FHA has granted streamline refis on insured mortgages since the early 1980’s. The “streamline” pertains only to the amount of documentation and underwriting that needs to be executed by the loaner, and does not mean that there are no tolls involved in the dealing. The standard prerequisites of a streamline refinance are:
The house loan to be refi must already be Federal Housing insured.
The house loan to be refinanced should be current (not delinquent).
The refi is to effect in a taking down of the borrower’s annual principal and interest payments.
No cash may be taken out on mortgage refinanced using the streamline refi process.
Lenders may provide streamline refinances in several ways. Some loaners provide “no cost” refinances (actually, no out-of-pocket expenses to the borrower) by billing a higher rate of interest on the new loan than if the borrower financed or paid the closing costs in hard currency. From this premium, the lender pays any closing costs that are incurred on the refi.
Lenders may provide streamline refinances and take on the closing costs into the new mortgage total. This can simply be done if there is decent equity in the place, as seen by an appraisal. Streamline home refinance can also be done without estimates, but the different loan number cannot exceed the original loan sum. Investment properties (properties in which the borrower does not lodge in in as his or her key residence) may only be home refinance without an assessment.
When you want to get an FHA loan on, yet make sure that you’re working with someone who knows the FHA streamline market and is easy to work with.