Good points—I went through something similar last year when refinancing my VA loan. Initially, I leaned toward a smaller lender because their rep was super responsive and took time to explain everything clearly. But after crunching the numbers (and trust me, I made spreadsheets...), I realized the slightly better rate from a bigger lender saved me thousands over the life of the loan. Personal attention is great, but if your finances are straightforward, it might not justify paying extra. Still, everyone's comfort level is different, so it's good you're weighing both sides carefully.
Haha, spreadsheets are the unsung heroes of refinancing decisions. Good on you for crunching those numbers—it's amazing how much a tiny rate difference adds up over time. Glad it worked out for ya!
Totally agree on spreadsheets—they saved me from jumping into a refinance that looked good at first glance but wasn't worth it after factoring in closing costs and fees. A lot of folks overlook those upfront expenses when chasing lower rates. Curious, did you guys factor in how long you plan to stay in your home? For me, that break-even point was the real deciding factor...
"Curious, did you guys factor in how long you plan to stay in your home?"
Yeah, that was actually the biggest eye-opener for me too. Ran the numbers thinking we'd save big, but realized we'd probably move within 5 years... suddenly refinancing didn't seem so smart. Glad you caught it early!
Yeah, good catch on that. People often overlook closing costs—those can eat up your savings if you're not staying long enough to recoup them. Usually takes a few years just to break even... something to keep in mind.
