RefiGuide offers prudent suggestions, dynamic commentary from experts in the industry, news, new home loan and refinance opportunities from leading banks and lenders and so much more.
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Founded in 2009, The RefiGuide began as a blog aiming to connect consumers with banks and mortgage lenders. Home buyers appreciate its practical, no-nonsense approach to mortgage and real estate topics.
Unlike traditional lending websites, the RefiGuide was built for everyday homeowners and buyers—not industry insiders. As our reputation for helpful and insightful content grew, so did its audience, reaching millions annually.
Learn moreYou don't need to be a scientist to figure it out. You shouldn’t have to get on a rocket to find a competitive home loan.
Our goal is to simplify mortgage refinancing and home buying, because it shouldn’t take a rocket Side-by-side comparisons, rate calculators and “how to” articles to help you make critical decisions in a timely manner.
Tell us more about your goals and financing needs and we'll suggest the appropriate loans for cash out, debt consolidation, home buying, construction and house renovation with helpful ways to improve your credit score and more.
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If you own 25% or more of an S-corporation, lenders treat you as self-employed. Even if you pay yourself a W-2 paycheck every two weeks. That one rule surprises more business owners than anything else in the mortgage process. It changes what documents you need, how your income gets counted, and how long approval takes.… Read More »
Yes. Almost all of them do. “No doc” doesn’t mean nobody checks anything. It means you skip tax returns and W-2s. Employment still gets verified, just in a different way. This surprises a lot of borrowers, sometimes at the worst moment. Let me explain what actually happens. Why Verification Never Went Away Federal law requires… Read More »
Most DSCR loans have a prepayment penalty. Most regular mortgages don’t. That single difference catches investors off guard, and it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. A prepayment penalty is a fee you pay if you pay off the loan early. “Early” usually means in the first three to five years. Here’s what you… Read More »
Yes, but only in one situation. If you refinance your FHA loan into another FHA loan within three years, HUD gives part of your upfront mortgage insurance back. If you refinance into a conventional loan, you get nothing. Most people don’t know this refund exists. It can be worth thousands of dollars. Here’s how it… Read More »
On Monday, the 30-year fixed jumped six basis points to 6.87%, the highest daily reading since June 2025. It was up 12 basis points from the previous Thursday and more than 30 basis points over two months. Freddie Mac’s weekly survey printed 6.66% on September 1. The 10-year Treasury is hovering near 4.79%, and the… Read More »
Yes, you can use a DSCR loan to buy a mixed-use property in 2026, but you need to know which type of DSCR loan applies. Mixed-use properties combine commercial space (like a store, restaurant, or office on the ground floor) with residential units (like apartments upstairs). Most standard DSCR lenders focus only on residential 1-4… Read More »
The prime rate is 6.75%. It has been since December 2025, and every variable-rate HELOC in America is priced off it. That single number determines your payment. Not your lender’s advertising. Not the national average you read about. Your rate is prime plus a margin your lender set at closing — and once you know… Read More »
A client called me last spring about a listing in Chula Vista. Three bedrooms, fair price, nothing remarkable — except the seller had a VA loan originated in 2021 at 2.75%. He wanted to know whether he could just take over that loan. He could. And that’s the part most buyers don’t know: millions of… Read More »
Investors ask me constantly whether they should use a hard money loan or a private money loan, and the honest first answer is that the terms overlap enough that half the market uses them interchangeably. But there’s a real distinction underneath, and picking wrong costs money. After a decade originating loans in Southern California, much… Read More »
Takeaways on Non-QM Loans in 2026 Non-QM is not subprime — the difference is statutory. Every non-QM loan must satisfy the federal Ability-to-Repay rule. Income is verified through bank statements, assets, or property cash flow instead of W-2s. The typical borrower has strong credit, not weak credit. Expect 700+ scores, 20% to 25% down, and… Read More »
Why Your Low Mortgage Rate Is Your Best Asset Three Federal Reserve officials walked into last week’s meeting wanting to raise interest rates. That sentence would have sounded absurd twelve months ago. In September, October, and December of 2025, the Fed cut three times in a row, and the consensus in this industry — mine… Read More »
The national average second mortgage rate is 8.08% APR for a fixed home equity loan and 7.43% for a HELOC as of late July 2026, according to Bankrate’s survey of the ten largest banks and thrifts. Borrowers with stronger profiles do better — Curinos puts the fixed rate at 7.36% and the HELOC at 7.23%… Read More »
The difference between the first home equity loan quote you receive and the best one available to you routinely exceeds a full percentage point, which is more than the difference between the cheapest and most expensive lender types. This article considers the five things you control that move your rate, and what to do about each… Read More »
What Is the Difference Between a HELOC and a Personal Loan? When homeowners need access to money for major expenses, whether home improvements, debt consolidation, or unexpected costs, two popular financing options emerge: home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and personal loans. While both provide access to cash, they differ fundamentally in structure, cost, risk,… Read More »
A HELOC, or home equity line of credit, is a revolving second mortgage that lets homeowners borrow against their home’s equity as needed, up to a lender-approved limit typically set at 80% to 85% of the home’s appraised value minus the first mortgage balance. At a national average of 7.43% as of July 22, 2026,… Read More »
The bridge loan and home equity line of credit are two of the most popular financing options for savvy homeowners in 2026. Borrowers often need to access funds tied to their home’s equity to achieve financial goals, such as purchasing a new property, renovating their home, or consolidating debt. Two common financing options are bridge… Read More »
An interest-only HELOC is a unique and powerful home equity line of credit that allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes, paying only the interest during an initial draw period. This type of secured home equity credit line is appealing for its flexibility, but it comes with potential risks and complexities that… Read More »
Getting equity out of your home without refinancing follows the same five steps regardless of which product you choose. Start by calculating your available equity: take your home’s current market value, multiply by 0.85, and subtract your remaining first-mortgage balance — that figure is roughly what a lender will let you access. Next, pull your… Read More »
Thousands of Colorado homeowners are considering a home equity line of credit for quick cash as lenders have eased borrowing requirements. The RefiGuide can help you shop for the best Colorado HELOC rates online from trusted banks and CO lenders at no cost with no obligation. Colorado homeowners are choosing the home equity line of… Read More »
American homeowners hold nearly $34 trillion in home equity—and second mortgages are one of the smartest ways to put that equity to work. After originating thousands of home equity loans over 25 years, I’ve seen how strategically tapping home equity can transform a borrower’s financial situation. Here are the key benefits that make second mortgages… Read More »
