The Home State blog
Written by the people who underwrite here.
Local answers for McHenry County and the Fox Valley: down-payment programs, property taxes, closing costs, loan limits, and the situations where a portfolio bank can say yes. No content-farm filler.
Refinance & equityWhen to refinance a mortgage: the break-even math, the waiting periods, and the reasons that have nothing to do with rate
When to refinance a mortgage: how to run the break-even, how soon you can refinance by loan type, reasons beyond rate, and when you should stay put.
Home State Bank mortgage team · Sep 19, 2026 · 8 min
Refinance & equityMortgage recast: how to lower your payment with a lump sum, without refinancing
A mortgage recast re-amortizes your loan after a lump-sum payment: the payment drops, the rate stays. Compare recast vs refinance vs extra payments.
Home State Bank mortgage team · Sep 17, 2026 · 7 min
Refinance & equityHow to get rid of PMI: the three ways it ends, and when a refinance beats waiting
The Homeowners Protection Act rules for canceling private mortgage insurance, how rising McHenry County and Fox Valley home values shorten the timeline, and the math on refinancing to drop it.
Home State Bank mortgage team · Sep 9, 2026 · 6 min
Refinance & equityHome equity loan vs. HELOC vs. cash-out refinance: which one keeps your 3% rate
How to choose between a fixed home equity loan, a HELOC, and a cash-out refinance, with the blended-rate math that shows when to keep a low first mortgage and when to replace it.
Home State Bank mortgage team · Sep 9, 2026 · 7 min
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