The FHA Streamline Refinance
If you currently have an FHA mortgage, the FHA Streamline Refinance is the easiest way to get a lower rate and monthly payment.
The FHA Streamline is a “low-doc” refinance with limited paperwork required. The lender doesn’t have to verify your income or credit, and there’s no home appraisal. That means a Streamline Refinance closes faster than other loans and has slightly cheaper closing costs.
Thanks to the FHA Streamline Refinance, borrowers with FHA loans have easier access to today’s competitive FHA refinance rates than most other homeowners.
Check your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereIn this article (Skip to…)
- Streamline Refinance rates
- How the loan works
- Benefits
- Drawbacks
- Requirements
- Mortgage insurance premiums
- Streamline vs cash-out refi
- FAQ
What is an FHA Streamline Refinance?
An FHA Streamline Refinance is a mortgage refinancing program specifically designed for homeowners with existing FHA mortgages.
The primary goal of the FHA Streamline Refinance is to make it easier and less costly for borrowers to refinance their existing FHA loans. It aims to lower interest rates, reduce monthly payments, or switch from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate mortgage, thereby improving the affordability of the loan.
The “streamline” in its name reflects the reduced amount of paperwork and underwriting involved in the process. It does not typically require a new home appraisal, and in some cases, it doesn’t even necessitate income verification or a credit check.
This makes accessing today’s competitive FHA Streamline Refinance rates more straightforward and efficient for many borrowers.
Check your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereBenefits of the FHA Streamline program include:
- Competitive refinance rates: FHA loan rates currently average % (% APR).* This is a lower rate compared to much of the mortgage industry
- Lower MIP rates: If you got an FHA loan prior to 2023, you can access today’s lower annual mortgage insurance premiums using FHA streamline refinancing
- MIP refund: Homeowners who use the FHA Streamline Refinance may be refunded up to 68% of their prepaid mortgage insurance, in the form of an MIP discount on the new loan
- No appraisal: You could use the FHA Streamline Refinance even if your current mortgage is underwater
- No verification of job or income: You may be eligible for FHA Streamline refinancing even if you recently lost your job or took a pay cut
- No credit check: A low credit score won’t stop you from using the FHA Streamline’s non-credit qualifying option. This is almost impossible to find with other refinance loans
If you have an existing FHA loan and want to refinance into a lower interest rate, the FHA Streamline Refinance should be your first stop. Its benefits are nearly unmatched by any other refinance option.
*Interest rates updated daily according to The Mortgage Reports' lender network. See our full rate assumptions here
FHA Streamline Refinance rates
Today’s average 30-year FHA rate is % (% APR) according to our lender network. But remember, the FHA mortgage insurance fee adds 0.55% in annual costs. This also applies to Streamline Refinances.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereToday’s FHA refinance rates, October 13, 2024
30-Year FHA Fixed Rate | % (% APR) |
15-Year FHA Fixed Rate | % (% APR) |
30-Year Conventional Rate | % (% APR) |
15-Year Conventional Rate | % (% APR) |
Interest rates are for example purposes only. Your own rate will vary. See our rate assumption here.
How the FHA Streamline Refinance works
For the most part, the FHA Streamline works like any other refinance product. You take out a new FHA mortgage — typically with a better interest rate and lower monthly payment — which replaces your existing loan. Your current mortgage must be FHA-backed to use this program.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereThe FHA Streamline is available as a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage; it comes with a 15- or 30-year term; and there’s no FHA prepayment penalty to worry about.
An FHA Streamline can be used to refinance a 30-year mortgage into a 15-year mortgage but there are specific guidelines that must be followed. With a term reduction of three years or more, the new payment (including P&I and MIP) can not increase by more than $50.
It can also be used to extend a 15-year loan into a 30-year loan. Doing this lowers monthly payments even further for homeowners. But it also stretches out your interest payments, which means you could pay more in the long term.
Another big benefit is that rates for the FHA Streamline Refinance are the same as FHA home purchase rates. There’s no penalty for being underwater or having very little equity.
