Articles Tagged With: FHA Refinance Options

June 26, 2018

Are You FHA Refinance Eligible?

Are you FHA refinance loan eligible? There are some very simple requirements refi loan applicants must meet in order to qualify for an FHA refinance loan. Do you know what they are? Factors That Affect Your FHA Refinance Loan Eligibility FHA refi loan eligibility may depend on a borrower’s FICO scores in some cases, along with the number of house payments you have made at application time. FHA minimum FICO scores include a range between 580 or better for maximum financing. Another factor in knowing if you are eligible for an FHA refinance loan is the kind of refinance loan you seek; FHA Cash-out Refinancing and FHA no Cash-Out refinance loans can be used for FHA or non-FHA loans alike. The same is true of FHA Rehab Loans processed as | more...

June 19, 2018

Get Money Out Of Your Home With FHA Cash-Out Refinancing

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you want to get money out of your home with an FHA Cash-Out refinance loan? Need shore up your rainy day fund or pay down certain kinds of debt? Many borrowers want to do this but aren’t sure if they can use the funds from such a loan for the purposes they have in mind. Fortunately, FHA loan rules don’t specify approved or unapproved uses for the money you get when you refinance using a Cash-Out loan. The FHA Loan Handbook, HUD 4000.1, describes FHA Cash-Out Refinance loans as follows: “A Cash-Out Refinance is a refinance of any Mortgage or a withdrawal of equity where no Mortgage currently exists, in which the mortgage proceeds are not limited to specific purposes.” That is good news for borrowers who have been | more...

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

January 16, 2018

Are FHA Refinance Loans Only For FHA Mortgages?

By Bruce Reichstein

Are FHA refinance loans only used to refinance existing FHA mortgages? The answer might surprise you, and we should begin by dispelling a long-time myth about FHA home loans and FHA refinance loans in the process. FHA Refinance Loans Are Open To All Financially Qualified Borrowers FHA loans have no income limit, and are not specifically targeted at one type of borrower. There is an impression that only first-time borrowers or first-time refinance loan applicants will be considered for FHA loan approval, but this is NOT TRUE. FHA loans require a minimum FICO score, have no income minimum or maximum, and have more generally lenient application requirements than many conventional mortgages. You cannot earn “too much” to be considered for an FHA mortgage. Your income is measured against your monthly | more...

January 5, 2018

Why Should I Refinance With An FHA Loan?

By Joe Wallace

Why should I refinance with an FHA loan? There are many reasons why you might need or want to refinance into an FHA mortgage. Much depends on your financial needs and goals, and it’s good to know your options for FHA refinancing as you explore the finer points of refinance loans. FHA Refinancing For FHA and Non-FHA Mortgages The FHA refinance loan program has options for both existing FHA and non-FHA mortgages alike. You may also be able to get FHA financing on a property that has no existing mortgage. Talk to a participating FHA loan officer about this option. FHA refinance loan options include cash-out, no cash-out, and more. You don’t have to take cash back on an FHA refinance loan, but if you want a cash-out refinance loan | more...

December 29, 2017

Get Ready For Your FHA Refinance Loan In 2018

By Joe Wallace

Get ready for your FHA refinance loan in 2018! Are you interested in a lower mortgage payment or interest rate on your home loan? Are you looking to convert the equity you’ve built up in your home into cash? Or perhaps you want to get out of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and into a fixed rate loan? All of these options are open to financially qualified borrowers who apply for an FHA refinance loan. How To Prepare For An FHA Refinance Loan In 2018 Many of the same steps you took for your original home loan application will apply when you begin planning for an FHA refinance loan. You’ll want to pull your credit reports are early as possible in the planning stages, and consider active credit monitoring to | more...

December 20, 2017

What Is The Difference Between FHA Cash-Out And No Cash-Out Refinance Loans?

By Joe Wallace

What is the difference between FHA Cash-Out and No Cash-Out refinance loans? Aside from the obvious cash out option, there are several important differences in these two types of FHA refinance loans you should know about before you decide which one is right for you. FHA Refinance Loan Occupancy Requirements FHA loans generally require at least one borrower obligated on the loan to occupy the property as the primary residence as a condition of loan approval. But beyond that, cash-out refinance loans and FHA no cash-out refi loans have some other occupancy rules you should know. For FHA Cash-Out refinancing, HUD 4000.1 instructs the lender, “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 | more...

December 19, 2017

FHA-To-FHA Refinance Loan Rules

By Joe Wallace

FHA refinance loan rules include a set of general requirements that may vary depending on whether the mortgage is a non-FHA to FHA refi or an FHA-to-FHA refinance loan. Today we’ll examine some general rules for FHA-to-FHA refinance loan transactions. Who Can Refinance An Existing FHA Mortgage? FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state that at least one borrower obligated on the FHA-to-FHA refinance transaction must hold the title to the property. This must be true before the FHA issues a case number for the mortgage loan. Refinancing A Manufactured Home With An FHA Mortgage HUD 4000.1 instructs the lender, “For a transaction involving a Manufactured Home to be considered a refinance, the Manufactured Home must have been permanently erected on a site for more than twelve months prior to | more...

December 7, 2017

FHA Home Loan Refinance Options in 2018 Explained

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loan refinance options in 2018 include a variety of terms. Are you a first-time refinance loan applicant and feeling a bit confused by all the jargon? Here is an explanation of the options you have to refinance your home loan in 2018 using an FHA refi loan. FHA Cash-Out Refinances Defined What is a cash-out refinance loan? According to the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, cash out refinancing is described as, “a refinance of any Mortgage or a withdrawal of equity where no Mortgage currently exists, in which the mortgage proceeds are not limited to specific purposes”. You read that correctly-some participating FHA lenders may approve an FHA cash-out refinance loan on a property that has no existing mortgage, for the purpose of pulling equity out of the | more...

October 6, 2017

Can I Refinance A Conventional Mortgage To An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Can I refinance a conventional mortgage to an FHA loan? It’s a very good question to ask, especially if you are interested in moving out of an adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed-rate loan. Do you know what your FHA home loan refinance options are? FHA Refinance Loans For Conventional To FHA It is possible to refinance a conventional mortgage to an FHA loan. According to the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, there are several options for FHA refinancing, including non-FHA to FHA transactions: “FHA insures several different types of refinance transactions: 1. Cash-out refinances are designed to pull equity out of the Property. 2. No cash-out refinances of FHA-insured and non FHA-insured Mortgages are designed to pay existing liens. These include: Rate and Term refinance, Simple Refinance, and Streamline | more...

September 13, 2017

Can I Get An FHA 203(h) Rehab Loan With Bad Credit?

By Joe Wallace

Can I get an FHA 203(h) rehab loan with bad credit? That question is a serious one in the wake of natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Borrowers who are in the process of fixing bad credit, catching up on their payments, or trying to improve their overall credit situation have enough to manage without the added complication of trying to repair or salvage a home damaged in a natural disaster. What are the FHA loan rules for credit qualifications when applying for FHA 203(h) rehab loans in federally-declared disaster areas? FHA Loan Credit Requirements For 203(h) Rehab Mortgages The FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, instructs lenders processing 203(h) rehab loans and refinance loans to be as flexible as possible with credit requirements. That flexibility is governed | more...