Mortgage Refinancing · Certified Financial Planner

Mortgage refinancing in Grosse Pointe.

Lower your rate, shorten your term, drop PMI, or access equity, with refinancing guidance from a CFP who looks at the whole picture.

Most brokers will refinance anyone who asks. I won't, unless the math actually works for your life.

I'm David Rakecky, CFP®. A refinance changes more than your monthly payment. It changes your cash flow, your retirement savings capacity, your tax position, and sometimes your retirement date itself. Before I recommend a refinance, I run the numbers against the rest of your financial plan. If it makes sense, we move fast. If it doesn't, I'll tell you directly. Either way, you leave with a clear answer.

Why Refinance

Three reasons Pointes homeowners refinance.

Most refis do one of three things. All of them start with either a rate drop or new equity access.

Lower Your Payment

A rate reduction lowers your monthly payment. I can structure it two ways: match your current payoff date to keep you on the same finish line, or extend the term to drop the payment further. Your call, with both scenarios modeled so you see the tradeoff.

Pay Off Faster

A rate drop can let you shorten to a 15 or 20-year term while keeping the payment close to what you're already paying. You finish the house sooner and cut total interest significantly. Useful for Pointes homeowners in peak earning years or approaching retirement.

Access Your Equity

A cash-out refinance lets you tap your home's value for renovations, education, investment opportunities, or debt consolidation. Before recommending one, I model the tax and retirement implications so you see the full tradeoff.

The Refi Watch

Past Tetra clients get lifetime rate monitoring. Free.

If you already closed a mortgage with me, you're already on the Refi Watch. I monitor your loan for the life of the mortgage. When rates drop enough to make a refinance actually worth it (not just technically possible), I call you with the math. When they don't, I tell you so. No chasing, no missed opportunities, no vague "should I refinance?" wondering.

If you didn't close with me originally, that's fine. The Refi Watch becomes part of your offer stack the day we start working together.

Standalone value: $1,200. Included free with every Tetra loan.
Refi Programs

Refinance programs.

Every refinance situation is different. I match you with the program that solves your specific problem.

Rate-and-Term Refinance

Replace your current mortgage with a new loan at a lower rate, shorter term, or both. The most common refi structure. No change to the loan balance.

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Cash-Out Refinance

Replace your mortgage with a larger loan and pull the difference in cash. Used for renovations, debt consolidation, investment, or major financial goals. Typically requires 20% equity remaining.

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Refinance to Remove PMI

Once you have 20% equity, refinancing eliminates PMI and lowers your monthly payment. Many Pointes homeowners qualify sooner than they expect due to appreciation.

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Refinance After Renovation

Updated your kitchen, baths, or major systems? A post-renovation refi captures your home's new appraised value, potentially giving you access to better terms or the equity you just created.

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FHA Streamline Refinance

For existing FHA loans. Reduced documentation, often no appraisal, faster timeline. Built to lower your rate or switch from ARM to fixed.

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VA IRRRL (Streamline)

The VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan for eligible veterans. Minimal paperwork, no appraisal required, and often no out-of-pocket costs.

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The Math

Every refinance starts with a break-even analysis.

A refinance is not free. Closing costs typically run 0.5 to 1% of the loan amount. The question isn't whether you can refinance. It's whether the savings justify the cost given how long you plan to stay in the home.

Every refinance conversation with me starts with a break-even analysis. I calculate exactly how many months of savings it takes to recoup the closing costs. If the math works, we move. If it doesn't, I'll tell you, and I'll suggest alternatives that might serve you better.

Example: Break-Even Calculation

Closing costs $2,000
Monthly interest savings $200
Break-even point 10 months
If you plan to stay in the home longer than 10 months, this refinance pays for itself. Everything after that is savings.
The Process

How a Tetra refinance works.

Four steps, specific timelines, no mystery.

01

Break-Even Analysis

We look at your current loan, your rate, your remaining term, and your timeline in the home. I calculate the exact break-even point so you know whether the refi makes sense before we spend any effort on paperwork.

02

Multi-Lender Rate Shop

I shop your file across my wholesale lender network and present a side-by-side comparison of rate, fees, and terms. You see every option and pick the one that fits.

03

Friday Check-In

A text update every Friday until closing. Between Fridays, I'm reachable by text or call whenever something comes up. Most refis close in 15 to 30 days.

04

Lifetime Refi Watch

After we close, you're on the Refi Watch for the life of the loan. When rates drop enough to make another refi worth it, I call you. When they don't, I tell you so.

FAQ

Common questions.

When does it make sense to refinance?

A refinance makes sense when the monthly savings outweigh the closing costs within your planned time in the home. It can also make sense to shorten your term, eliminate PMI, switch from an ARM to a fixed rate, or access equity for a specific goal. Every refinance conversation with Tetra starts with a break-even analysis so you see the actual math before moving forward.

How much does it cost to refinance?

Closing costs typically run 0.5 to 1% of the loan amount, including appraisal, title insurance, lender fees, and recording costs. As a broker, I shop multiple wholesale lenders to find the combination of rate and closing costs that works best for your specific situation.

What is a cash-out refinance?

A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a larger loan and gives you the difference in cash. Common uses: home renovations, debt consolidation, investment opportunities, education funding. Before recommending it, I'll model the tax and retirement implications so you understand the full tradeoff, not just the cash number.

Can I refinance to remove PMI?

Yes, if your home has appreciated or you've paid down your balance enough to reach at least 20% equity. Many Pointes homeowners qualify sooner than they expect because of appreciation in the market. A quick appraisal check tells us whether the math works.

How long does a refinance take?

Typically 15 to 30 days from application to closing. FHA Streamline and VA IRRRL refinances often close faster with reduced documentation. You'll get a Friday text update from me every week until closing, with your realtor or attorney copied in if needed.

How does a refinance affect my retirement plan?

That's exactly the question most brokers skip. Lowering your rate changes your monthly cash flow, which changes what you can contribute to retirement, what Roth conversions make sense, and how fast you can pay down other debt. As a CFP, I model the new payment against your retirement trajectory before we ever move forward. If the refi doesn't serve the bigger plan, I'll tell you.

What is the Refi Watch?

Every mortgage client at Tetra gets lifetime rate monitoring as part of the Move-Up Blueprint offer. When rates drop enough to make a refinance worth it, I call you. When they don't, I tell you so. Standalone value: $1,200. Included free with every loan I originate.

Is refinancing right for your Pointes home?

Start with a 15-minute intro call. We'll talk through your current loan, your goals, and whether a refi makes sense. No documents, no credit pull, no pressure.

Or call 313-380-4740

Call David Now 313-380-4740
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