Articles Tagged With: FHA Cash-out Refinance

May 23, 2022

FHA Refinance Loans Versus Loan Forbearance

If you have an FHA mortgage and get into financial difficulty that makes it hard to make your current home loan payments, you might be wondering how to prevent the loan from going into default or foreclosure. Should you seek a loan forbearance in such cases, or try to get an FHA refinance loan instead? In some instances, forbearance is the right course of action but in others? A refinance loan may be the right choice. Loan forbearance is sometimes necessary to avoid loan default and eventual foreclosure. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau defines loan forbearances as an arrangement where your lender, “temporarily to pay your mortgage at a lower rate or temporarily to stop paying your mortgage.” This may be needed in cases where a homeowner has had a | more...

April 4, 2022

Need An FHA Refinance Loan?

By Joe Wallace

What do you need to know about FHA refinance loans? If you are considering your options and aren’t sure about some aspects of the FHA refinance process, you may find some answers to your questions below. FHA Refinance Loan FICO Score Requirements FHA refinance loans typically require credit checks and appraisals. There is one exception. There is no FHA requirement for either when you are applying for an FHA Streamline Refinance mortgage. If you need to refinance but worry about your ability to qualify for an FHA mortgage due to credit issues or other problems? Contact the FHA directly at 1-800 CALL FHA. Request a referral to a local, HUD-approved housing counselor who can assist you with planning, budgeting, and other important credit application issues ahead of any purchase or | more...

March 24, 2022

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

By Joe Wallace

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 14, 2022

When Can I Refinance An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

When can I refinance an FHA loan? That is a common question and one that is addressed in the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1. There are rules that govern how and when you can refinance your home loan and those rules will vary depending on the type of refinance loan you seek. Most FHA home loans, including refinance loans and even reverse mortgages, require occupancy as a condition of loan approval. In the case of FHA Cash-Out Refinance loans, that occupancy is required for at least one year prior to the new loan. From HUD 4000.1: “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 | more...

January 24, 2022

FHA Refinance Loan Options

By Joe Wallace

No two refinance loan programs are exactly identical–depending on the program and the lender you may find terms and conditions vary. For example, where FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages are concerned, there is a minimum age you must be (62 or older) to qualify. That is NOT true of FHA Cash-Out Refinancing or FHA Simple Refinance loans. What’s more, FHA refinance loans do not have the same terms and conditions. For example, these refinance loans may, depending on the participating lender, allow you to refinance an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) into a fixed rate but also may permit you to go from one adjustable-rate mortgage to a new ARM. And that loan could be a 15-year or a 30-year loan depending on your financial needs and goals. There are many choices | more...

Should I Buy A Condo With An FHA Home Loan?

January 14, 2022

Advantages Of An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you know the advantages of an FHA cash-out refinance loan? There are several, especially if you are considering an FHA loan to get money to renovate your existing home. FHA Cash-Out Refinancing Loans: Good For FHA and Non-FHA Mortgages FHA cash-out loans are for all mortgages, FHA, or not. You can refinance a USDA, VA, conventional, existing FHA loan, etc. The rules to qualify are the same no matter what kind of home loan you wish to refinance, and the longer you have been making mortgage payments, the better. FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan Funds Are Not Restricted The uses you put your cash-out refinance money towards is not restricted; you can use your cash-out funds any way you see fit. That includes debt consolidation, vacations, and home repair. FHA Cash-Out | 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...

December 30, 2021

Qualifying For An FHA Loan Or Refinance Loan

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans and refinance loans feature similar requirements in terms of FICO scores, credit history, and responsible credit use. When you want to refinance a home loan, it’s smart to treat the process exactly the same as you did when you applied for your first mortgage where applicable. But not all borrowers have the luxury of taking a year or more to plan and save for the loan. Some must act quickly because their homes have been damaged or destroyed in a natural disaster, or they have a job-related relocation or some other issue that requires a faster approach to the loan. Some borrowers need a new purchase loan; a job relocation or an increase in family size may warrant buying a larger home. Knowing the FHA loan policy | more...

December 27, 2021

FHA Refinance Loan Options In 2022: FHA Cash-Out Refi

By Joe Wallace

How prepared are you to apply for an FHA Cash-Out Refinance loan? Some borrowers don’t realize that some FHA refinance options require more preparation than others. FHA Cash-Out loans have an FHA-required credit check and appraisal; saving for these expenses and your closing costs is a smart idea to maximize your borrowing power and keep your monthly payments lower. Financing your allowable closing costs may hike your mortgage payments; smart borrowers try to decide in advance how high the payment can go before it is too high. What does it take to qualify for an FHA Cash-Out Refinance and get your application approved? Aside from the basics like FICO scores and your record of on-time payments, you will need to have lived in the home as your primary residence for | 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...