A VA home loan refinance allows you to replace your current loan with a new one but with different conditions. A VA-backed refinance loan is ideal if you want to take out of home equity or refinance a non-VA loan into a VA loan. Learn if you qualify and how to apply for your certificate of eligibility. VA home loans are refinanced by lenders, such as mortgage companies and banks, enabling them to aid customers.

How it works
A VA home loan refinance helps pay off your first mortgage, get a new one for a higher amount, and receive the difference in cash. The amount available varies by lender. You may spend the money however you see fit. VA home loan refinances may also lower your interest rate and monthly payment while simultaneously changing the length of your mortgage.

Here’s a rundown of what you’ll be doing:

If you don’t already have one, look for a VA-approved lender
Provide your lender with financial information and documentation to review
Obtain a certificate of eligibility from the VA; inquire with your lender whether they will do this for you
Have your home appraised and inspected by a VA-approved appraiser
Pay the VA funding fee unless you are exempt due to a disability
Complete your financing

A lower interest rate on a VA loan you already have
If you have a VA home loan on your current mortgage, you have another option, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL). It is utilized to refinance your existing VA loan to a reduced interest rate. An IRRRL does not provide cashback, but it does provide the following benefits:

Reduced monthly payment
Quick and simple procedure
No need for a new certificate of eligibility
If you include refinancing fees into the loan, you will not have to pay anything out of pocket
A cheaper VA funding fee, when compared to a cash-out refinance

IRRRL or streamline refinance
IRRRL, often known as a VA streamline, is a refinance program. It requires less documentation than any other VA loan now available. When compared to the prior loan, the VA streamline allows a qualified borrower to a lower interest at a lower cost and with less paperwork.

For example, the VA streamline requires no income documentation. This implies that no copies of your pay stubs, previous W2 forms, or tax returns are required for the loan application. There is no requirement for employment verification.

Documentation
The VA Home Loan Refinance Calculator does not demand a credit report. The VA lender just needs to ensure that less than two payments were paid post 30 days in the last 12 months. Although lenders may override this provision and require a minimum credit score, VA standards only reference analyzing the preceding year’s VA mortgage history. A VA streamlined loan does not require an appraisal; all that is required is a completed loan application and minimal documentation.

Rate
Aside from not having more than one late payment in the previous 12 months, there are several special conditions to be qualified for a VA loan. The refinance must result in a lower payment or a refinance from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate loan for the veteran. A VA streamline will not refinance an existing conventional or refinance, and there may be no cash-out to the borrower during a streamline.

Home loan refinance
A VA home loan refinance is a loan that replaces an existing loan with a VA home loan and extracts cash from the subject property’s equity. Unlike the IRRRL, a loan is thoroughly documented, and applicants must provide the VA lender with their most recent salary stubs, W2 forms, and two years of federal tax returns. The amount of cash available to the borrower is calculated by examining the property’s current appraised value. Most VA lenders will approve a cash-out loan for up to 90% of the appraised value.

Conventional to VA refinance
A VA home loan refinance calculator streamlines refinance between VAs and VA loans that can be used to refinance other loan types, including FHA and conventional mortgages. When the current property prices are a problem, refinancing from a conventional to a VA loan is helpful.

Conventional loans allow for a refinance of up to 90% of the property’s current value. If the current mortgage balance is $200,000, the appraisal must be at least $222,222 before a traditional refinance may occur. If the home’s worth is less than $200,000, the borrower will be unable to refinance their conventional loan with another one. However, there is the option of refinancing into a VA loan.

A conventional VA home loan refinance (no cash-out) permits the loan amount to be up to 100% of the home’s value. Assume the property appraised at $205,000, and the loan can be refinanced from a normal mortgage to a VA home loan refinance rate.

If the interest rate on the VA loan is lower than the interest rate on an existing conventional or FHA loan, it may make sense to refinance into a new VA mortgage. Contact any VA lender and run your scenario by one of their loan officers to see if any of these three possibilities work for you. It is merely a matter of running a few numbers to see whether or not a refinance is viable.