates than the original rates.
How to Refinancing Private Student Loan Debt?
These are some tips you can consider to refinance your private student loan debt:
1. Prepare Your Financial Information
To refinance, most lenders will need some of your personal financial information. The information includes your total student loan debt, cost of housing, income, and an estimate of your credit score based on your credit history.
2. Check Rates with Several Lenders
It is necessary to check rates with multiple lenders because private lenders always set their rates and terms. Besides getting a rate estimate that involves a soft credit check that shouldn’t affect your credit score, you can ask about any other fees.
These fees can be an origination fee or prepayment penalty. Also, you can ask if they have any deferment on forbearance programs.
3. Choose A Lender and Apply
When you review all of the options, you need to consider the total amount of interest you have to pay over the life of the loan, including the cost of any fees. Depending on the length of the term, having a lower interest rate might not become the lowest amount of total interest.
So, you have to prepare supply documents that can back up the financial information you shared for the initial rate check before you apply. Based on your financial and credit history, when you apply with a co-signer for refinancing private student loan debt, this may help you secure a better interest rate.
While waiting for your new loan to be approved, don’t forget to continue paying your existing loans.
Are You Certain in Refinancing Private Student Loan Debt?
Refinancing private student loan debt can give you way more benefits and leeway in paying off your loans. Of course, you also have to consider all the things that can make you eligible for refinance, as well as the documents to prepare. In that case, don’t dawdle or wait too long and apply for refinancing now!
