What is the minimum credit score for a FHA cash-out refi?
Credit Scores
FHA Cash-Out | Conventional Cash-Out | |
---|---|---|
Minimum Credit Score | 500 (official), 600–660 (likely) | 620 (official), 640–680 (likely) |
Maximum LTV | 80% | 80% |
Can Replace Any Loan Type | Yes | Yes |
Occupancy | Owner-occupied only | Owner, 2nd home, rental |
Loan type | Minimum score |
---|---|
FHA refinance | 580 |
VA refinance | No credit minimum from VA, but generally 620 |
USDA refinance | No credit minimum from USDA, but generally 640 |
Cash-out refinance | 640 |
You'll need a minimum credit score of at least 620 if you want to take a cash-out refinance, in most scenarios.
Cash-out refinance requirements
These requirements include: Credit score: You'll generally need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify. Of course, a higher credit score gets you a more competitive interest rate.
Per FHA eligibility requirements, the lowest possible credit score that qualifies for an FHA loan is 500. This is typically lower than conventional loan credit requirements. However, loans issued to borrowers with scores below 580 are considered “subprime” and represent a higher risk to lenders.
- Credit Score. The FHA requires a minimum credit score of 500 for all mortgages it insures. ...
- Loan-To-Value (LTV) Your loan-to-value ratio, better known as your LTV, is also a key factor. ...
- Length Of Residence. ...
- Payment History.
Yes. Most lenders require you to have a credit score of at least 580 to qualify for a refinance and 620 to take cash out. If your score is low, you may want to focus on improving it before you apply or explore ways to refinance with bad credit.
Minimum 640 credit score
Conventional cash-out refinance guidelines require a 640 score. Meanwhile, the VA doesn't set a minimum score, but many lenders also set their own at 620. FHA loans are the exception, and borrowers may qualify with scores as low as 500. Learn more about FHA cash-out refinances.
If you want to do a cash-out refinance, know that you'll need a credit score of at least 580 for an FHA cash-out refinance or 620 for most other cash-out refinances. Otherwise, explore your options and see if refinancing right now is the best financial choice for you.
What is the FHA refinance rate today?
Product | Interest Rate | APR |
---|---|---|
30-Year FHA Rate | 7.07% | 7.12% |
30-Year Fixed Rate | 7.29% | 7.34% |
15-Year Fixed Rate | 6.72% | 6.79% |
5/1 ARM Rate | 6.69% | 6.69% |
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has the same credit score minimums across all loan products, so an FHA cash-out refinance will require a 500 to 580, too. Though again, this can vary by lender.
You'll usually need at least 20% equity in your home to qualify for a cash-out refinance. In other words, you'll need to have paid off at least 20% of the current appraised value of the house.
Today, Fannie Mae updated its eligibility policy for cash-out refinance transactions to require that any existing first mortgage being paid off through the transaction be at least 12 months old as measured from the note date of the existing loan to the note date of the new loan.
Compared to HELOCs, cash-out refinances are less risky for lenders, meaning they are often able to provide lower interest rates – though you may need to anticipate higher upfront fees in the form of closing costs.
You can borrow anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000+ with a 620 credit score. The exact amount of money you will get depends on other factors besides your credit score, such as your income, your employment status, the type of loan you get, and even the lender.
Type of loan | Minimum credit score |
---|---|
Conventional | 620 |
FHA | 580 |
VA | No requirement, but generally low- to mid-600s |
USDA | No requirement, but generally 640 |
Borrowers with credit scores at or near 580 may find it challenging to get a home loan in spite of the fact that technically, they do meet the FHA 580-or-higher FICO requirement. Why? Many participating FHA lenders require a FICO score of at least 620 in order to qualify for an FHA home loan.
The FHA usually requires two lines of credit for qualifying applicants. If you don't have a sufficient credit history, you can try to qualify through a substitute form.
FHA First Mortgage
Borrower must have owned property for 12 months AND if encumbered by a mortgage made payments for the last 12 months within the month due.
Is it hard to refinance an FHA loan?
You can get an FHA Simple Refinance that replaces your existing FHA insured loan with a new fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan. Because you're already an FHA borrower, the process should be faster and simpler than when you got your original loan.
It's also important to note that FHA cash-out finances are only allowed on your principal residence. You must have owned and lived in the property for at least one year before applying for your cash-out refinance. You also must be current on all your mortgage payments for at least the past year.
- W-2 forms from the previous two years.
- 1099s if you have a side income.
- Pay stubs from the previous 30 days.
- Bank statements from the previous two months.
- Signed federal tax returns (personal) from the previous two years or a signed IRS Form 4506-T.
FHA cash-out refinance loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration but issued by private banks, credit unions, and online lenders. You can refinance your mortgage for more than you owe and get the difference in cash. The maximum loan-to-value ratio for FHA cash-out refinance loans is 80%.
Product | Interest rate | APR |
---|---|---|
30-year fixed-rate | 7.139% | 7.224% |
20-year fixed-rate | 7.108% | 7.215% |
15-year fixed-rate | 6.425% | 6.572% |
10-year fixed-rate | 6.178% | 6.376% |
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