FHA Streamline Refinance pros and cons
FHA Streamline Refinance Pros | FHA Streamline Refinance Cons |
Easy to qualify, especially with non-credit qualifying option | No cash-back allowed |
Access today’s lower interest rates | Some lenders impose minimum credit score requirements |
Lower MIP rates for some borrowers | You can’t shorten your loan term |
No home appraisal is necessary | Closing costs can’t be rolled into the loan balance |
FHA Streamline Refinance benefits
The FHA Streamline Refinance comes with several benefits that make it an attractive option for some homeowners. Here are the key advantages:
1. Potential lower monthly payments
An FHA Streamline Refinance offers the opportunity to lower your monthly mortgage payment by securing a lower interest rate.
The FHA has certain guidelines on how this is achieved, but if followed, you can enjoy smaller monthly payments. While you can’t extend your loan term by more than 12 years to achieve this, you can still lower your payment by reducing your interest rate, especially when switching from an adjustable-rate to a fixed-rate mortgage.
2. Options for underwater mortgages
The FHA Streamline program allows you to refinance even if you owe more than your home’s current value—an “underwater mortgage.” This is unique in that many refinancing options do not allow this.
You can still refinance through FHA Streamline even if your home value has decreased because the main factor determining your loan amount is the outstanding principal balance of your loan.
Check your loan options. Start here3. No home appraisal
The biggest difference between the FHA Streamline Refinance and most traditional mortgage refinance options is that the FHA Streamline Refinance doesn’t require a home appraisal.
Instead, the FHA will allow you to use your original purchase price as your home’s current value, regardless of what your home is actually worth today.
This “appraisal waiver” simplifies the refinancing process, allowing homeowners to bypass the traditional appraisal step entirely. With no appraisal required, the FHA Streamline Refinance can provide faster approval and fewer costs, making it an appealing option for many borrowers.
4. You may not need to verify income and credit score
Another big plus is that it’s fairly easy to get an FHA Streamline Refinance loan, especially the non-credit-qualifying type.
The non-credit qualifying FHA Streamline Refinance does not require most of the typical verifications you’d need to get a new mortgage.
As it’s written in the FHA’s official mortgage guidelines:
- Employment verification is not required with an FHA Streamline Refinance
- Income verification is not required with an FHA Streamline Refinance
- Credit score verification is not required with an FHA Streamline Refinance (though most lenders will check credit)
When you put it all together, you can:
- Be out-of-work
- Have no income
- Have a shaky credit report
- Have no home equity
Yet, you could still potentially be approved for an FHA Streamline Refinance’s non-credit qualifying option. That’s not as crazy as it sounds, by the way.
To understand why the FHA Streamline Refinance is a smart program for the FHA, we have to remember that the FHA’s chief role is to insure mortgages, not underwrite them.
It’s in the FHA’s best interest to help as many people as possible qualify for today’s competitive mortgage rates. Lower mortgage rates mean lower monthly payments, which, in theory, leads to fewer loan defaults.
This is good for homeowners who want lower mortgage rates, and it’s good for the FHA. With fewer loan defaults, the FHA has to pay fewer insurance claims to lenders.
In short, the FHA is helping itself when it helps you, which is why the requirements for the Streamline refi are so lenient.
5. FHA MIP refund
There’s an additional benefit for FHA-backed homeowners refinancing within the first three years of their existing loan origination.
The FHA provides a partial refund on the upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) you paid when you first got your FHA loan.
The size of the refund diminishes as the three-year window elapses.
For example, a homeowner who refinances an FHA mortgage after 11 months is granted a 60% refund on their initial FHA UFMIP.
Thirty days later, the refund drops to 58%. After another 30 days, it drops to 56%, and so on.
Months After Closing | MIP Refund | Months After Closing | MIP Refund | Months After Closing | MIP Refund |
7 | 68% | 17 | 48% | 27 | 28% |
8 | 66% | 18 | 46% | 28 | 26% |
9 | 64% | 19 | 44% | 29 | 24% |
10 | 62% | 20 | 42% | 30 | 22% |
11 | 60% | 21 | 40% | 31 | 20% |
12 | 58% | 22 | 38% | 32 | 18% |
13 | 56% | 23 | 36% | 33 | 16% |
14 | 54% | 24 | 34% | 34 | 14% |
15 | 52% | 25 | 32% | 35 | 12% |
16 | 50% | 26 | 30% | 36 | 10% |
Note: FHA homeowners are only eligible for the Streamline Refinance program after six months. Thus, eligibility for an MIP refund starts at seven months.
This is why it’s rarely a good idea to “wait to refinance” an FHA loan.
