Should I Refinance My Mortgage to Get Rid of Credit Card Debt?

Dealing with mounting credit card debt can feel like an uphill battle, with high-interest rates making it difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel. In such situations, the idea of refinancing your mortgage to pay off credit card debt may cross your mind. While this approach can offer some benefits, it’s essential to understand both the pros and cons before making such a significant financial decision.

How Refinancing a Mortgage Works

Before diving into the pros and cons, let’s take a closer look at how mortgage refinancing works. When you refinance your mortgage, you essentially replace your existing home loan with a new one. The qualification process involves factors like your credit score, income, assets, and the desired loan amount. Your home’s appraised value also plays a crucial role in determining your eligibility.

To qualify for refinancing, it’s generally advisable to have a steady income and a substantial amount of equity in your home, ideally 10 to 20 percent. While a credit score of 740 or higher greatly improves your chances, borrowers with scores as low as 620 can secure FHA-backed mortgages through an FHA-approved lender.

Refinancing incurs costs, usually ranging from 3 to 6 percent of your outstanding principal. Additionally, some lenders may impose prepayment penalties if you pay off your existing mortgage ahead of schedule.

If your goal is to use refinancing to eliminate credit card debt, you can opt for “cash-out” refinancing. This approach allows you to borrow more than your current mortgage balance, with the excess amount provided to you in cash.

The Pros and Cons of Refinancing to Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Now that we understand the mechanics of mortgage refinancing, let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of using this strategy to tackle credit card debt.

Pros:

1. Lower Interest Rates: Credit card interest rates can be exorbitant, often reaching around 30 percent. In contrast, mortgage interest rates are generally much lower. By paying off your high-interest credit card debt with a lower-interest mortgage, you can save a significant amount of money in interest payments over time.
2. Simplified Finances: Managing multiple credit card payments can be overwhelming. Refinancing allows you to consolidate your debt into a single monthly mortgage payment, making it easier to track and manage your finances.
3. Potential Credit Score Improvement: Eliminating credit card debt can positively impact your credit score. However, some lenders may require you to close your credit card accounts after paying them off, which could slightly reduce your credit score, particularly if you have longstanding accounts that contribute positively to your credit history.

Cons:

1. Extended Debt Repayment: By rolling your credit card debt into your mortgage, you’re essentially spreading those purchases over a more extended period. While this reduces your monthly payments, it means you’ll be paying off your credit card debt over the life of your mortgage, which can extend for 15 to 30 years.
2. Potential for Accumulating More Debt: If you don’t address the root cause of your credit card debt, you may fall into the trap of accumulating new credit card balances on top of your higher mortgage payments, creating a more substantial financial burden.
3. Reduced Home Equity: Cash-out refinancing reduces your home equity, meaning you’ll own less of your home. This could limit your options for future financial endeavors, such as selling your home or taking out a home equity loan or line of credit.

What’s Debt Consolidation and it’s Benefits

If the idea of refinancing your mortgage to pay off credit card debt doesn’t sit well with you, there’s an alternative approach: debt consolidation. Debt consolidation involves combining multiple loans into one, making it easier to manage your debt and potentially lowering your interest rates. The benefits are:

1. Lower Interest Rates: Consolidation loans often come with lower interest rates than credit cards, reducing the overall cost of your debt.
2. Simplified Payments: Managing a single monthly payment is more straightforward than juggling multiple due dates and varying interest rates.
3. Structured Repayment: Debt consolidation loans come with a structured payment plan and a predetermined payoff date, helping you stay on track.
4. Flexible Options: Depending on your situation, you can explore different debt consolidation options, such as home equity loans, personal loans, or balance transfer credit cards.

Lenders typically assess several factors when considering your eligibility for debt consolidation, including your credit history, financial stability, home equity (if applicable), and proof of income. You can consolidate various types of loans, including auto loans, credit card loans, personal lines of credit, and even student loans.

Conclusion

While refinancing your mortgage to pay off credit card debt can provide relief from high-interest rates, it’s a decision that comes with both advantages and drawbacks. Debt consolidation offers an alternative approach to managing your debt, potentially providing lower interest rates and simplified payments. Before making any decisions, carefully evaluate your financial situation, consider your long-term goals, and consult with financial experts to determine the best path for your unique circumstances.

Erin Crocker

Hi! I’m Erin Crocker. I’m a real estate lawyer with over 10 years of experience in Alberta and British Columbia real estate law. I love technology and efficiency. I’m on a mission to create a modern, digital closing experience for buyers and sellers through technology, transparency and sharing knowledge.