eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
Summary: When trying to figure out if refinancing a mortgage will save money, it's important to look at reducing the term of the mortgage and at debt consolidation. Save money on interest payments with help from a financial services manager in this free video on refinancing a mortgage.
Matthew McKillen brings 21 years of industry experience in arranging loans for his clients. He has worked in financial services senior management positions in mortgage banking...read more
"The rule of thumb on trying to figure out if by refinancing you are going to save money is by taking a look at a couple of different options. One is can you reduce the term of your mortgage. A lot of times people take a thirty year loan, pay on it for five or six years and then they'll come to me to refinance. And the first thing I look to do is maybe cut them to a fifteen year term. So not only usually is the interest rate better on a shorter term mortgage but by knocking five, six, seven years off the life of their mortgage on a 100,000 dollar loan for example, that may save somebody fifty, sixty, seventy thousand dollars in interest payments. The other option where refinancing can save you money is if you do a debt consolidation. Pull money out of the mortgage, pay off maybe any car loans you may have, student loans and any credit card debt. I've had some clients that I've actually been able to save up to seven or eight hundred dollars a month just by consolidating all their debts. Those are a couple of different ways. Shortening the term, consolidating debt that I've been able to save my customers money through refinancing."
eHow Article: How to Determine if Refinancing a Mortgage Will Save Money
Meet Mark P Cussen, CFP, CMFC eHow's Personal Finance Expert.