Articles Tagged With: FHA Cash-out Refinance

September 14, 2020

FHA Refinance Loan Tips

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many borrowers took advantage of foreclosure moratoriums and other financial relief measures to save their homes from going into mortgage default. Other borrowers may choose to explore their refinancing options to get a lower interest rate or other advantages that can help them financially over the long term. If you are thinking about a refinance loan, there are some tips you should know that can help you make the most informed choice about refinancing. Remember that there are many different options if you want to refinance a home loan. Cash-out refinancing is one option, borrowers can also select no cash-out versions and a borrower with an existing FHA mortgage may find a benefit using something called the FHA Streamline Refinance, which has no FHA-required appraisal or | more...

August 14, 2020

Do You Need To Refinance?

By Joe Wallace

Do you need to refinance your home loan, but aren’t sure what the difference is between an FHA Streamline Refinance loan and FHA cash-out refinancing? These loans have important differences, beginning with the availability of cash paid to the borrower at closing time. One refi option permits cash back, the other does not. FHA Cash-Out Refinancing Loans FHA cash-out refi loans allow the borrower to be paid cash at closing when the costs of the new loan have been satisfied and the original loan has been paid off. These cash-out loans are offered by both FHA lenders and conventional lenders; why should a borrower choose an FHA cash-out refinance? Interest rates are generally lower on government-backed mortgages like FHA refinance loans. That said, your FICO scores will affect the actual | more...

What Kind Of House Can I Buy With An FHA Mortgage?

July 10, 2020

FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loans: What You Need To Know Today

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking at the current low mortgage loan interest rates and wondering about your cash-out refinance loan options? If you are a homeowner looking for an FHA cash-out loan, you should know that you don’t have to have an existing FHA mortgage to refinance a loan with an FHA cash-out loan. No matter which type of home loan you are looking to refinance, there are rules and requirements you should know–some refinance loan options are better than others depending on the purpose of your loan. Rehab And Refinance For example, some borrowers want to rehab a home while refinancing it–there is a separate FHA refi loan for that purpose, though the loan proceeds from the FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Refinance loan can only be used for approved purposes where cash-out | more...

Conventional Loan Interest Rates Make History, FHA Loan Rates Still Incredibly Low

June 1, 2020

Refinance Loan Options: Choose Wisely!

By Bruce Reichstein

Mortgage loan interest rates have been on a wild ride in 2020. Coronavirus, incredible lows for rates, market volatility, and much more have all created an environment that feels as unpredictable as mortgage rates have seemed. And the rollercoaster isn’t over yet. Finance blogs are still reporting as late as June 1, 2020, that refinance loan demand has actually grown larger than the demand for new purchase mortgages. That isn’t shocking in an era where rates have, at least on paper, dipped below the three percent range at times (your experience will definitely vary). Those with the ability to refinance into a lower interest rate save money over the course of the mortgage, assuming these borrowers pay on the mortgage over a long period of time. Understanding The Refinance Loan | more...

March 13, 2020

Repair Your Credit Before Your Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

Interested in applying for an FHA mortgage or a refinance loan? It’s not as easy as finding a lender and applying; you will need plenty of time to save for the expenses of the loan including the down payment and closing costs. But you also need more time in another way; taking a preliminary step as early as possible in your loan process can make the difference between loan approval and rejection. What is that preliminary step? Reviewing your credit report for errors and identity theft evidence. It’s also about working on raising your FICO scores based on the results of your credit report review. All Americans are entitled to a free copy of their credit report once per year, so there is no cost to obtain one. You can | more...

March 11, 2020

Refinance Loan Applications Spike In March 2020

By Bruce Reichstein

The week ending March 6, 2020 saw a surge in refinance loan applications and many home loan blogs and market watch websites are talking about the current rush into refinancing as something not seen in roughly eleven years. Low mortgage rates have dominated real estate headlines thanks to investor reactions to coronavirus news and many people are taking the time to look into refinancing their mortgages to save money over the long term. What do you need to know about refinancing your home loan in an extremely volatile interest rate environment? Are You Ready To Refinance? If you have worked on your credit, know your FICO scores and what your lender may find in your credit report and you are willing to commit to the loan, it’s best to do | more...

March 6, 2020

FHA Refinance Loans: Are You Ready?

