Electricity is one thing that is not cheap in the Philippines. Meralco customers in Manila are reporting huge increases in their latest April 2010 electric bills. Like increases to P13.25 ($0.294) per kWh.
PMI is not a cost you have to pay for throughout the life of your loan. You can eventually cancel private mortgage insurance, once your principal balance drops to 80% or less of your home's original purchase price or the amount you financed in a refinance loan. This reduces the size of the loan that you can use for the home purchase or the size of the refi loan that you qualify for. 2  It is not tax deductible, unlike the interest that you pay on the money you borrow to buy a home or to finance a refinance loan on a traditional mortgage.
There is no specific time when you should refinance your property. You should only refinance when it benefits you, or you can lower your monthly payments. You have to take in considerstion the fees and points you will be charged and when you can expect to get back your money for your refinance. I would say a 1-1.5 drop in the rate should be the standard. That way i will not take you long to get back your fees and points you paid for the refinance.