Smart Mortgage Strategies: From Refinancing to HELOC

Learn how to refinance your mortgage, manage credit card debt, and navigate home equity with practical tips and strategies. When is the right time to refinance a mortgage? How can you use a HELOC or home equity to your advantage? Hosts Sean Pyles, freshly returned from time off to focus on the CFP exam, and Sara Rathner discuss mortgage refinancing, home equity, and credit card debt management to help you make smarter financial decisions. But first, they share an update on Sean’s CFP journey and discuss what to do about recent changes in interest rates, including how they may impact your finances and how you can proactively respond to them. Then, mortgage Nerd Kate Wood joins Sean and Sara to discuss mortgage refinancing, sharing tips on determining the best time to refinance, understanding the costs, and calculating the break-even point. They also discuss HELOCs and home equity, exploring when to lock in a HELOC rate, the difference between paying down and paying off a HELOC, and practical ways to decide whether a HELOC or refinance is the better choice for your situation. Learn more about refinancing a car loan in NerdWallet’s writeup here: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/auto-loans/how-to-refinance-your-car-loan Use NerdWallet’s free mortgage refinance calculator to determine if refinancing can help you achieve your financial goals: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/refinance-calculator To help you choose among mortgage lenders, NerdWallet’s editorial team has picked some of the best in a variety of categories to help you find the home loan that's right for you: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/mortgages/mortgage-lenders   In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: interest rates, mortgage refinancing, mortgage refinance calculator, HELOC vs refinance, CDs, home equity loan, refinance costs, refinance tips, refinance break-even point, HELOC rate lock, HELOC payoff, refinancing options, how to refinance your mortgage, refinancing costs, refinancing calculator, mortgage tips, HELOC draw period, refinancing with low equity, credit card payoff strategies, refinancing pros and cons, refinancing 101, mortgage refinance tips, home equity explained, refinancing vs HELOC, mortgage interest rates, refinancing advice, HELOC tips, home equity advice, refinancing myths, how to save on refinancing, mortgage payment calculator, home equity tips, refinancing calculator tips, refinancing interest rates, managing credit card debt, debt payoff strategies, refinancing strategies, HELOC strategies, and what is a home equity line of credit. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Om Podcasten

NerdWallet’s trusted finance journalists answer real-world money questions to help you make smarter financial decisions with confidence. Each episode dives deep into topics like budgeting, saving, investing, home buying, and credit cards, cutting through misinformation to bring you clear, actionable advice backed by thorough research. By the end of every episode, you’ll have the latest financial insights and the tools you’ll need to manage your money wisely, build wealth, and plan for life’s milestones. And if you have questions for the Nerds, you can leave them a voicemail at 901-730-6373. Join hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, Elizabeth Ayoola, and other expert Nerds as they answer your biggest money questions and share strategies to help you build wealth and reach your financial goals, including: – Investing: Advanced investment strategies, integrating ETFs and mutual funds into a diversified portfolio, tax-efficient retirement planning, understanding Roth IRA conversions, and navigating robo-advisors. – Credit Cards: Top credit cards for travel rewards and luxury perks, balance transfer strategies, maximizing credit card points, and optimizing credit card usage to boost your credit score. – Personal Finance: Advanced budgeting tips, building generational wealth, creating effective savings plans, managing high-income expenses, and developing a strong money growth mindset. – Home: Smart strategies for homebuying in competitive markets, leveraging home equity loans and HELOCs, refinancing for long-term savings, first-time homebuying tips, and budgeting for major home improvements. If you’re searching for the best personal finance podcasts or want practical knowledge to make smarter money decisions, then follow NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast. You’ll love NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast if you like podcasts like: Planet Money, The Personal Finance Podcast, DIY Money, Afford Anything, How to Money, The Ramsey Show, Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, NPR’s Life Kit: Money, Popcorn Finance, Money Girl,Money Guy Show, Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, So Money with Farnoosh Tarabi, The Money with Katie Show, All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins, The Stacking Benjamins Show, MoneyWatch with Jill Schlesinger, or Your Money, Your Wealth. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/