5) Subordinate financing may remain in place, but subordinate to the FHA insured first mortgage, regardless of the total indebtedness or combined loan-to-value ratio, provided the homeowner qualifies for making scheduled payments on all liens.
6) Any co-borrower or co-signer being added to the note must be an occupant of the property.
7) If the loan is scored through FHA TOTAL Scorecard and received an “Accept/Approve” recommendation, but there are one or more 30-day late payments on the first mortgage in the past 12 months, then the loan is not eligible for 95% LTV cash out.
b. 85% Loan-To-Value:
1) The loan is limited to a combined LTV (FHA insured first mortgage and any subordinated lien) of 85% of the appraised value provided the borrower has owned the property for at least one year.
2) The property that is security for the refinanced mortgage may be a 1-4 unit property.
3) Property must be owner-occupied. If the property was purchased less than one year preceding the final application, the mortgage amount must be calculated using the lesser of the appraised value or the original sales price of the property multiplied by 85%.
4) Properties that are owned free and clear may be refinanced as cash-out transactions.
5) Properties acquired by inheritances within the past 12 months are eligible for a cash-out refinance transaction limited to 85% of the appraised value. The lender must document the acquisition by the borrowers via inheritance.
2. “No Cash-Out” Refinances (non-streamlined): The maximum mortgage is based on the lesser of the two calculations below:
a. “Maximum loan-to-value percentages” multiplied by the appraised value, exclusive of closing costs. (Please refer to HUD Handbook: 4155.1 Paragraph 1-11A chart)
b. Sum of existing first lien, any purchase money second mortgage and/or any junior liens over twelve (12) months old, closing costs, prepaid expenses, accrued late charges, escrow shortages, borrower paid repairs required by the appraisal, discount points, and other fees as determined by the appropriate HUD Homeownership Center (HOC), subtract any refund of up- front MIP. The prepaid expenses may include per diem interest to the end of the month on the new loan, hazard/flood insurance premiums, mortgage insurance premiums and property tax deposits needed to establish the escrow account. The existing first lien may include the interest charged by the servicing lender, when the payoff is not received by the first of the month, but may not include any delinquent interest.
B. Streamline Refinances With or without an appraisal Streamline transactions involve the refinance of the FHA insured first mortgage only. This type of loan is designed to lower the monthly principal and interest payments on the current FHA insured mortgage and involves no cash back to the borrower, except for minor adjustments at closing not to exceed $500.
The Limited Denial of Participation (LDP) and General Services Administration Debarment (GSA) lists are required to be checked, however there is no need to check the Credit Alert Interactive Voice Response System (CAIVRS).
FHA does not require repairs to be completed (except for lead-based paint) on streamline refinance transactions, however the lender may require the repairs to be completed; if so, they must be an out of pocket expense to the borrower.
1. Streamline Refinance with an Appraisal: The maximum insurable mortgage is the lower of the two calculations below:
a. “Maximum loan-to-value percentages” multiplied by the appraised value, exclusive of closing costs.
b. Sum of the existing FHA insured first lien, closing costs, accrued late charges, escrow shortages, reasonable discount points and the pre-paid expenses necessary to establish the escrow account minus any refund of up- front MIP. The existing first lien may include the interest charged by the servicing lender, when the payoff is not received by the first of the month, but may not include any delinquent interest.
2. Streamline Refinance without an Appraisal: The maximum insurable mortgage is the lower of the two calculations below:
a. Original Loan Amount: The original principal balance of the existing FHA insured mortgage, including any upfront MIP, plus the new UFMIP being charged on the refinance.
b. Existing Debt: The sum of the existing FHA insured first lien, closing costs, accrued late charges, escrow shortages reasonable discount points and the prepaid expenses necessary to establish the escrow account minus any refund of UFMIP plus the new up-front MIP. The existing first lien may include the interest charged by the servicing lender when the payoff is not received by the first of the month but may not include delinquent interest. The above mortgage calculation applies only to owner-occupied properties. Investment properties, even if originally acquired as principal residence by the current borrowers, may only be streamline refinanced (FHA to FHA) without an appraisal for the outstanding principal balance. The term of the mortgage is the lesser of 30 years or the remaining term of the mortgage plus 12 years
FHA has permitted streamline refinances on insured mortgages since the early 1980's. The "streamline" refers only to the amount of documentation and underwriting that needs to be performed by the lender, and does not mean that there are no costs involved in the transaction. The basic requirements of a streamline refinance are:
The mortgage to be refinanced must already be FHA insured.
