Articles in Category: Streamline Refinance

July 20, 2017

What Is An FHA Streamline Refinance Loan? Part Two

We have been discussing the question, “What is an FHA Streamline Refinance loan?” In our previous blog post on this subject we discussed what FHA Streamline Refinance loans are, including the fact that they are intended only for FHA-to-FHA transactions only, and have no FHA-required credit check. FHA Streamline refinance loans also generally require the borrower to get a lower payment, lower interest rate, or get into a fixed rate loan from an adjustable rate mortgage. There are some exceptions to this which you can discuss with your lender. Those are some of the basics about what FHA Streamline refi loans are. But there is also a list of things that streamline refinances are NOT. These loans don’t permit the same things that FHA cash-out refinance loans do. FHA Streamline | more...

July 20, 2017

What Is An FHA Streamline Refinance Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

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 18, 2017

How Do You Refinance An FHA Loan? FHA Refi Options

By Joe Wallace

How do you refinance an FHA loan? In our last blog post on this subject, we discussed the need to determine your financial needs and goals before examining the different types of FHA refinance loan options. Are you planning to stay in your home for the duration of the loan? Do you need to sell long before then? The answers to those questions will help determine which refi loan is right for you. But what ARE those options? FHA Cash-Out and No Cash Out Refinance Loans Borrowers who have existing FHA mortgages or even non-FHA home loans can refinance with either FHA Cash-Out refinancing or a no-cash version of the same. Cash out refinance loans permit the borrower to get money back on the transaction. Basically once your original mortgage | 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...

June 23, 2017

What Is An FHA Refinance Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA refinance loan? Do you know all your refinance options under the FHA loan program? There’s more than one way to refinance a home and the refi option you choose depends a lot on your financial needs and goals. You may find that refinancing into an FHA mortgage brings a lower interest rate, lower monthly payments, or cash back to you depending on the transaction. FHA Refinance Loan Basics FHA refinance loans are loans for those who own an existing property and want to take out a new loan that is secured by that property. Whether you have a home purchased with a conventional mortgage, VA, FHA, USDA, or other non-FHA mortgage, your FHA refinance loan options will include cash-back-to-the-borrower type refinance loans or no-cash-out FHA refinancing. | more...

June 19, 2017

FHA Streamline Refinance Loan Requirements

By Joe Wallace

FHA Streamline Refinance Loan requirements include having a tangible benefit to the borrower in the form of a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, shorter mortgage term, and/or refinancing into a fixed rate loan from an FHA adjustable rate mortgage. But there are other requirements for streamline refi loans above and beyond the “tangible benefit” rules. Did you know that FHA streamline loans have “seasoning” rules, too? Seasoning in this case means how long the borrower has been paying on the existing FHA home loan before the assignment of a new FHA loan case number for the refinance transaction. How long do you have to own your home before you can refinance with an FHA Streamline? HUD 4000.1, the FHA single family home loan handbook, states that on the | more...

June 19, 2017

FHA Streamline Refinance Benefits

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA Streamline Refinance rules state that in order for the loan to be approved, the lender must determine that the refinance loan has some type of actual benefit to the borrower. What are the benefits of FHA Streamline refi loans and which one is right for you? FHA Refinance Basics FHA refinancing is usually for either existing FHA mortgages or non-FHA mortgages. However, for FHA Streamline Refinance loan transactions, only existing FHA mortgage loans are allowed. FHA refinancing requires a new credit check and appraisal for any transaction that features cash back to the borrower above and beyond refunds of money paid up front for items that wind up being financed into the mortgage loan. However, FHA Streamline loans don’t allow money back to the borrower, so there’s no FHA-required | more...

What you should know about FHA 203(h) Loans For Disaster Victims

June 7, 2017

FHA Loan Refinance – When Is it Allowed?

By Joe Wallace

It’s a very common FHA refinance loan question, but “How soon can I refinance an FHA loan?” doesn’t have a single answer. Much depends on two important things-what kind of FHA refinance loan you’re interested in, and how long you’ve lived in the home to be refinanced. If you are interested in an FHA cash-out refinance loan, page 409 of HUD 4000.1 has rules you should know: “Cash-out refinance transactions are only permitted on owner-occupied Principal Residences. The Property securing the cash-out refinance must have been owned and occupied by the Borrower as their Principal Residence for the 12 months prior to the date of case number assignment.” That would seem to hint that one year is the minimum time you can own the home before applying for an FHA | more...

May 25, 2017

FHA Refinance Loan Basics You Should Know

By Bruce Reichstein

If you have an existing home loan, you may be qualified to apply to refinance that loan with an FHA mortgage. This option can help you get cash out based on the value of your home, or it can help you get into lower mortgage payments depending on the type of loan you are eligible for. Which FHA refinance loan is right for you? FHA Cash-Out Refinancing Cash-out loans are for qualified borrowers with FHA or non-FHA mortgages. Cash out refinancing allows borrowers to get cash back when there is money left over after paying off the original mortgage, plus any applicable fees. Cash-out refinance loans guaranteed by the FHA require both a new credit check and appraisal. The new appraisal is required in order to determine the current market | more...

March 28, 2017

FHA Refinance Loans For Lower Interest Rate Or Fixed Rates

By Joe Wallace

FHA refinance loans are an option for borrowers with existing FHA mortgages. But there are also options for non-FHA borrowers to refinance into FHA loans and get the benefits of having a lower interest rate or other options that come with FHA mortgages. Refinancing a home loan can have a variety of benefits depending on the financial needs and goals of the home owner. There are many reasons to refinance including the desire to get into a lower interest rate, to get out of an adjustable rate mortgage, and sometimes even to fund repairs and upgrades to the property. What does it mean to refinance a home loan? The answer depends on the type of transaction you need and the reasons you wish to refinance. For those who are looking | more...