Articles Tagged With: FHA Refinance

February 11, 2022

Is There A Smaller FHA Rehab Loan?

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...

Rehab Refinance Loans, Effects Of The Pandemic, And Interest Rates

October 7, 2021

Need A Refinance? Avoid Getting Scammed

By Joe Wallace

In 2021, the official site of the Minnesota Attorney General included a page warning consumers not to fall for home loan refinance scams. During the pandemic, many borrowers found themselves in need of refinancing or other moves to make home loans more affordable in times of reduced income and other financial stressors. If you have been looking to get out of an adjustable-rate mortgage, or are trying to get a lower monthly payment on a fixed-rate home loan, you may notice third parties reaching out to you via e-mail, social media, text messages, or phone calls offering to help you refinance your mortgage. “But be careful”, the Minnesota AG official site warns, “Some homeowners have become the target of fraudulent refinancing offers” that sometimes begin with a phone call from | more...

October 5, 2021

Refinancing With An FHA Loan

By Joe Wallace

Refinancing a mortgage can have pros and cons–knowing them both can help you make a more informed choice about the type of refinance option you choose. There are cash-out refinance loans, no-cash out, and for those with existing FHA mortgages, an FHA Streamline Refinance option that usually requires some type of benefit for the borrower. The pros and cons of a Streamline Refinance are fairly simple. In the “pro” column, you get something that benefits you in the form of a lower monthly payment or lower interest rate. Or you get out of an adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed-rate loan. In the “cons” column, the biggest drawback is–depending on the term of your new loan compared to the term of your original mortgage–a renewed loan term. If you had | more...

September 1, 2021

Using Your Home Equity With An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan

By Joe Wallace

There are many uses for an FHA cash-out refinance. These FHA refi loans can be used to refinance FHA and non-FHA mortgages alike, and the funds from cash-out refinance loans can be used for any purpose including paying off credit card debt, making home improvements, and even paying for luxury items like cars or boats. But what is the best use of cash-out refinance loan proceeds? Like many similar home loan questions, the answer depends greatly on the financial needs and goals of the borrower. But there are some issues you should consider when deciding what to do with the money you get from an FHA refinance of this type. An FHA cash-out refinance loan is a good option for someone who has built up equity in their property over | more...

April 21, 2021

FHA Refinance Loans: Maximum Loan Calculations

By Bruce Reichstein

How much can you get to refinance your home loan? Much depends on the nature of the refinance loan you seek–cash out, no cash out, simple refinance, FHA Streamline refinance loans, etc. What is the maximum loan-to-value ratio for an FHA refinance loan? FHA Refinance Loans Have Maximum Loan-to-Value Ratios FHA loan rules vary depending on the nature of the refinance loan. For example, appraisal-required cash out refinance loans? Cash-out refi mortgages guaranteed by the FHA feature an 85% loan-to-value ratio. Simple refinances have a maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio of 97.75 percent for Principal Residences and 85 percent for HUD-approved Secondary Residences. Streamline Refinances For owner-occupied Principal Residences the “maximum Base Loan Amount” for Streamline Refinances is the lesser of the outstanding principal balance of the existing Mortgage as of | more...