With the FHA Streamline Refinance program, the sooner you refinance, the bigger your refund and the lower your total loan size for your new mortgage.
This lowers the monthly payment and preserves the home’s equity, which are two huge positives.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start here
Disadvantages of an FHA Streamline Refinance
Despite the potential advantages of an FHA Streamline Refinance, there are several drawbacks that should be carefully considered.
- Closing costs: Borrowers will have to pay upfront closing costs, as the FHA doesn’t allow them to be rolled into the loan amount. Even though there’s a chance for these to be lower, given that appraisals or credit checks may not be necessary, the additional expense remains a concern. Some lenders might cover these fees with a no-cost Streamline Refinance, but this often results in higher interest rates
- Limited cash back: If you’re seeking to tap into your home equity for a large cash payout, the FHA Streamline Refinance might not be your best bet. This refinancing option restricts cash back to a maximum of $500. For those requiring substantial cash out, it would be better to explore other avenues, such as an FHA cash-out refinance
- Mortgage insurance requirements: FHA loans, including Streamline Refinances, mandate both annual mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) and an upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP). This recurring cost protects your lender if you default on your loan, but it can add significantly to your long-term financial burden. To get rid of MIP, one must convert their FHA loan into a conventional one, which typically requires a credit score of at least 620 and reaching 20% equity in the home. This might not be viable for all borrowers
So, while the FHA Streamline Refinance can offer benefits, these disadvantages can significantly affect its value to potential borrowers. It is crucial to weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing this, or any, refinancing option.
FHA Streamline Refinance guidelines and requirements
The FHA Streamline Refinance simplifies the refinancing process by waiving traditional requirements such as income verification and credit checks. However, applicants must still meet specific criteria:
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start here- Three months of on-time mortgage payments: You need to have a consistent payment history for at least the past three months. A maximum of one late payment is allowed in the last 12 months, but loans must be current at closing.
- 210-day waiting period: Borrowers must wait 210 days after their last purchase or refinance and have made six on-time payments on their current FHA-insured loan before they can apply.
- Interest rate reduction requirement: The refinance must result in a lower interest rate, typically by at least 0.50%. Alternatively, refinancing from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage can qualify as a benefit.
- Net tangible benefits test: ensures that a refinance provides meaningful financial advantages to the borrower, such as lower monthly payments, a more stable loan, or a shorter loan term. It prevents refinancing that would leave you in a worse financial position.
While these are the FHA’s minimum standards, individual lenders may impose additional requirements, such as credit score thresholds or other underwriting criteria. If you encounter stricter conditions from your current lender, consider exploring options with other lenders who adhere strictly to the FHA’s guidelines.
Note that cash-out refinancing is not allowed under the FHA Streamline Refinance, but other FHA programs are available for such needs.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereTypes of FHA Streamline Refinance loans
The Federal Housing Administration offers two different FHA Streamline Refinance options:
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start here- Credit-Qualifying Streamline Refinance: Lenders will check your credit score and debt-to-income ratio to see whether you’ll be able to make the loan’s payments
- Non-Credit Qualifying Streamline Refinance: Lenders can approve this refinance without checking your credit score or verifying your income. This is the most common option
Why would anyone choose the credit-qualifying option and go through the full underwriting process?
Well, there are times when credit qualification is necessary, like when you’re adding a new co-borrower to the loan or removing an existing co-borrower.
In other cases, qualifying for the loan all over again could save you money. If your credit profile has improved a lot since you got your original loan, you might qualify for an even better interest rate, for example.
Should you use the FHA Streamline Refinance?
What documents do I need for an FHA Streamline Refinance?
The FHA Streamline Refinance is a “low-doc” refinance loan, meaning it requires less paperwork than most other mortgages. But you’ll still need some documentation, including:
- A loan application
- A current mortgage statement showing a six-month payment history
- Contact information for your employer (the lender may verify employment but not income)
- Two months’ worth of bank statements showing you can cover out-of-pocket closing costs
- Utility bills show you use the home as a primary residence
If you use the FHA’s credit-qualifying Streamline Refinance, you will need to “re-qualify” with your income and credit score. This option would be required if you were removing a co-borrower from the loan.
What happens to FHA mortgage insurance if you use the Streamline Refinance?
