Refinance Your Mortgage Now As The Yield Curve Inverts

Whenever the yield curve inverts, refinance your mortgage. Let me use a previous example as to why this is.

On March 11, 2019, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated there will be no further rate hikes in 2019, even though he suggested that two were likely this year as recently as December 2018. Then in August 2019, the Fed finally cut rates for the first time in 10 years.

A rate cut is welcome news for borrowers and investors. However, declining fixed income yields is also a sign of slowing growth. The Federal Reserve does not see the economy as strong enough to withstand higher interest rates.

It’s hard to accurately predict the future. The bond market is telling us one thing and the stock market is telling us another.

But when you’ve got a bird in the hand, don’t let go. Every homeowner should at the very least refinance their mortgage now and boost cash flow.

Refinance Your Mortgage As The Yield Curve Inverts

The 10-year bond yield hit an all-time low in 2021. In November 2018, the 10-year bond yield was at 3.2%. A 1.85% drop is huge, and will bring demand back into the housing market.

Given mortgage rates follow the 10-year bond yield up and down, mortgage rates also went back down to all-time lows in 2021. Mortgages are are ~2.75% higher in 2022 thanks to inflation and the Fed. However, we are using the inverted yield curve case study in 2021.

It doesn’t matter if the bull market continues or a recession is on the horizon now that the yield curve is inverted. Refinancing now makes a lot of sense because saving money always makes sense.

Homeowners who are seeing their adjustable rate mortgages expire within one year or homeowners who bought when rates were much higher should especially consider refinancing.

A ~2% decline in mortgage rates since 4Q2018 is significant and I suggested everyone take advantage by refinancing their mortgage. You can always check online for free mortgage rate quotes. The more quotes you can get, the more confidence you have in getting the best rate.

The Adjustable Rate Mortgage Survives Again

When I bought my current house in June 2014, the 10-year bond yield was at the same level as it is today. As a result, you’d think that my 5/1 ARM would see no adjustment.

Unfortunately, my 5/1 ARM is tied to the one-year London Interbank Overseas Rate (LIBOR) plus a 2.25% spread. Given short-term rates have gone up, so will my 5/1 ARM when it adjusts this summer.

If my 5/1 ARM had been tied to the 10-year bond yield, then my mortgage rate would have stayed the same.

Related: The Anatomy Of An Adjustable Rate Mortgage Increase

Instead of allowing my 5/1 ARM to reset to 4.5% from 2.5% this summer, I can simply refinance my 5/1 ARM to a new ARM at around 3%. While this rate is higher than my current 2.5% rate, it is still 0.75% – 1% lower than it was in 2H2018.

Further, an average rate of 2.75% over a 10 year period (5 years at 2.5%, 5 years at 3%) is still much lower than a 3.5% 30-year fixed rate mortgage I was considering back in 2014.

If I let my 5/1 ARM adjust this summer, my new payment would be about $3,700/month, down from $3,907/month. Why is this?

Despite the mortgage interest rate rising from 2.5% to 4.5%, my monthly payment declines because we paid down the mortgage from $990,000 to $700,000 in five years (-29%).

Paying down principal during the fixed rate period is what many ARM opponents forget about.

Great Cash Flow Savings From Refinancing Your Mortgage

But the real potential cash flow savings are derived by comparing my upcoming 4.5% rate to the new 5/1 ARM rate I can get if I refinance now at 3%. In other words, my cash flow improvement is the difference between $3,700/month at 4.5% and $2,951/month at 3% = $749, a significant amount of change.

However, there is no free lunch. The appraisal, application, processing, and underwriting fees for a new mortgage may cost ~$1,700 and the title and escrow fees may cost ~$1,300 for a total of $3,000, before any credits.

One common method used by homeowners to help defray the cost of refinancing is to add the refinancing costs to the loan amount.

Related: Understanding The Yield Curve: A Prescient Economic Indicator

Always Save Money When You Can

On a million dollar loan, a 0.8% – 1.375% lower mortgage rate is an annual interest savings of $8,000 – $13,750. If the cost to refinance is $3,000, you’ll have covered your cost in just 4 – 6 months.

A general rule of thumb is that you should refinance if your refinance cost is covered within 12 months. In other words if your refinance costs $3,000, your monthly interest savings should be at least $250.

The 12-month barometer is also on the condition you will live in your house for at least 13 months, preferably much, much longer. The longer you plan to live in or own your home, the more you can afford to violate the 12-month rule.

Stick to at most a maximum 24 months break even given the average homeowner lives in his or her home for only about nine years.

When it comes to refinancing, there is also a PITA factor to consider as well. You’ll have to provide your last two years of tax returns, your last two months of pay stubs, and potentially other financial documents to the bank during the underwriting process. Then you’ll need to sign a binder full of documents and set up new auto payments.

But when it comes to saving and making money, none of us should be afraid of doing a little extra work. It’s extremely easy to run the numbers once you get some legitimate quotes.

The Yield Curve Today

Post pandemic, the yield curve is now upward sloping. The 10-year bond yield has rise to 3.2% – 3.5% and the Fed Funds rate continues to go up as the Fed raises rates. Perhaps eventually, the yield curve will invert again as the Fed raises the short end too far and the long end barely moves.

I’m personally very positive on the housing market. I don’t think the Fed will go through with its rate hikes to 3.25% – 3.5%. But there’s a good chance the yield curve will invert if the Fed Funds rate goes to 3%.

Always Refinance Your Mortgage When You Can

If a recession is really going to hit, we’ll be happy to be saving money each month. If the bull market continues, we’ll be absolutely ecstatic to not only be saving money but experiencing further appreciation in our beloved homes.

You can check online for the latest mortgage rates. It’s way more efficient as opposed to going to each lender one by one.

Then of course you should check with your existing bank on what rates they can provide. They don’t want to lose your business, so they should be incentivized to provide you the best rate possible. Personally, I refinanced to a 7/1 ARM at 2.375% without fees. I can’t believe I’m able to save so much money!

Invest In Real Estate

As interest rates settle at all-time lows, demand and buying power for real estate goes up. With the pandemic, a home has become much more valuable.

Take a look at real estate crowdfunding to find value in the heartland of America. Valuations are cheaper and net rental yields are higher than the coasts.

Fundrise is the top real estate crowdfunding platform today for all investors. It is the inventor of the eREIT, a private real estate fund that provides diversified exposure. It’s free to sign up and explore. For most investors, investing in a Fundrise eREIT is likely the most appropriate way to gain diversified real estate exposure.

CrowdStreet is also great for accredited investors. It focuses on investing in 18-hour cities, those cities with faster growth rates, lower valuations, and more positive demographic trends. If you have a lot of capital, you can build your own select real estate portfolio with CrowdStreet. CrowdStreet is also free to sign up and explore.

Personally, I’ve invested $810,000 in real estate crowdfunding to diversify my real estate exposure across America. I now earn over $60,000 a year in passive real estate crowdfunding income. Instead of spending time on my rentals, I can spend more time with my kids!

Refinance Your Mortgage When The Yield Curve Inverts is a Financial Samurai original post.