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When rates fall steadily, refinancing may make sense even if you have done so once already. Bob and Michelle Barbo of Kirkland, WA refinanced twice within three months in 1998. In October, they trimmed the rate on their 30-year fixed mortgage by a full point -- from 9.13% to...
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Many borrowers use a refinance to shorten the term of the mortgage. And brace yourself, even at low rates, a shorter term means a higher monthly payment. The benefit is that you'll build up equity faster and pay far less in total interest over the life of the loan.
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Another way to make a refinance work for you is to refinance for more than the balance remaining on your old mortgage -- in effect, tapping your home equity, or "cashing out," in mortgage speak. Thanks to favorable rates, you may be able to do so without boosting your monthly...
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By switching to a fixed rate loan, you will not only reduce your payment, you will also likely lock in an attractive rate for as long as you own your home.
In fact, while one year ARMs currently offer tempting introductory rates averaging 5.59%, most experts recommend...
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When you refinance your mortgage, you usually pay off your original mortgage and sign a new loan. With a new loan, you again pay most of the same costs you paid to get your original mortgage. These can include settlement costs, discount points, and other fees.
You also may...
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Getting one's hands on an extra pile of cash has seldom been easier for homeowners than it is today, thanks to the recent deluge of home equity lending offers. Indeed, both lines of credit and traditional home equity loans, or second mortgages, can help make planned house...
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