By Bruce Reichstein

Mortgage rates have fallen incredibly low in the earliest weeks of 2020, and many are calling their lenders asking about options to refinance. There are many choices when it’s time to refinance; getting the right FHA refinance loan for you depends on needs and goals for the home. How Long Do You Plan To Own The Home? The basic decision to refinance can often be informed by your goals for the house securing the mortgage. Are you planning to stay in the home long-term? That will affect the type of refinance loan you might investigate as well as the basic nature of the loan as a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate loan. Adjustable rate loans are good for borrowers who have a strategy for how to deal with the loan | more...

March 4, 2020

Low Mortgage Rates and Refinance Options

By Bruce Reichstein

On Tuesday, March 3, the Fed announced an emergency rate cut, and the reaction to that included mortgage loan interest rates hitting new and historic lows. The Fed does not set mortgage loan interest rates, but investor reaction to the announcement of the rate cut did affect mortgage rates, and the net effect was that FHA home loan interest rates remain (at the time of this writing) below the three percent range. And conventional mortgages are holding at the bottom of the three percent zone. These rates, plastered all over the internet, are provided assuming ideal scenarios, but even the average borrower will find the current lower mortgage rate trend to be to their advantage. New Purchase Loans And Refinance Loans Are Affected For those who are interested in refinancing? | more...

February 25, 2020

Corona Virus Headlines And FHA Mortgage Rates

By Joe Wallace

The headlines recently have said it all; “Coronavirus fears cause mortgage rates to plunge to 8-year low”. That’s courtesy of CNBC, not one of the many many amateur finance blogs or fly-by-night junk stock purveyors. What’s the reality behind the headline? FHA and VA home loan rates for Monday, February 25 2020 were reported at 3.25%, which is definitely one of the lowest points the rates have fallen to in the last several years. There is speculation that rates might broach new territory where historic lows are concerned; whether this actually happens or not remains to be seen. Why do interest rates move higher and lower? There is no single factor, just as there is no single factor that goes into a home loan transaction; it’s a complex operation featuring | more...

Do you know how to protect your credit score during the COVID-19 outbreak? Millions of Americans have suffered economic setbacks as a result of containment measures designed to stop the spread of the virus, and many of them were already struggling with credit issues prior to the outbreak. How can you protect your credit going forward? The first step is to know what your credit report says and to actively monitor your credit. In some cases, credit problems wind up being the result of factors beyond the consumer including: Inaccurate credit report data Outdated credit information that needs to be removed Evidence of identity theft Credit report information that is accurate, but for someone else with the same name Any of these issues can hurt your credit, and they take time to correct. But they ARE correctable. Here is what you need to know about protecting your credit during and after COVID-19: You should NEVER pay a third party who offers to remove accurate negative credit reporting data from your credit report. No one can do this, it is not legal to claim you can remove ACCURATE negative credit data. You can pay a reputable third party to help you MONITOR your credit with updates and alerts that can actually help you manage your file. Pay on time, every time. Every missed payment can hurt your credit. If you cannot pay on time, contact your creditors to let them know and make arrangements. If you do not contact your creditors to make arrangements, you risk negative credit consequences that can hurt your ability to be approved for credit at multiple levels, not just major purchases. Contacting your creditors to make payment arrangements and avoid negative credit reporting is very important. Remember that late and missed housing payments (mortgage, rent, etc) reflect badly on your credit score in the best of times; if you don’t contact your landlord or mortgage servicer to make arrangements, you do not have protection against credit score damage as a result. Communication with your creditors is time consuming and, let’s face it, a bit laborious. But the protection you give yourself is definitely worth the effort. Don’t let the challenge of these tasks prevent you from getting the most protection possible for your FICO scores and credit report.

February 21, 2020

Refinancing In 2020? Questions To Ask

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for a refinance loan in 2020? Refinancing your home loan can be a smart move for some homeowners, especially in times where rates are falling. Mortgage loan interest rates in 2020 hit three-year interest rate lows due to a variety of factors including hangovers from trade war woes with China, the coronavirus, and other variables. And that means more potential borrowing options in expensive housing markets like New York, California, and Washington D.C., as well as smaller markets where the falling interest rates have improved things for buyers as well. Why? More affordable loans, rising property values (depending on the market), and the ability to pull more cash out of the home in a refi loan situation make applying more attractive. Is your long-term home loan goal | more...