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The Fed cut made no change to rates today, but is September still "in play"? See our review of The latest move by the Federal Reserve and what it means for mortgages and more.

The Fed cut made no change to rates today, but is September still "in play"? See our review of The latest move by the Federal Reserve and what it means for mortgages and more.

Should we consolidate our first and second mortgages into one loan?

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Q: We have a first mortgage at 5.75% and a second mortgage at 8.75%. Should we refinance and combine the two?

A: If you have an equity position which allows you to consolidate both loans into a new first mortgage -- that is, after the refinancing, your loans don't exceed about 80% of the present value of the home -- and you plan on remaining there for at least several years, you should be able to realize some considerably interest savings with a single new mortgage. Use our mortgage calculator to see where you are in both mortgages, then calculate your interest costs after a consoldiating refinance.

Related: Refinance my two mortgages into one?