Articles in Category: Streamline Refinance

August 18, 2015

FHA Streamline Refinance Loans: Some Basics

FHA refinance options for those who already have FHA mortgages include something know as the FHA Streamline Refinance. FHA Streamline Refinance loans allow FHA borrowers to apply for a refinance loan designed to lower monthly payments, interest rates (or both), get out of an adjustable rate mortgage, or refinance from one fixed-rate loan to another. Borrowers can also, according to FHA loan rules, refinance from one adjustable rate mortgage to another. The rules that govern FHA streamline refinance loans are found in HUD 4155.1, Chapter Six, Section B, which begins by explaining that FHA Streamline Refinances: “–are designed to lower the monthly principal and interest payments on a current FHA-insured mortgage, and — must involve no cash back to the borrower, except for minor adjustments at closing that are not | more...

July 29, 2015

FHA Refinance Loan Options

By Joe Wallace

Looking for a refinance loan? Do you know what your options are as a homeowner when it comes to refinancing from a non-FHA loan to an FHA mortgage? Or are you in need of an FHA-to-FHA refinance? There are many options available, some of which may surprise you. Did you know there is one type of FHA refinancing which has no FHA-required credit check? Borrowers who are currently paying on adjustable rate mortgages should take a close look at FHA refinance loan options for a variety of reasons. Those who have non-FHA loans can refinance into fixed rate FHA loans, or refinance into another adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)–FHA loan rules permit both options for qualified borrowers. Non-FHA borrowers looking to refinance into an FHA mortgage will be required to get | more...

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

July 22, 2015

FHA Streamline Refinance Loans

By Joe Wallace

If you have an existing FHA mortgage loan, you can apply for a refinance loan with no FHA required credit check or appraisal that results in a reduction in your monthly mortgage payment and/or interest rate in most cases. Called the FHA Streamline Refinance loan, these loans are only for existing FHA mortgages and offer no cash back to the borrower. FHA loan rules permit Streamline loans for those who have assumed FHA mortgages. According to the FHA official site (www.fha.gov), the FHA, “does not require an appraisal on a streamline refinance. These transactions can be made with or without an appraisal.” If there is a lender required appraisal, there may be corrections noted. According to FHA loan rules, these corrections may or may not need to be made as | more...

July 14, 2015

FHA Refinance Loans: With Appraisal Or Without Appraisal?

By Joe Wallace

For borrowers examining their refinance loan options, it’s important to know what kind of refinance loan you want so you can plan ahead for expenses that might be related to the loan such as appraisals and up-front closing costs. Some borrowers assume that certain types of refinancing never require an appraisal, but this is not true–FHA loan rules for Streamline Refinancing, for example, say that no appraisal is required by the FHA but the lender may ask for one regardless. This surprises some applicants, and we get a fair number of inquiries asking if certain lender policies (including “appraisal required” streamline loans) are legitimate. “My understanding is that the FHA rules don’t require an appraisal for this refinance loan. My lender says I will need one for my streamline refinance | more...

June 26, 2015

FHA Streamline Refinance Loans: Appraisal Required?

By Joe Wallace

When you examine your streamline refinance options, it’s easy to get confused over the difference between lender requirements and FHA refinance loan standards. FHA Streamline Refinance Loans are intended for borrowers with existing FHA mortgages and can be done on any type of existing FHA loan–fixed rate, adjustable rate, graduated payment mortgage, etc. Some borrowers want to know if there is a new credit check or appraisal required. There is no short answer to this because while FHA loan rules do not demand a new appraisal, the lender may require one. The credit check issue also depends on a variety of circumstances including the type of refinance transaction (fixed rate to adjustable rate, for example) and how long the borrower has owned the property. FHA loan rule spell out some | more...

June 15, 2015

FHA Refinance Loan Options: FHA-To-FHA, Non-FHA to FHA

By Joe Wallace

Is now the right time to refinance your mortgage with an FHA loan? Many are considering their options, but if you don’t know the possibilities offered by an FHA refinance loan, now is a good time to get caught up on what’s available for owner-occupied single family home loans. FHA single-family home loan refinancing is available for both existing FHA loans and non-FHA mortgages. Your current loan can be an FHA, VA, conventional, or any other type of home loan that meets FHA program requirements for refinancing. Borrowers applying for any type of single family FHA home loan must be owner-occupiers of the property securing the new loan. For existing FHA loans, there is an option for cash-out (appraisal and new credit check required), no cash out (an appraisal and/or | more...

June 9, 2015

Why Refinance Your Home Loan?

By Joe Wallace

There are lots of articles and blog posts about refinancing your home loan, but many of these are technical; few of them discuss the reasons it might be a good move to consider applying for an FHA refinance loan. Consider an article written last year by a staff member at Marketwatch.com titled, “Half Of Americans Cant Afford Their House”, which discusses a serious issue among some home owners. According to the article approximately 15 percent of home owners in the United States were said to be in housing markets where the monthly mortgage loan payment ate up more than 30 percent of monthly income. 30 percent is, the article states, the maximum for rent or mortgage loan payments in terms of affordability. Exceeding that 30 percent is not recommended. Home | more...

May 21, 2015

FHA Refinance Loans, Appraisals, and Refunds

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I closed a cash out refinance in December 2014. The term was a fifteen year at 4.75%. I received a flyer from my lender in February that offered a 3.25% rate. I decided to inquire about a thirty year term as circumstances had changed significantly after the first of the year with my wifes job. The lender sent me a GFE and we locked in the rate. After a short while I was told I had to pay for another appraisal and basically resubmit all of the paperwork that I had previously sent to the lender. As of three months later I still have no refinance and am out of pocket over $500.” “Is this legal to open two FHA cases within two months and why was | more...

May 20, 2015

FHA Streamline Refinance Loans: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “When an applicant is applying for a refinance under the FHA Streamline and their spouse (co-borrower) has passed (died), does the remaining borrower need to show the six months of payment history before they can apply for a refinance without doing a credit qualification?” FHA loan rules for streamline refinance loans are found in HUD 4155.1 Chapter Six. Section C has a heading titled, “Seasoning Requirement For A Streamline Refinance” which addresses this reader question. It states: “On the date of FHA case number assignment, –the borrower must have made at least six payments on the FHA-insured mortgage being refinanced –at least six full months must have passed since the first payment due date of the refinanced mortgage, and –at least 210 days must have passed from | more...

May 8, 2015

FHA Refinance Loans And FHA Case Numbers: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I bought my home in 2009. Its a FHA mortgage. I do not qualify to refinance because paperwork and case number were assigned after may 1 2009. I need to know what I can do to refinance with a FHA mortgage I need to Lower my payments, smaller interest rate shorten time on contract I feel like im stuck. There has to be a way to get this done.” It’s not clear why this reader believes an FHA home loan isn’t eligible to be refinanced because of the date of the case number–qualified borrowers are free to apply for FHA refinancing for their home loans regardless of the date of the case number, provided a minimum of six months and six mortgage payments have been made. That’s | more...