FHA Streamline Refinance
FHA offers three types of refinance mortgage loans: Streamline, No
Cash-Out, and Cash-Out. We will discuss the FHA streamline
refinance first since it is one of the best mortgages on the market
today. The others will be discussed further down.
Loan type Conversion:
- 30 yr fixed to 30 yr fixed: The new payment must be lower than
the old payment.
- 30 yr fixed to 15 yr fixed: New payment can not be more than
$50 higher. Note: 15 yr fixed to 30 yr fixed is not allowed.
- Fixed Rate to ARM: Owner occupied homes only
- ARM to Fixed Rate
- ARM to ARM: Rate must be lower than current loan
- 203K to 203B
Streamline Refinances were designed to lower monthly payments on FHA
mortgages only. They can be done with or without an appraisal, and
with or without credit qualification. There can be no cash back to the
borrower.
Streamline Refinance Without An Appraisal:
The new loan amount cannot be more than the original loan amount, OR
more than the current principle balance plus closing cost. ... Whichever is less. This only applies to owner occupied, as
non-owner occupied borrowers can only refinance the existing balance and do
not have the option of rolling in the closing costs.
The only credit verification required is a verification of mortgage
payments. This can be done with 12 copies of cancelled checks, front
and back. IF cancelled checks are available, no in-file report is
required unless the underwriter prefers that method to verify mortgage
payments. Some lenders also use an in file to verify that there are
no open judgments or property tax liens.
Streamline Refinance With An Appraisal:
An FHA streamline refinance with an appraisal allows the borrower to
finance in the closing costs, discount points, and prepaids provided it
all fits within the loan to value limits. The new loan amount may be
the current principle plus closing costs, discount points and prepaids, OR,
the appraised value x 97.75% (97.65%,or 97.15%, high or low cost state). Whichever is less!
IF the smallest of these two values is
greater than the original mortgage balance credit verification is
required.
Streamline Refinance - Credit Qualifying:
The loan amount is calculated based on the previous formulas and
qualifying requires full employment verification, credit report, and debt
to income ratio compliance. Typically these loans are used when the new
mortgage payment will be higher, deletion of a borrower on new mortgage,
or in assumptions involving due-on-sale clauses.
FHA "No Cash Out" Refinance:
This regular no-cash-out loan may be used to refinance a FHA mortgage,
a VA mortgage, a Conventional mortgage or a Non-conforming loan and requires the borrower to fully
qualify. Second mortgages may be included in the new loan if they are
older than one year or if less than one year you must prove that the funds were used solely to
repair or rehabilitate the home. If not, paying off or including
these loans would be considered a cash-out refinance.
This loan can be used to buy out the equity of an ex-spouse provided it
is documented in the divorce papers. It is still considered a
no-cash-out because this equity is considered indebtedness.
IF the property was purchased less than a year ago and is not
currently an FHA loan, the loan amount will be the appraised value plus
closing cost, OR the original sales price plus closing cost. Whichever is less!
If the purchase was more than a year ago and not currently FHA, the
loan amount would be calculated the same as a "streamline refinance
with an appraisal".
FHA "Cash Out" Refinance:
This loan can be used to refinance a FHA loan, a VA loan, a Conventional
loan or a Non-conforming loan.. This loan has many advantages : Max loan to
value is 90% for conventional loans and FHA loans allows 95% plus a
portion of the closing costs.
The property must be owner occupied for at least 12 months with no 30
ay late payments and the borrower must fully
qualify. |
