A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing

Page 1

   The Federal Reserve Board and the Office of Thrift Supervision prepared this booklet on refinancing your mortgage in response to a request from the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and in consultation with many other agencies and trade and consumer groups. It is designed to help consumers understand an important aspect of home financing.
   We believe a fully informed consumer is in the best position to make a sound financial choice. If you are considering refinancing your home loan, this booklet will provide useful basic information about refinancing. It cannot provide all the answers you will need, but we believe it is a good starting point.

If you are a homeowner who was lucky enough to buy when mortgage rates were low, you may have no interest in refinancing your present loan. But perhaps you bought your home when rates were higher. Or perhaps you have an adjustable-rate loan and would like to obtain different terms.

Should you refinance? This brochure will answer some questions that may help you decide. If you do refinance, the process will remind you of what you went through in obtaining the original mortgage. That's because, in reality, refinancing a mortgage is simply taking out a new mortgage. You will encounter many of the same procedures-and the same types of costs-the second time around.