REFINACE GUIDE

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REFINANCE

REFINANCE GUIDE

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Sprocket Rocket lets you transform your rapid prototype into a beautiful design by adjusting every aspect to fit brand standards.

REFINANCE

" Providing the best future for your best living."

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1 Reasons to Refinance
2 Exploring Your Refinance Options
3 Applying to Refinance
4 Appraisals and Underwriting
5 Closing Your Refinance
6 Managing Your Mortgage Payments

Getting Ready to Refinance

Reasons to Refinance

The first step in deciding whether you should refinance is to establish your goals. The most common reasons for refinancing a mortgage are to take cash out, get a lower payment or shorten your mortgage term.

Take Cash Out

Refinancing your mortgage is a great way to use the equity you have in your home. With a cash-out refinance, you refinance for a higher loan amount than what you owe and pocket the difference. Any proceeds you receive are tax-free.

Many homeowners use cash from their home to pay off high-interest credit card debt and student loan debt. You can also take cash out to finance home improvements, education or whatever you need. Since mortgage interest rates are typically lower than interest rates on other debts, a cash-out refinance can be a great way to consolidate or pay off debt. Additionally, mortgage interest is tax-deductible, but the interest on other debts usually isn't.

You may be able to take cash from your home if you've been paying on the loan long enough to build equity. Additionally, you may be able to do a cash-out refinance if your property value has increased; a higher value on your home means your lender can give you more money to finance it.

Get a Lower Payment

A lower mortgage payment means more room in your budget for other things. There are a few ways you can lower your payment by refinancing.

First, you may be able to refinance with a lower rate. If rates now are lower than they were when you bought your home, it's worth talking to your lender to see what your interest rate could be. Getting a lower rate means lowering the interest portion of your monthly payment – and big interest savings in the long run.

Second, you could refinance to get rid of mortgage insurance – a monthly fee you pay to protect your lender in the event that you default on the loan. Mortgage insurance is usually only required when you put down less than 20%. You could save hundreds of dollars a month by refinancing to stop paying monthly mortgage insurance.

Third, you can get a lower payment by changing your mortgage term. Lengthening your term stretches out your payments over more years, which makes each payment smaller.

There may be other ways you can get a lower payment, so it's always worth checking with your lender to see how they can help you get a payment that fits your current budget.

Shorten Your Mortgage Term

Shortening your mortgage term is a great way to save money on interest. Often, shortening your term means you'll receive a better interest rate. A better interest rate and fewer years of payments mean big interest savings in the long run.

So how does this work? Let's look at an example. Say your loan amount is $200,000. If you got a 30-year loan with a 3.5% interest rate, you would pay approximately $123,000 in interest over the life of the loan. However, if you cut your term in half, you would pay about $57,000 in interest over the life of the loan. That's a difference of $66,000 – and it doesn't even account for the fact that the shorter term would provide you with a lower interest rate (and more savings).

An important thing to know about shortening your term is that it may increase your monthly mortgage payment. However, less of your payment will go toward interest, and more of it will go toward paying down your loan balance. This allows you to build equity and pay off your home faster.

Things You Need to Evaluate Before Refinancing

Once you have a clear goal in mind, you'll want to evaluate your financial situation. There are four keys things to look at: your credit score, your monthly mortgage payment, the value of your home and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI).

Your Credit Score

There are many online resources that make it easy for you to find out your credit score for free. Knowing your credit score will help you understand what mortgage refinance options you could be eligible for.

Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

Knowing how your monthly mortgage payment fits into your budget will help you evaluate your options. If you're taking cash out or shortening your term, for instance, it's a good idea to know how much wiggle room you have in your budget for a higher monthly payment. If your goal is to get a lower monthly payment, it's important to decide how much you need to lower your payment for the refinance to be worthwhile.