Like other FHA loans, the FHA Streamline Refinance requires borrowers to pay mortgage insurance.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereEven if you’ve built equity in the home since purchasing it, the FHA Streamline Refinance cannot be used to eliminate the mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
FHA borrowers are required to make two types of mortgage insurance payments:
- Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP): 1.75% of the loan amount added to your loan (not due as cash at closing)
- Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP): 0.55% of the loan amount split into 12 installments, which are paid with your mortgage each month
This is true for Streamline Refinance loans as well as purchase loans.
“For borrowers who qualified for an MIP refund, the refund can be applied toward this total new upfront cost,” adds Meyer.
1. Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP)
Not all refinancing households will pay the full amount of upfront MIP.
As shown in the chart above, those using an FHA Streamline Refinance within three years of their original loan stand to get an upfront MIP refund.
This can significantly lower the amount of UFMIP added to your new loan and reduce the amount you have to pay overall.
2. Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
The annual MIP cost for an FHA Streamline Refinance is as follows:
- 30-year loan terms with an LTV over 90% have an annual MIP of 0.50%, payable for the life of the loan
- 15-year loan terms with an LTV over 90% have an annual MIP of 0.40%, payable for the life of the loan
- 30-year loan terms with an LTV under 90% have an annual MIP of 0.50%, payable for 11 years
- 15-year loan terms with an LTV under 90% have an annual MIP of 0.15%, payable for 11 years
If you got your existing FHA loan before March 2023, when MIP rates were higher, you could lower your MIP rate with an FHA Streamline Refinance.
The FHA’s MIP rules have changed a lot over the years, and the age of your loan will help determine how much you could save.
If your current FHA MIP is higher than what’s shown above, consider starting a refinance immediately to benefit from a new, lower FHA MIP.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereFHA MIP Cancellation Policy
The FHA requires most homeowners to pay mortgage insurance for the life of the loan.
Only homeowners with a starting loan-to-value ratio of 90% or less can cancel mortgage insurance after 11 years. (An LTV of 90% or less means you made at least a 10% down payment.)
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereRefinancing homeowners could also bring cash to closing to reduce their loan balance and change their MIP disposition. However, not everyone will have the cash to make such a move.
This is why, when exploring an FHA Streamline Refinance, you should also look at other mortgage refinance options, including conventional mortgage loans via Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
If you can qualify for a low rate, conventional loans have a big plus: You can cancel private mortgage insurance (PMI) once your loan-to-value ratio falls below 80%.
The FHA allows its homeowners to refinance to a conventional loan to cancel the FHA MIP.
FHA Streamline Refinance vs. FHA Cash-Out Refinance
Compared to FHA Streamline Refinance loans, the FHA cash-out refinance has an obvious benefit: you can use it to access cash from your home equity.
Say, for example, that you owe $250,000 on your current loan but your home is worth $350,000. The difference between these two numbers—$100,000—is your home equity.
Verify your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility. Start hereWith a cash-out loan, you could access part of this equity while also refinancing your entire mortgage. Your loan amount would increase as a result.
With an FHA Streamline Refinance, your loan amount cannot increase to generate cash back, even if you do have the equity to back a larger loan.
If you’re considering a cash-out refinance instead of a Streamline loan, know that:
- You’ll need to qualify with your debt, income, and credit score
- You’ll need a new home appraisal to verify your home’s value
- You can refinance any type of mortgage, not just an FHA loan
- Your loan amount will increase so your annual MIP will, too
- You won’t be able to access all your equity — only up to 80%
- Your mortgage rate could increase since cash-out loans are riskier
A Streamline loan is designed for simplicity, so it can avoid most of the additional steps cash-out loans require.
Compare FHA refinance options. Start here
FHA Streamline Refinance FAQ
The FHA Streamline is a refinance program that only current FHA homeowners can use. It’s faster and easier than most refinance programs, with no documentation required for income, credit, or home appraisal. An FHA Streamline Refinance can help homeowners lower their annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) or even get a partial refund of their upfront MIP payment. So if you used an FHA loan as a first-time home buyer or a repeat buyer, this refi program is designed with you in mind.
The FHA Streamline Refinance resets your mortgage with a lower interest rate and monthly payment. If you have a 30-year FHA mortgage, you can use the FHA Streamline to refinance into a cheaper 30-year loan. 15-year FHA borrowers can refinance into a 15- or 30-year loan. The FHA Streamline does not cancel mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for those who pay them. But annual MIP rates may go down, depending on when the loan was originated.
