Refinance calculators usually ignore the longer term on the new mortgage. Many people refinance their existing mortgage with the goal of lowering their monthly payments. However, if you've been making payments on your existing mortgage for some time and the new mortgage will be amortized over a full 30 years, refinancing can cost more over the lifespan of the loan even if the monthly payments are lower. Mortgage calculators that purport to show whether you should refinance tend to focus on the monthly payment and the payback period for the refinancing costs, while ignoring the longer term of the new mortgage. This flaw is fatal.
Mortgage calculators can be fun and possibly educational.
The positive side to mortgage calculators is the ability to make rough comparisons among various scenarios. Plugging different numbers into one calculator can give novice borrowers good insights into the interplay between the cost of the home, the interest rate, the downpayment percentage and the monthly payment. But again, it's important not to make real-world decisions solely on the basis of these numbers. Written by Marcie Geffner Marcie Geffner. All rights reserve Click here for a printer-friendly version of this article.