Articles Tagged With: FHA Refi

June 18, 2019

Why Do People Use Cash-Out Refinancing?

There are many reasons why people want to convert the value of their home to cash. Some people use FHA cash-out refinancing to pay off credit cards or help lower student loan debt, others have needs they want to meet around the house whether its’ home improvement in general, building a rec room, or replacing old appliances. But whatever your cash-out refinance loan needs, there are some important issues to consider that may help you decide whether FHA cash-out refi options are right for your plans. Why do we say this? Because some people choose to pay for their home improvement projects or other expenses using a cash-out refi loan while others consider using a credit card to pay for them instead. What’s the best choice? In many cases the | more...

June 13, 2019

FHA Refinance Rules

By Bruce Reichstein

Mortgage loan interest rates have hit long-term lows according to recent headlines and that is driving more people to consider refinancing their mortgages to take advantage of those rates. There are FHA home loan refinance rules you need to know going into the refi process that will help you get closer to loan approval-do you know what they are? FHA Refinance Loan Rules: No Cash Back Unless You Apply For Cash-Out Refinancing Like new purchase home loans, unless you specifically apply for an FHA cash-out refinance loan, you won’t be permitted to take cash back on the transaction except in the form of refunds. FHA rehab loans that provide money for improvements to the home must be used in specific ways and cannot simply provide funds for the borrower that | more...

June 10, 2019

FHA Cash Out Refinancing Advice

By Joe Wallace

What do home owners need to know about FHA cash-out refinancing? There are a number of questions to ask yourself before you commit. Refinancing can be a big financial help for a home owner but getting the right loan for your needs is half the battle. Ask Yourself If You Need Cash-Out Refinancing And Why A cash out refinance loan can help you thanks to the cash back on the transaction, but is cash back really what you need? If your real goal is to improve the home, for example, you can apply for a different type of refinancing that could provide more money for those improvements than a cash-out refi loan could. An FHA 203(k) rehab loan is perfect for those who need to do home improvement projects and | more...

June 1, 2019

FHA Rehab Refinance Loan Basics

By Joe Wallace

Recent headlines about mortgage loan interest rates have descriptions similar to “rates edging toward long-term lows”, which is motivating many to explore their refinance loan options. Are you a first-time home owner interested in getting a lower mortgage rate? Or are you interested in repairing or remodeling the home? Keep reading. FHA Rehab Refinance Mortgage Loans The FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage, also known as an FHA Rehab loan, is offered as a new purchase loan AND a refinance loan. When you refinance with an FHA Rehab loan you are given funds to be used specifically for approved projects in the home. These refinance mortgages will feature interest rates that are offered based on your FICO scores, so the same lower interest rate may not be available to all applicants; those | more...

May 29, 2019

FHA Refinance Loans: Questions To Ask

By Joe Wallace

Are you ready for a refinance loan? Maybe you seek a lower interest rate, or maybe you want to get cash back on the transaction? Whatever your motivation for applying for an FHA refinance loan, there are some important questions to ask yourself-the answers will help determine your readiness for the new loan. Have I Checked My credit Score and History Lately? All consumers are entitled to a free credit report, which you should review long before attempting a mortgage refinance. If you find any evidence of identity theft, outdated or erroneous information, you will need time to contest that problem. Contesting your credit report could involve (in the case of identity theft and related issues) filing police reports, working with investigators, etc. Do not waste your time paying for | more...

May 14, 2019

Refinancing a Second Home With An FHA Mortgage Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Not all borrowers are first-time home buyers; some who seek to buy a home with an FHA mortgage loan already own property and seek to own again. FHA home loan rules do not single out first-time home buyers, though the program is ideal for anyone who needs a lower down payment and more forgiving credit requirements. Those who have purchased a second home, whether or not they were using an FHA mortgage for that purchase, will likely want to consider refinancing at some point. This makes sense as most homeowners will consider a refi loan for one reason or another. How does the owner of a second home get an FHA refinance loan? Much depends on the type of loan you need; cash-out refinancing, a refinance loan to improve the | more...

May 13, 2019

How To Refinance Your Home

By Joe Wallace

Do you know how to refinance a home loan? If you need to refinance or want to explore your options, there are a variety of mistakes to avoid. Those who don’t check their credit first, those who don’t understand that a refi loan is treated in a similar manner to the original mortgage, and those who don’t shop around for a lender set themselves up to pay more for a loan that is supposed to benefit them. Avoid these common mistakes when exploring your refinance loan options: Refinance Loan Mistakes: Not Checking Your Credit Scores When you applied for your original mortgage, your credit reports were an important part of the process. They will be again, in much the same way in most cases. Know your credit scores and financial | more...

If Your Home Was Damaged In A Federally Declared Disaster Area

April 19, 2019

The Two FHA Loan Rehab Mortgages

By Joe Wallace

There is a kind of FHA mortgage that first-time home buyers and experienced home owners alike can apply for that will allow the purchase or refinance of a piece of owner-occupied real estate and provide funds for repairs and renovations. The loan comes in two forms, as mentioned above; one for a new purchase and one to refinance an existing mortgage. The FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage and the FHA 203(k) Refinance loan offer a range of possibilities for those who wish to buy a fixer-upper house or renovate their existing property. FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 describe these loans as follows: The Section 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance is used to: Rehabilitate an existing one- to four-unit Structure, which will be used primarily for residential purposes; Rehabilitate such a Structure | more...

April 11, 2019

First-Time Refinance Advice

By Bruce Reichstein

Buying your first home with an FHA loan means, for some borrowers, the need to think about a first-time refinance later down the line. What do first-time home owners need to know about refinance loans and their FHA loan options? Decide Ahead Of Time On Your Goals For The Refinance Loan FHA refinance loans can help you do a number of things depending on the need for the loan. For example, you may wish to do repairs or upgrades in the home, and for that purpose an FHA 203(k) rehabilitation loan is an excellent option to pursue. Rehab loans allow you to simultaneously refinance and repair or upgrade the house with approved projects, but if you are looking for cash back to use in any way you see fit, the | more...

April 8, 2019

FHA Home Loan Questions And Answers For First-Time Borrowers

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans offer first-time home buyers an advantage with low down payment requirements, more flexible lending standards, and the ability to apply for local down payment assistance help where offered (as long as that assistance meets FHA requirements). Do you have questions about the FHA home loan process as a first-time buyer? Some of these answers below may help. What Is An FHA Forward Mortgage? The term “forward mortgage” refers to any home loan used to buy a property. It’s also sometimes known as a purchase loan. Why Are Closing Costs Due At Closing Time And Why Can’t I Finance Them Into My Home Loan? Not all closing costs must be paid in cash at closing time-the FHA Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium is an example of an FHA home | more...