A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing
Introduction
Many organizations
helped to prepare this booklet on refinancing your mortgage in response to a
request from the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and
in consultation with many other agencies and trade and consumer
groups.
It is designed to help consumers understand an important aspect of home
financing. We believe a fully informed consumer is in the best position to
make a sound financial choice. If you are considering refinancing your home
loan, this booklet will provide useful basic information about refinancing.
It cannot provide all the answers you will need, but we believe it is a good
starting point.
If you are a homeowner who was lucky enough to buy when mortgage rates
were low, you may have no interest in refinancing your present loan. But
perhaps you bought your home when rates were higher. Or perhaps you have an
adjustable-rate loan and would like to obtain different terms. Should you
refinance?
This brochure will answer some questions that may help you decide. If you
do refinance, the process will remind you of what you went through in
obtaining the original mortgage. That's because, in reality, refinancing a
mortgage is simply taking out a new mortgage. You will encounter many of the
same procedures-and the same types of costs-the second time around.
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