Mark Carolin

FHA Streamline Refinance Florida

Revised FHA Streamline Refinance Transactions

This Mortgagee Letter provides (1) revised procedures; and (2) reaffirms existing procedures regarding Streamline Refinance transactions.  This Mortgagee Letter is effective for new case numbers assigned on or after 60 days from the date of this letter.

Key Revisions:

Seasoning Payment history Net tangible benefit for the borrower Maximum Combined Loan-to-Value New Maximum Mortgage Amount for Streamline Refinances WITHOUT an Appraisal Discounts Points no longer included in Existing Debt for Streamline Refinances WITH an Appraisal Verification of any assets needed to close Certification that borrower is employed and has income Elimination of abbreviated Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA)

Florida home buyers should know the many advantages of the FHA streamline mortgage refinance. FHA steamline refinance loans were created to help increase home ownership. For the Florida home buyer the FHA program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive than a conventional mortgage loan product. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include:

Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.

Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs. 100% Financing available No reserves required. FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as: 

  No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements. FHA will allow a home purchase 1 year after a Bankruptcy. FHA will allow a home purchase2 years after a Foreclosure.

Apply for an FHA streamline REFINANCE at:

http://www.fhamortgagefhaloan.com/

       I.             Revisions for ALL Streamline Refinance Transactions

A.    Seasoning

At the time of loan application, the borrower must have made at least 6 payments on the FHA-insured mortgage being refinanced.

B.     Payment History

At the time of loan application, the borrower must exhibit an acceptable payment history as described below.

1)      For mortgages with less than a 12 months payment history, the borrower must have made all mortgage payments within the month due.

2)      For mortgages with a 12 months payment history or greater, the borrower must have:

a)      Experienced no more than one 30 day late payment in the preceding 12 months,  

AND

b)      Made all mortgage payments within the month due for the three months prior to the date of loan application.

C.    Net Tangible Benefit 

The lender must determine that there is a net tangible benefit as a result of the streamline refinance transaction, with or without an appraisal.  Net tangible benefit is defined as:

reduction in the total mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and insurances, homeowners’ association fees, ground rents, special assessments and all subordinate liens),   refinancing from an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed rate mortgage,

OR

reducing the term of the mortgage.

Reduction in Total Mortgage Payment:  The new total mortgage payment is 5 percent lower than the total mortgage payment for the mortgage being refinanced.  Example:  Total mortgage payment on the existing FHA-insured mortgage is $895; the total mortgage payment for the new FHA-insured mortgage must be $850 or less. 

 This requirement is applicable when refinancing from a Fixed Rate to Fixed Rate, from an ARM to ARM, from a Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) to Fixed Rate, from GPM to ARM, from a 203(k) to 203(b) and from a 235 to 203(b).

 Fixed Rate to ARM:  Fixed rate mortgages may be refinanced to a one-year ARM provided that the interest rate on the new mortgage is at least 2 percentage points below the interest rate of the current mortgage   

ARM to Fixed Rate:  The interest rate on the new fixed rate mortgage will be no greater than 2 percentage points above the current rate of the one-year ARM.  For hybrid ARMs, the total mortgage payment on the new fixed rate mortgage may not increase by more than 20 percent .  Example:  total mortgage payment on the hybrid ARM is $895; the total mortgage payment for the new fixed rate mortgage must be $1,074 or less.

 Reduction in Term:   For transactions that include a reduction in the mortgage term, that loan must be underwritten and closed as a rate and term (no cash-out) refinance transaction.

Investment Properties/Secondary Residences:  In addition to meeting the requirement for a reduction in the total mortgage payment, investment properties or secondary residences are not eligible for streamline refinancing to ARMs.

D.    Certifications and Verifications

When submitting the loan for insurance endorsement, the lender must include a signed and dated cover letter on their letterhead certifying[1] that the borrower is employed and has income at the time of loan application.

If assets are needed to close, the lender must verify and document those assets.

The lenders must also include the pay-off statement in the case binder.

E.    Credit  Score

If a credit score is available, the lender must enter the credit score into FHA Connection.  If more than one credit score is available, lenders must enter all available credit scores 

F.     Maximum Combined Loan to Value

If subordinate financing is remaining in place, the maximum combined loan-to-value ratio is 125 percent.

For streamline refinance transactions WITHOUT an appraisal, the CLTV is based on the original appraised value of the property.

For streamline refinance transactions WITH an appraisal, the CLTV is based on the new appraised value.

G.    TOTAL Scorecard

Lenders should not use TOTAL on streamline refinance transactions.  If a lender uses TOTAL, that loan must be underwritten and closed as a rate and term (no cash-out) refinance transaction.

H.    Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA)