Next 8, but at a much lower interest rate. Not only do I save on the interest, but I save on the monthly payments. Kind of like anything when you talk about interest and taxes, pay now or pay later.
Tim...I gotta be missing something here...because it sounds like you are going to be paying later. MUCH more later.
Yes....paying off your cars and equity loan in 8 years may provide a lower interest rate and a lower monthly payment than paying them off...in say 3 years....
BUT...your making additional YEARS of payments that will dramatically offset any perceived savings in interest rate and monthly payments.
The best analogy I can offer is the difference between a 15 year and a 30 year home loan. The 30 year provides a smaller monthly payment but the additional 15 years of payments is a killer in total interest paid over the additional term of the loan.
Also.... how does a loan consolidation /extending a loan payoff drop you into a lower tax bracket? The added deductible mortgage interest from transferring the cars and equity loan to your home mortgage is going to be offset by a lower home mortgage interest rate. I only see your tax bracket changing if you are presently just barely above the bracket dividing line. And if that's the case....you should be able to come up with other increased personal deductions to accomplish the same result.
Donations to charity being one example. Taking deductions for "Hobby expenses" might even be a consideration if you have an intent to profit from racing or showing your car...If so...the recent purchase of your car trailer and your travel expenses to Muncie and Putnum "could" be deductible up to any gross receipts received.
Getting a lower home mortgage interest rate...while REDUCING the number of years of your present loan is a money saver. No question.
However re-negotiating a lower interest rate for a longer term...generally...is not. And you are contemplating going from an 8 year term to a 10 year term. The added interest paid for the last two years should exceed any savings from a lower interest rate for the first 8 years.
Now granted...none of us know your exact numbers...so I am making some general observations...and please correct me if I'm off base. But..it appears you are not necessarily going to save money based on what information you have shared.
What am I not seeing...?