Articles Tagged With: FHA Refinance

March 24, 2022

FHA Cash-Out Refinancing vs. VA Cash-Out Refinancing

What are the major differences between VA Cash-Out Refinance loans and the FHA Cash-Out Refinance loan program? There are several, and some borrowers may have the option to consider both, including active duty military members, Reservists, members of the National Guard, veterans, and certain surviving spouses of military members who died as a result of military service. And then there are borrowers who are just trying to compare the options on the market. These house hunters may also be reviewing other home loan options such as USDA and conventional loans. What should people know about the FHA and VA versions of this refi loan option? As you can guess from the above, VA mortgages and refinance loans aren’t offered to the general public. Some sources report that in 2019 alone | more...

March 21, 2022

FHA Refinance Loan Q&A

By Joe Wallace

Thinking about a refinance loan but not sure where to start? There are some common questions about refinancing your home loan, we provide some answers to them below from cash-out refinancing to rehabilitation loans. When Can I Refinance My FHA Mortgage? That may depend on the type of refinancing you seek. You can get an FHA Cash-Out Refinance loan once you have owned and occupied the property for 12 months. For FHA Rate-And-Term Refinances, you can own the home for less than 12 months but the loan-to-value ratio will be lower than if you apply after having owned and occupied the home for more than 12 months. FHA Streamline Refinance options require you to own the home for at least six months. Can I Refinance A Non-FHA Mortgage Into An | more...

March 9, 2022

Your FHA Refinance Loan Options

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans feature a refinance option. There are multiple options to refinance with an FHA mortgage and you can choose to refinance out of a conventional mortgage into an FHA loan, get cash back at closing time, and more. What do you need to know about FHA refinance options? FHA Cash-Out Refinance loans are not the only option to refinance a non-FHA mortgage. You can also apply for a no-cash-out version and get out of your current loan and into a new FHA mortgage. Some choose to do this because they want out of an adjustable-rate mortgage, others choose an FHA loan because they are interested in a lower rate. When you are reviewing your refinance options, it pays to have an idea of your financial goals for the | more...

March 2, 2022

FHA Refinance Loan Terms You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

If you have never applied for a refinance loan and are considering an FHA refinance, you may be unfamiliar with certain industry jargon and loan terms that will come up in the course of your loan application and during the approval process. This article isn’t about what it takes to be approved for an FHA refinance loan, but it will make some aspects of the process a bit less mysterious. Rate And Term Refinance This is a type of FHA refinance option that features no cash back to the borrower, and uses all loan proceeds to pay off the original loan and cover closing costs. These loans can be used to refinance FHA or non-FHA mortgages. FHA Simple Refinance Like the Rate And Term, this refi option is meant as | more...

February 11, 2022

Is There A Smaller FHA Rehab Loan?

By Joe Wallace

The FHA 203(k) rehab loan is an excellent choice for borrowers who need to repair, upgrade, or renovate an existing home. But some borrowers don’t have ambitious, large-scale work to be done and a “full” 203(k) rehab loan might not be appropriate for smaller-scale work. Is there an option for borrowers who need an FHA 203(k) rehab loan but don’t need a very large sum of money to do the work? The FHA Limited 203(k) Rehab Loan The limited FHA 203(k) allows borrowers to apply for rehab loan funds, but the loans in this case have a maximum total repair cost of $35,000 and no repair cost minimum. This type of rehab loan is an excellent choice for borrowers who want to work on the home but without fully refinancing | more...

the importance of credit for home loan approval

January 13, 2022

Refinance Loan Issues To Consider

By Joe Wallace

Are FHA refinance loans only permitted to refinance existing FHA mortgages? The short answer is that it depends on the loan you wish to refinance and why. Some FHA refi options can be used for any mortgage loan, while others are only for existing FHA mortgages. The First Thing You Should Know FHA mortgages are not need-based loans and neither are most refinance options under the FHA Single-Family Home Loan program. FHA loans have no income limit, no household income caps, and are not specifically targeted at a first-time borrower. If you have a stable income, have been in the job market for more than a year (two years or better is considered ideal), and have 12 months or more of on-time payments, you may be able to qualify for | more...

January 6, 2022

Getting A Lower Monthly Payment With An FHA Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

If you want a lower mortgage rate, refinancing your home loan can help if the interest rates offered to you at the time are more competitive than what you pay under the original home loan. Lower rates can result in lower monthly payments. There are also options to refinance for the express purpose of getting a lower payment but for some, this issue is complicated by an option known as mortgage recasting. When you refinance, you apply for a new loan to replace the old one. The new loan may be for a shorter term or for the same number of years you committed to originally. If you refinance an FHA mortgage using an FHA Streamline Refinance loan, one of the benefits from doing so can be a lower monthly | more...

December 8, 2021

Is 2022 Your Year To Refinance?

By Joe Wallace

Are you thinking about refinancing your home in 2022? There are several options to choose from including FHA cash-out refinancing. FHA Cash-out refinance loans are an option for those who have used the home as their primary residence for the last 12 months as of the assignment of the FHA case number. That means that FHA cash-out refi loans are not allowed for investment properties, second homes, vacation homes, etc. If you don’t plan to use a property as your home, the home may not eligible for many FHA loan options. There is one exception–those who inherit property may refinance it without a minimum occupancy requirement. There is one caveat according to the FHA Single Lender’s Handbook: “In the case of inheritance, a Borrower is not required to occupy the | more...

November 16, 2021

FHA Refinance Loans Versus Freddie Mac Refi Possible

By Joe Wallace

FHA refinance loans are a good option for borrowers who may need a more flexible credit score requirement to apply, and for those who want to get out of an adjustable-rate mortgage into a fixed-rate home loan. But how does the FHA refinance loan program compare to the conventional Freddie Mac Refi Possible program? Some wonder if they shouldn’t consider a conventional refinance loan program like Refi Possible instead of an FHA refinance option. Should you get a Refi Possible loan instead of an FHA Streamline Refinance or an FHA Cash-Out Refinance? For some borrowers, who meet the Freddie Mac requirements for this program, the answer is yes. These are borrowers that meet the Freddie Mac income restrictions for the program (income at or below the area median income guidelines for | more...

October 21, 2021

Can I Refinance My FHA Mortgage Without A Credit Check?

By Joe Wallace

Some borrowers need to get a lower interest rate. Some borrowers want out of an adjustable-rate mortgage. Others are interested in pulling the equity built up in their home. The way to get these things done with an existing mortgage is to refinance the loan. FHA home loans include refinance options for all of the needs mentioned above, plus there is an option to apply for a rehab refinance loan (the FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Refinance) to simultaneously refinance the home and get loan money for approved repairs, improvements, and upgrades to the home. You can also apply for FHA cash-out refinancing to cash in on the equity in your home. In most cases, a refinance loan will require a new credit check and an appraisal–especially if you’re looking for cash | more...