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Author Topic: Too soon to refinance?  (Read 2518 times)
twirling74
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« on: November 07, 2011, 10:59:54 AM »

I bought a home in June with a 4.75% rate, 30-year fixed.  I now see that many places are advertising rates around 3.8%.  Assuming I can get a low or no fee deal, would it be silly to try and refinance less than 6 months after a purchase?
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spork
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« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2011, 01:02:32 PM »

Do you have a credit score of 850?

If you can make an extra payment on the P&I every six months, you'll turn your 30 year mortgage into a 20 year mortgage. Won't that save you more money?
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pedanterast
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« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2011, 03:33:47 PM »

If you can make an extra payment on the P&I every six months, you'll turn your 30 year mortgage into a 20 year mortgage. Won't that save you more money?

The two are not mutually exclusive.
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clean
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« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2011, 09:50:47 PM »

You could refinance the next day. 
Check into a 15 year mortgage.
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octoprof
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« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2011, 11:11:44 PM »

You need to do the math on how much the refinancing is going to cost you versus how much you will save over time in interest. The $ spent on the refinancing fees and such should be less than the PV of the interest, etc.  savings over time. Else, don't refinance.
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ideagirl
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« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2011, 11:18:54 PM »

I bought a home in June with a 4.75% rate, 30-year fixed.  I now see that many places are advertising rates around 3.8%.  Assuming I can get a low or no fee deal, would it be silly to try and refinance less than 6 months after a purchase?

The advertised rates are usually for 20% down (or refinances with 20% equity). I'm guessing that having bought so recently, you don't have that much equity? Give the banks advertising those rates a call and check what the requirements (equity and credit score) are for those loans; that will probably answer your question.

Also, most lenders won't refinance within six months of a purchase, and some require a year. They call this "seasoning" (they won't refi until the initial loan is "seasoned").
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