A lower rate, a shorter term, or cash out. Let's figure out which one fits.
Refinancing isn't always the right move. Here's how to know when it is — and what to expect when it makes sense.
Break-even in
months
Not years
Rates checked
daily
Real-time pricing
Cash-out options
available
Equity put to work
Four reasons people refinance — and what to know about each.
Lower my rate
Rates dropped since I closed. I want to cut my monthly payment and stop overpaying.
See the break-even mathShorten my term
I want to pay off the house faster and build equity — even if my monthly payment stays similar.
Run the numbersPull out equity
I have equity in the home and want to fund a renovation, ADU, payoff, or other goal.
Explore cash-out optionsGet out of FHA
I'm past 20% equity and ready to drop the mortgage insurance I've been paying.
Talk it throughFour steps from "thinking about it" to a lower payment.
1. Run the break-even math
Before anything else, we calculate two numbers: how much your monthly payment drops, and how many months it takes for those savings to cover your closing costs. If you'll stay in the home past that break-even point, a refi usually wins. I won't recommend refinancing if it doesn't pencil out for you — that's not how I work.
2. Pull your current loan details
I'll need your current rate, remaining balance, and how long you've had the loan. That's enough to run a real scenario. No credit pull yet — just a conversation.
3. Get a verified rate quote
Once we've agreed on the direction, I'll pull your credit (soft pull first, hard pull only when you're ready to move) and lock in a rate. In a Bay Area market, rate locks are typically 30–45 days — enough time to close comfortably.
4. Close — usually 21 to 30 days
Refinances close faster than purchases. You'll sign final docs in front of a notary, and on a primary residence refi you have a 3-day right of rescission before the loan funds.
I'll tell you when NOT to refinance.
One of the most common things I tell clients is to wait. If your break-even is 4 years and you're likely to move in 3, the math doesn't work — and I'd rather you know that upfront than pay $8,000 in closing costs for a loan that doesn't help you. Straight answers are the whole point.
Refi questions I get every week.
Not sure if refinancing makes sense right now?
A 15-minute call is usually enough to tell you whether the math works — or whether you're better off waiting. No pressure either way.
Most refi questions have a 2-minute answer.
Text or call and I'll run the break-even math for your exact loan — no forms, no commitment.