The mortgage to be refinanced should be current (not delinquent).
The refinance is to result in a lowering of the borrower's monthly principal and interest payments.
No cash may be taken out on mortgages refinanced using the streamline refinance process.
Lenders may offer streamline refinances in several ways. Some lenders offer "no cost" refinances (actually, no out-of-pocket expenses to the borrower) by charging a higher rate of interest on the new loan than if the borrower financed or paid the closing costs in cash. From this premium, the lender pays any closing costs that are incurred on the transaction.
Lenders may offer streamline refinances and include the closing costs into the new mortgage amount. This can only be done if there is sufficient equity in the property, as determined by an appraisal. Streamline refinances can also be done without appraisals, but the new loan amount cannot exceed the original loan amount. Investment properties (properties in which the borrower does not reside in as his or her principal residence) may only be refinanced without an appraisal
Refinance Authorization allows a lender to access the Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) information for Refinance ( Refi ) cases. This information includes the used and refundable amounts of the UFMIP from the old case. The listed information is for a two month period, the indicated month and the following month, and is based on the closing date entered. An authorization number and an expiration date will be issued when the exchange of information is verified and posted.
There are lots of reasons to ask your lender for an FHA loan instead of taking a conventional or an expensive and risky sub-prime mortgage loan. Why not take advantage of the many benefits and protections that only come with FHA:
Easier to Qualify - Because FHA insures your mortgage, lenders are more willing to give loans with lower qualifying requirements so its easier for you to qualify.
Less than Perfect Credit - Even if you have had credit problems, such as bankruptcy, its easier for you to qualify for an FHA loan than a conventional loan.
Low Downpayment - We have a low 3% downpayment, and that money can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization. Other loans don't allow this.
Costs Less - Many times, FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the loans are insured by the Federal Government. Always compare an FHA loan with other loan types.
Help You Keep Your Home - The FHA has been around since 1934 and will continue to be here to protect you when the others walk away. Should you encounter hard-times after buying your home, FHA has many options to help keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.
There is more to buying your home then the monthly house payment. Why not ask for an FHA loan that will help you buy your house and keep it too? Tell your lender you want an FHA loan for all the reasons above- FHA is a wise choice.
What is an FHA Refinance?
An FHA Refinance is a government backed home refinance that allows you to get 95% loan to value on your home. With the best available rate and terms regardless of your credit score. The Refinance is serviced by a direct lender with the FHA program
The lender must provide a payoff statement in the case binder. For all refinance loan transactions, the borrower will not be required to make or bring the current months payment due to closing, nor will be the principal balance of the existing loan be reduced by the amount of that unpaid principal.
Under the terms and conditions outlined below, FHA will insure the following types of refinances:
A. Regular Refinances = “cash-out” and “no cash-out”:
1.“Cash-Out” Refinances - Effective for mortgages endorsed on or after October 31, 2005, FHA offers a two-tier cash-out refinance program and in computing maximum allowable mortgage amounts the following must be applied:
a. 95% Loan-To-Value:
1) The loan is limited to 95% of the appraised value.
2) The property that is security for the refinanced mortgage must be a 1- or 2- unit dwelling.
3) The borrower as his or her principal residence must have owned the subject property for at least 12 months preceding the date of the loan application.
4) If the property is encumbered by a mortgage, the borrower must have made all of his/her mortgage payments within the month due for the previous 12 months, i.e., no payment may have been more than 30 days late and is current for the month due.