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FHA Refinance Requirements

What are today's FHA Refinance Requirements?

To decide if you qualify for an FHA refinance home loan, we will look at:

  • Your income and your monthly expenses. Standard debt-to-income ratios are 31/43 for FHA Loan Refinances. These ratios may be exceeded with compensation factors.
  • Your credit history (this is important, but FHA's credit standards are flexible). A FICO score of 620 or above is required in obtaining an approval through ENG Lending.

To be eligible for FHA Loan Refinance, your monthly housing costs (mortgage principal and interest, property taxes and insurance) must meet a specified percentage of your gross monthly income (31% ratio). Your credit background will be fairly considered. You must also have enough income to pay your housing costs plus all additional monthly debt (43% ratio). These percentages may be exceeded with compensating factors.

FHA Refinance Mortgage requirements do not require U.S. citizenship for eligibility. When you indicate on your loan application that you hold something other than U.S. citizenship, the lender must determine your residency status from the documentation you provide.

Can I get an FHA Loan Refinance after bankruptcy?

If you have been discharged from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy for two years or more, you are eligible to apply for an FHA Loan Refinance. If you are in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and have made all court approved payments on time and as agreed for at least one year, you are also eligible to complete an FHA loan application.

What types of refinance programs does FHA offer?

. FHA Rate/Term Refinance
The FHA Rate/Term Refinance is for borrowers who currently have a conventional fixed rate or ARM mortgage and wish to refinance into an FHA Mortgage. This program helps borrowers who wish to have a stable, FHA insured fixed rate mortgage.

. Cash-Out Refinance
A Cash Out FHA Refinance Loan is perfect for the homeowner who wants to access the equity that they have built up in their home. This program is beneficial to homeowners whose property has increased in value since it was purchased.

. Streamline Refinance

The FHA Streamline Refinance is designed to lower the interest rate on a current FHA mortgage or convert a current FHA adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed rate. A Streamline FHA Refinance can be performed quickly and easily. It requires much less hassle and paperwork than a normal refinance including no appraisal, no qualifying debt ratios and no income verification.

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 FHA Refinance Loan Programs

Rate/Term Refinance (No Cash Out)
The FHA Rate/Term Refinance is for borrowers who currently have a conventional fixed rate or ARM mortgage and wish to refinance into an FHA Mortgage. This program helps borrowers who wish to have a stable, FHA insured fixed rate mortgage.

FHA Cash-Out Refinance

A FHA Cash Out Refinance Loan is perfect for the homeowner who wants to access the equity that they have built up in their home. This program is beneficial to homeowners whose property has increased in value since it was purchased.

FHA Streamline Refinance
The FHA Streamline Refinance is designed to lower the interest rate on a current FHA mortgage or convert a current FHA adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed rate. An Streamline FHA Refinance Loan can be performed quickly and easily. It requires much less hassle and paperwork than a normal refinance including no credit check, no appraisal, no qualifying debt ratios and no income verification.


 FHA Refinance Loan FAQ's

Are there any out of pocket expenses for an FHA Refinance Loan?
Generally, there are no out-of-pocket expenses incurred with an FHA Home Refinance, other than the appraisal fee. FHA Refinance Guidelines allow all other closing costs, including lender fees, to be included in the new loan amount, provided that the home will appraise for that amount.

Can I take cash out of my home with an FHA Refinance?
Yes, with an FHA Cash Out Refinance, the home owner obtains a new FHA Mortgage Refinance for more than the amount owed on their current mortgage; meaning the homeowner pays off the current mortgage and then has additional cash to use however they want. They maximum loan amount for an FHA Cash Out Refinance is 85% of the homes current appraised value.

What are the guidelines for an FHA Refinance Loan?
If the borrower wishes to take cash out of the property, then the maximum FHA Home Loan Refinance amount is 85% of the current appraised value. If the borrower does not take cash out then the maximum financing will be 97.75% of the appraised value of the home or the amount you are refinancing plus closing costs, whichever is lower.

Why should I consider refinancing into a FHA-insured mortgage?
FHA Refinance Loans do not come with prepayment penalties, have no teaser rates nor balloon payments. They are offered at market rate with terms up to 30 years and are fully amortized, meaning that you pay towards principal and interest every month.

What if I have a prepayment penalty and other refinancing costs and there isn’t enough equity in my home to refinance?
If you do not have sufficient equity in your home to add your prepayment penalty and/or other refinancing costs into your new FHA Mortgage Loan Refinance, then you should ask your lender to consider a second mortgage to pay the difference or a short payoff on your existing loan. Offering either of these options is at the discretion of the lender.

Does it matter that the value of my home is now less than what I still owe?
The mortgage lender considering the refinance will have to be willing to accept a short payoff on the existing loan OR to hold a second mortgage to make up the difference needed to pay off the existing mortgage and the home’s value.


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