Refinancing also works effectively if you want to build up home equity and have a very long term on your loan that is mostly going to interest payments. By refinancing to a short, fixed or adjustable rate loan with higher monthly payments the equity can quickly be build up in the home.

In some cases home owners may be able to avoid the costs of refinancing by implementing modifications to their existing loans. Not all companies offer this option, but when refinancing it should be considered and discussed with the lender.

Remember that refinancing, like any type of loan, has additional fees attached. These will typically include some type of application fee, title search fee, attorney fees, appraisal fees and of course the prepayment penalty on the existing loan. The fees are based on the value of the home and will range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.