Did the windows about two years ago when refinancing let us pull some equity out, and I'd say the savings were noticeable but definitely gradual. Firs...

Totally agree with your points about HELOCs being more of a short-term liquidity tool rather than something you'd want to rely on for estate planning....

I totally get the appeal of aggressively paying down debt, especially if you're locked into a good mortgage rate. When I refinanced last year, I took ...

Lower payments definitely make sense if you're still settling in. Just keep an eye on rates down the line—if they dip again and your finances stabiliz...

Shorter terms can be intimidating at first, for sure, but don't let that discourage you too quickly. When I refinanced to a 15-year, the payment incre...