Are You a Good Candidate for a Streamline FHA Refinance?

If you are in the market for a refinance, you haverespect to being a good candidate for a streamline
undoubtedly heard about the various loans that areFHA refinance is whether or not you need to get cash
currently offered by lenders. There are adjustable rateout. Consumers hoping to pay off high interest credit
mortgages, those that feature balloon payments, loanscards or make down payments on major purchases
which offer substantial cash-out options, and of coursefind this the single most frustrating aspect of the
also the loans that change an existing 30 year loan tostreamline refinancing aspect.
a shorter 15 year loan. If you are in the market for aSince this kind of refinance does not allow for any
refinance, you have undoubtedly heard about thecash-out option — no matter how much equity
various loans that are currently offered by lenders.in your home you might have — it is rarely
There are adjustable rate mortgages, those thatchosen as a first choice. Moreover, consider if your
feature balloon payments, loans which offer substantialhome is close to its appraised value. If the home might
cash-out options, and of course also the loans thatappear to be at or over the appraised value, there is a
change an existing 30 year loan to a shorter 15 yearchance that it cannot fall under the streamline
loan. The FHA streamline loan does not perform therefinancing policies. An appraisal might be ordered to
same tasks as these loans, and in some casesdetermine where the property stands with respect to
consumers may wonder if it is truly advantageous toits appraised value. Of course, if an initial search of
opt for this kind of loan, especially since there are socomparable properties shows that the home is in
many other options which are far more oftenkeeping with the general values in the neighborhood,
advertised. Lenders appreciate the business of theand if the consumer has built up some equity, then
alternative fiscal tools simply because they stand tolenders usually do not insist on such an appraisal.
make more of a profit on them than on a simple FHACosts are not one of the major issues with FHA
streamline refinance.streamline refinances as they might be with another
To be considered a candidate for the FHA streamlineloan. Of course, there are still costs and fees, but they
in the first place, the home loan you currently havecan sometimes be rolled into the loan as long as there
must be mortgage loan that is insured by the FHA. Ifis sufficient equity. Some lenders advertise a no fees
your current mortgage loan does not meet thisrefinance, but the more accurate advertisement would
requirement, you will not be able to take advantage ofbe for a refinance that requires no out of pocket
the FHA streamline refinancing program that is offered.expenses. As such, these fees are either added to the
Secondly, you must be current on your loan. If in theloan or they are expressed in a slightly higher interest
past there was a late payment, you may still be ablerate than what is offered to other consumers taking
to qualify, but if your loan is currently in default, youadvantage of the refinance. Consumers who can pay
cannot participate in the FHA streamline refinancethese costs out of their own pockets are the best
program. Another question to ask yourself withcandidates for FHA streamline refinancing.