The borrower pays closing costs on an FHA Streamline Refinance. Unlike other types of refinances, you cannot roll these costs into your loan amount. FHA Streamline closing costs are typically the same as other mortgages: 2 to 5 percent of the mortgage amount, which would equal $3,000 to $7,500 on a $150,000 loan. The difference is that you don’t have to pay for an appraisal on an FHA Streamline, which could save about $500 to $1,000 in closing costs.
No, the FHA Streamline Refinance does not eliminate mortgage insurance. Refinanced FHA loans still have the FHA’s annual mortgage insurance as well as a new upfront mortgage insurance fee equal to 1.75 percent of the loan amount. The upfront fee is added to your loan amount. However, if you use the FHA Streamline Refinance within three years of opening your loan, you’ll be refunded part of your original UFMIP fee, thus lowering the total mortgage amount.
To qualify for an FHA Streamline Refinance, your current home loan must be insured by the FHA. If you’re not sure whether it is, ask your loan officer. FHA also requires three months of on-time payments and a 210-day waiting period since your home’s last closing date (either purchase or refinance). Finally, the FHA Streamline Refinance must have a purpose. That usually means the refinance needs to lower your combined interest and insurance rate by at least 0.50 percent.
Technically, the FHA Streamline does not require a credit check. That means homeowners could potentially use the Streamline Refinance even if their credit score has fallen below the 580 threshold for FHA loans. However, some lenders may check your credit report anyway. So if your credit is on the lower end, be sure to shop around.
No, you cannot take cash out on an FHA Streamline Refinance.
FHA homeowners are eligible for a Streamline Refinance 210 days after their last closing. That means you must have made six consecutive mortgage payments since you purchased or refinanced the home.
Yes, you can use the FHA Streamline Refinance more than once. You just need to meet FHA’s guidelines—meaning it’s been at least 210 days since your last refinance, you’ve made your last three payments on time, and you can lower your rate by at least 0.50 percent.
The big benefit of an FHA Streamline Refinance is that you can switch your FHA loan to a lower rate and monthly payment. You can save money by getting rid of your existing higher interest rate without as much hassle as traditional refinancing options. Another benefit of the FHA Streamline is that there’s no home appraisal, so you can refinance into a lower FHA mortgage rate even if you have very little equity or your loan is underwater.
The FHA Streamline Refinance is probably worth it if you can lower your mortgage rate and monthly payment by a significant amount. It’s an especially good deal for homeowners who purchased or refinanced prior to March 2023 because the FHA has since lowered its annual mortgage insurance rates. By refinancing a pre-March 2023 mortgage with the FHA streamline program, you may be able to drop your annual mortgage insurance rate from over 0.85 percent to just 0.55 percent.
The FHA mortgage insurance premium (MIP) lasts 11 years if you make a down payment of 10 percent or more. It lasts the full life of the loan if your down payment is less than 10 percent. The only way to get rid of FHA mortgage insurance is by refinancing your current FHA loan into a conventional loan without PMI. To do this, you’ll need at least 20 percent equity in your home and a credit score of at least 620 or higher. You’ll also need to pay closing costs and complete the new loan’s underwriting process.
A non-credit-qualifying FHA Streamline Refinance Loan won’t affect your credit score very much because your new loan balance will be about the same size as your old loan balance. Since the FICO scoring model considers the age of your loans, you may lose a few points by replacing an older mortgage with a new one. But the effect tends to be minimal, especially if you’ve had your current loan for only a few years. The credit-qualifying Streamline Refinance will check your credit score, which could temporarily lower your score a little.
The FHA Streamline Refinance’s biggest strength is its simplicity. But that could also be seen as its greatest weakness. Because you’re skipping the home appraisal and the credit qualifying process in many cases, you can’t increase your loan amount to get cash back. Another con: You can’t refinance out of paying mortgage insurance like you can with a conventional loan.
The FHA Streamline Refinance skips the home appraisal. This means you could close on the loan about a week sooner than you could with other refinance loans. Still, you’ll likely need four to five weeks to close on the new loan.
Check your FHA Streamline Refinance eligibility
FHA mortgage rates are competitive, and homeowners typically close faster with an FHA Streamline Refinance. Remember: the sooner you close, the bigger your FHA MIP refund.
Start by comparing current FHA refinance rates to see how much you could save.
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