Reducing your mortgage balance by bringing in funds may be a good option. You would have to weigh the pros and cons with your mortgage advisor. If you would like to visit my website: www.ThinkJohnAJr.com there are a few calculators which could be helpful. If you have any questions I would love to speak.

If you can pay your loan balance down to 80% of your home's value, you'll qualify for better terms for your refi. Call to discuss further if you wish. 563-324-9937

If you want to contribute cash to pay down a mortgage during a refinance that simply reduces the amount you will be borrowing, thus lowering your payment and reducing the remaining loan balance. You can pay down the mortgage at closing - it does not need to be done before you start the refinance process. Use any mortgage calculator to compare the payment of the amount being financed with a different amount (different down payment) or I can help you with it.Tom

www.guidetomortgageplanning.com has calcualtors you can play with to run scenarios. Paying down your mortgage may make sense depending on your financial situation. Speak with someone you trust on this site or elsewhere to look at at different scenarios. My advise would be someone who has both a mortgage background and financial planning background.

Bringing in cash could help in cash could be needed to meet an loan to value guideline (LTV) or to avoid mortgage insurance. You can use this calculator to compare your current loan to whatever scenario you like. Use the simple refinance calculator. The site has the simple to complex calculators. http://www.estateofmindsites.com/mycalx_new/calculator1.php?CID=129Feel free to contact me to answer any questions.