Be Cynical About the Refinance Process

(New York Times) — As least until recently, we’ve been in the midst of a refinancing boom. So consumers applying for refinancings should at least expect some delays.  While lenders are leery about releasing details about how long refinancings are taking to close today versus a year ago, some are willing to admit that processing times are longer today for a number of reasons, including regulatory changes and historically low rates.  Kris Yamamoto, a spokeswoman for Bank of America, said in an e-mail that the the longer processing times are the result of the “dramatic changes” the mortgage environment has undergone in recent years, including “new underwriting standards being enforced and regulatory changes enacted” to ensure that consumers can safely afford their mortgages. She also pointed to the low rates.

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