VA loans have several advantages over the conventional loans such as lower interest rate, no down payment hassle and lenient credit score terms. Besides these, VA loans are easier to refinance.
Only a few veterans default on their VA mortgage due to which the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a guarantee of 25 percent of the property's value price to the lender in event of a foreclosure. So, for lenders too, a VA loan has lesser risk involved.
VA Loan Makes Home Refinance Easier
Refinancing is the replacement of existing debt obligation with another debt obligation in different terms. There could be several reasons behind debt refinancing such as:
● To take advantage of better interest rate
● To consolidate other debts into one
● To reduce monthly repayment amount (may be for a longer term)
● To free up cash
Refinancing a loan multiple times can negatively impact the financial benefit of the borrower. Nevertheless, if we talk about home refinance for VA loan, the long-term impact might not be that bad. An individual can borrow more of the value of the home (100 percent in some cases) without VA backing. Whether a borrower wants to take another VA loan to reduce the monthly payment amount, wants some cash back from the refinance or has been delinquent on VA loan, there could be different reasons behind filing for a VA loan refinance.
There's no lower or higher limit for refinance with VA loans. In some cases, one can refinance up to 100 percent of the home's appraised value
VA Refinancing Options
Streamline Loan
For those who want to take advantage of low interest rate, streamline loan is the right option. Veterans with a history of timely payments, who want to refinance the existing VA home loan are eligible for the loan. VA doesn't ask the borrower for any certificate of eligibility, income documents or credit report.
If the area where you live or interested in buying a property has a low real estate value, streamline loan might be the only refinancing option suited for you. The reason being, the borrower doesn't need an appraisal for the property. The purpose of streamline loan is to reduce monthly payments, so borrowers can't ask for cash back or consolidate their other loans in any circumstances.
Cash-out Loan
Borrowers who have equity in home and need cash to pay off debts, improve their home or buy a car can opt for cash-out refinance. But, they should be living in their home and obtain a certificate of eligibility to get the loan. Unlike the streamline loan, it might take more time to get the cash-out loan approved and the borrower should also requalify and have the home appraised for the process.
Refinancing Delinquent Mortgage
The borrowers who are finding it difficult to keep up with the mortgage payments and other bills can ask for reduction of interest rate. They need to submit the application for prior approval, go through credit approval and underwriting for the refinancing of loan payment that has been delayed by 30 days or more. If the borrower doesn't have a financial mismanagement history, he might get the refinance loan approved.
Summarizing It Up!
VA wants to benefit the borrowers with the refinancing option. Lenders have to show the interest rate and monthly payments for the new and old loan as well as how much time it will take a borrower to recoup the closing cost with the lower monthly payment on the new low. This is something that other traditional loans lack in; therefore exploring other options won't be of great help if you are already eligible for a VA refinance.