The Value of Your Home

Before you refinance, you'll want to do a bit of research to estimate how much your house is worth. Your lender can't lend you more than the home is worth, so an appraisal value that comes back lower than expected can impact your ability to refinance – especially if you're looking to take cash out or remove mortgage insurance.

The best way to estimate your home value is to check the sale prices of similar homes near you. The more recent the sale, the better.

Knowing the value of your home can tell you how much equity you have. To figure this out, just subtract your current mortgage balance from the estimated value of your home.

Your Debt-to-Income Ratio

Another factor to take into consideration is your DTI. DTI is all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. DTI is one way lenders measure your ability to repay the money you're borrowing.

If you were paying $1,000 a month for your mortgage and another $500 for the rest of your debts (such as credit card debt, auto loans and student loans), your monthly debts would equal $1,500. If your gross monthly income was $4,500, then your DTI ratio would be 33%.

Most lenders require a DTI of 50% or lower, and the maximum DTI varies by the type of loan you get. A DTI that's too high could impact your ability to refinance or limit your refinance options.

Who are conventional Loan best for?

Conventional loans are frequently the best option for buyers with good credit who can put down at least 3% of the purchase price, if not more.

How Do Conventional Loans Work?

You must apply for a conventional mortgage loan at your bank, credit union, or mortgage broker. A complete credit check will be performed, as well as any other criteria imposed by the lender, such as cosigner information and mortgage insurance.

What Are The Qualifications For a Conventional Loan?

To qualify for a Conventional loan, you’ll need:

Conventional Loans require a 620 credit score, 3%-20% down, and a maximum debt-to-income ratio between 43%-50%, depending on the type of conventional loan program you qualify for.

Conventional Loan Requirements:

620 credit score
Maximum 43% DTI Ratio
3%-20% down payment
Two years tax returns and W2s
36 month waiting period after bankruptcy

Credit Requirements

Mortgage lenders don’t just look at your credit score. They look at your entire credit report to determine eligibility and loan terms. Derogatory credit history such as late payments, collection accounts, and excessive debt will affect your ability to qualify regardless of your credit rating.

Minimum 620 credit score
No mortgage late payments in the last 6 months
48 month waiting period after a bankruptcy or foreclosure
No judgments or liens
Student loans are included in DTI ratio unless on deferred payments

Down Payment Requirements

Conventional loans require a down payment between 3%-20% of the purchase price, depending on which type of conventional loan you qualify for.

Conventional 95 – 5% down payment, 620 credit score, PMI required
Home Possible – First-time homebuyer, 3% down payment, income limits
Home Ready – Fannie Mae program for first-time homebuyers with 3% down & 620 credit score
Piggyback 80/10/10 – 80% LTV conventional loan, 10% second loan, 10% down, no PMI
Conventional 97 – 3% down payment, 680 credit score, no income limits, PMI required

The down payment cannot be a loan. You will need to provide 2-3 months of bank statements showing you have the funds in savings. The down payment can also be a gift from a friend or family member.

- Down payment between 3%-20%
- Mortgage insurance is required if the down payment is less than 20%
- Can be a gift from a friend or family member
- Down payment can come from savings, 401k, or investment accounts
- Cannot use a loan

Conventional Loan Benefits

You can make a down payment as low as 3%.
If your down payment is at least 20%, you can avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI).
In most counties, you can typically borrow more than you can with an FHA loan.
Mortgage rates are typically lower for conventional loans than FHA loans.
Rewards good credit with lower interests rate
Low down payment options
Save money with a shorter term loan.
Conventional loans can be used for a variety of purchase types, including second homes, vacation homes, rental properties, multi-unit dwellings, and more.

Conventional Property Requirements

A single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling with no more than four units
After your down payment, can be purchased using a loan amount within current conforming loan limits
Located in the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Residential in nature
Securable as real estate with a good title
“Safe, sound, and structurally secure”
Insurable for flood and home risks
Easily accessible by roads that meet local standards
Connected to utilities that meet local standards
Appropriate for year-round use

TAG REFINANCE