Refinancing is often used to lower your interest rate. If rates have dropped since you last financed your home, you may want to consider refinancing. Other common reasons to refinance include paying off a balloon payment, converting an adjustable rate loan to a fixed rate loan or to extract cash equity in your home (cash out). A few reasons for cashing out include: home improvement, an education fund, and consolidating debt. When you close on your mortgage loan, you’re not stuck with the same one forever! Many homeowners refinance their mortgage at some point during the life of the loan (even more than once), for a number of different reasons that put them in a better financial position.
Another way to convert equity in your home to cash is a "home equity" loan. A "home equity" loan is an alternative to refinancing if your home loan has a very low rate compared to current interest rates or if you have a prepayment penalty on your loan.
*By refinancing your existing loan, your total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan.