Refinance Amortization Calculator

Generally speaking, you should refinance your mortgage whenever it makes financial sense to do so. Homeowners tend to refinance for two reasons: to get cash out and to lower their mortgage costs.
A cash-out refinance permits people to take equity out of their home by getting a new mortgage for a higher value than the previous one. This new mortgage pays off the old one, and the bank gives the excess funds to you in cash. It often makes financial sense to do this when you're looking to pay off higher-interest debt like credit cards or personal loans.
The other reason to refinance is when interest rates are low. Given that rates are near record lows, many people will find it advantageous to refinance since they'll pay less interest on the loan.
In either event, you can see how much you'll pay with our refinance calculator!

Refinancing a mortgage has essentially the same steps as getting a new mortgage. The mortgage that you'll obtain will pay off your old loan, and the bank will send you any extra money (if you're doing a cash-out refinance). You'll need to apply with a bank, submit all the necessary documentation, and meet the same criteria as anyone else applying for a mortgage, including the minimum credit score and debt-to-income requirements. Refinancing typically also takes the same time to close, with 30-45 day timelines being standard.
It is worth noting that you can refinance all types of mortgages, including FHA, VA, and USDA loans. Therefore, no matter what kind of mortgage you have, you might be able to save money with today's refinance rates!

The amount you pay to refinance your loan depends mostly on the terms of the new mortgage. When refinancing a mortgage, there are typically three sources of costs: closing fees, points, and appraisals.
Closing fees are fees that your bank and county charge to process the mortgage. For example, your county may charge a fee to process the change of lienholder. Or your lender may charge you for a title search. These fees often cost about 2-5% of the loan, depending on your lender and where you live.
Points are optional but, depending on your circumstances, they can be advantageous. One point equals 1% of your mortgage value. It is a form of prepaid interest that reduces your interest rate by 0.25%. Most of the time, you'll see an ad for a mortgage that reads something like "3.5% with one point." This ad means that to get the 3.5% rate, you'll need to pay 1% of your loan's balance at closing. If you accept a refinance offer with points, you'll add these.
Finally, since a refinanced mortgage is a new loan, you'll typically have to pay for an appraisal. Usually, this is only a few hundred, but it might be more depending on the property's size and location.

The short answer is that you can refinance whenever you want! The longer answer depends on whether or not you're refinancing with a different lender. Your current bank will always accept full payment on the loan. If you refinance with a new lender, you can always refinance right away. However, if you use the same lender, they may have a waiting period before you can adjust the terms of your loan. This waiting period tends to be at least six months, but every financial institution is different. With that said, you should only refinance your mortgage, though, when a refinance calculator shows that it makes fiscal sense to do so!