The Only Time It Makes Sense to Refinance Your House

True or false, you should refinance your mortgage only when interest rates fall by more than one percentage point. So, here's my rule of thumb. If you can break even in two years or less, this could be a good deal if you don't plan to move in the next few years. Cuz otherwise, you're going to pay off the mortgage and then maybe get a new one at the new place you live. But, I do want to throw to a trusted source here, Ask Ramsey. When does refinancing your home make sense? This is a R A I tool that is built on everything we do on our Ramsey show, all of our articles, books, all of that. Refinance if you can switch to a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage from a 30 and keep your payment at or below 25% of take-home pay. Refinance if you have a high interest loan, an adjustable-rate mortgage, or a mortgage term longer than 15 years. And only move forward if you'll recoup the closing costs within two to three years. Boom! And plan to stay in the home longer than your break-even point. [snorts] The shorter your new loan term and the lower your rate, the more you'll save. Don't refinance just for a slightly lower payment. Focus on paying off your house faster and saving thousands in interest.