Articles Tagged With: FHA Refi

July 20, 2017

What Is An FHA Streamline Refinance Loan?

What is an FHA streamline refinance loan? This type of refinance loan option is intended for borrowers who have existing FHA mortgages and want to refinance into a lower interest rate or monthly payment. Streamline refinance loans allow the borrower to apply with no FHA-required appraisal or credit check. Your lender may require one or both, but the FHA allows the option to apply without such requirements. That’s a unique feature-FHA streamline refi loans allow the lender to use the borrower’s existing credit and appraisal data to approve the loan. This type of borrowing can be a major advantage for the home owner who has financial goals that include lower monthly payments. How Streamline Refinance Loans Work The FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, describes streamline refinancing as follows: “Streamline Refinance | more...

July 19, 2017

Who Can Refinance An FHA Loan? Requirements You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

Who Can Refinance An FHA Loan? We’ve been examining that question recently and according to HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, at least one borrower on the FHA refinance loan transaction must have legal title to the property. Under a section titled, “Borrower Eligibility”, we learn: “At least one Borrower on the refinancing Mortgage must hold title to the Property being refinanced prior to case number assignment.” But there is also, depending on the nature of the home to be refinanced, a requirement on the property type itself. HUD 4000.1 states: “For a transaction involving a Manufactured Home to be considered a refinance, the Manufactured Home must have been permanently erected on a site for more than twelve months prior to case number assignment.” What are some other FHA refinance | more...

July 19, 2017

Who Can Refinance An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Who can refinance an FHA loan? There are rules and requirements for refinancing an FHA mortgage loan that include prohibitions to ensure fair lending, but also restrictions on who may refinance depending on the status of the applicant as a borrower or co-borrower on the original loan. The rules that govern who can refinance an FHA loan, and how it may be done, are found in the FHA handbook, HUD 4000.1. There, we learn: “A party who has a financial interest in the mortgage transaction, such as the seller, builder or real estate agent, may not be a co-Borrower or a Cosigner. Exceptions may be granted when the party with the financial interest is a Family Member.” Furthermore: “To be eligible, all occupying and non-occupying Borrowers and co-Borrowers must take | more...

July 18, 2017

How Do You Refinance An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

How do you refinance an FHA loan? There are some important questions to answer before getting to the actual application process-questions that can help you narrow down the right kind of FHA mortgage refinance loan for you. Examining Your Financial Goals and Needs FHA refinance loans come in a variety of types designed to fit different financial needs. Are you looking for a refinance loan that will lower your monthly mortgage payments? Do you need to take cash back on the refinance loan transaction? Depending on circumstances, those two issues may or may not be mutually exclusive. FHA refinance loans do offer the ability to get into a lower payment or interest rate, but getting cash back likely involves a different kind of FHA refinance loan. Deciding what result you | more...

July 11, 2017

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan? Refinancing Issues

By Joe Wallace

When is an FHA loan better than a conventional loan? If you are exploring your refinance options, you may find your FHA loan options provide you with some unexpected flexibility. Refinancing Conventional To FHA Yes, FHA loan rules permit those who have existing conventional, VA, or other non-FHA mortgages to refinance them into an FHA loan using cash-out refinancing or no cash-out FHA refinancing. Borrowers will need to budget for a new appraisal for these FHA refinance loan transactions, and you’ll be required to do the usual credit and employment checks. Refinancing from a conventional loan to an FHA loan also includes flexibility where interest rates are concerned. Have you ever compared FHA fixed-rate mortgage loans with FHA adjustable rate mortgages (ARM loans)? For some borrowers, refinancing out of an | more...

FHA Loan Approval and Late or Missed Housing Payments

July 10, 2017

When Is An FHA Loan A Good Idea? Part Two

By Joe Wallace

When is an FHA loan a good idea? There are plenty of new purchase options, but those who have existing home loans and want to refinance into lower payments or interest rates should also explore their FHA mortgage options. FHA Loans Are For Those Who Want To Refinance FHA Loans Borrowers with existing FHA mortgage loans should consider the FHA Streamline Refinance loan option. This type of FHA refi loan does not offer money back to the borrower (except for refunds of money paid up front for things that later get financed into the loan amount) but does require a benefit to the borrower in one of several forms: A lower monthly payment A lower interest rate A fixed rate (when refinancing out of an adjustable rate mortgage loan) There | more...

July 6, 2017

Who Should Get An FHA Loan? Part Two

By Joe Wallace

Who should get an FHA Loan? There are many reasons why you might want to explore your FHA loan options, and not all of them involve the need to purchase a new home. FHA loans are for both house hunters and those who are looking to refinance. The options you choose will depend on your financial needs and goals. FHA Loans Are For Refinancing, Too FHA refinance loans are an excellent choice for those who want to refinance. FHA loans can refinance existing FHA mortgages, but also non-FHA loans such as VA or conventional mortgages. Refinancing into an FHA mortgage has an even bigger advantage if you are currently in a non-FHA mortgage with an adjustable rate. You can refinance into a fixed-rate FHA home loan and get the benefit | more...

July 6, 2017

Who Should Get An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Who should get an FHA loan? There are a variety of options with FHA mortgages, and depending on your financial goals and needs, you may find an FHA mortgage is the right choice for you, especially if you are interested in lower interest rates, and a more competitive down payment requirement. FHA Loans Are For Those Who Need A Lower Down Payment You should get an FHA mortgage loan if the idea of paying as much as 10% down doesn’t work for you. FHA mortgage loans require a minimum 3.5% down payment, which is based on the adjusted value of the property you are purchasing. It is important to know that your credit history will play an important part in determining your down payment in some cases; borrowers who have | more...

July 3, 2017

What Is An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan? Part Two

By Joe Wallace

What is an FHA cash-out refinance loan? These types of loans are designed to help the borrower draw equity out of the property being refinanced. Once the original loan is paid off, and the new loan’s fees are covered, the remaining cash comes back to the borrower for any purpose acceptable to the lender. Cash Back, LTV Limits FHA cash-out refinance loans are different than FHA Streamline Refinance loans, which are restricted to FHA-to-FHA transactions and don’t allow any cash back except refunds. FHA cash-out refi loans are “appraisal required” and feature an LTV limit. That limit is 85% of the adjusted value of the home. There is also a mortgage limit found in the cash-out refi rules in HUD 4000.1: “The combined mortgage amount of the first Mortgage and | more...

July 3, 2017

What Is An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA cash-out refinance loan? Simply put, FHA cash-out refinancing lets a borrower pay off the original mortgage and use the cash left over for any purpose acceptable to the lender. The new mortgage will be a standard term (15 or 30 years) and FHA cash-out refinance loans can refinance FHA-to-FHA, conventional-to-FHA, or any other non-FHA mortgage acceptable to the lender. The definition of an FHA cash-out refinance loan as found in the FHA single family mortgage loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, states that cash-out refinancing can also be used to take equity out of the home where no mortgage currently exists. According to page 406 of HUD 4000.1: “A Cash-Out Refinance is a refinance of any Mortgage or a withdrawal of equity where no Mortgage currently exists, in | more...