How long does it take to get approved for refinance?
In fact, refinancing involves many of the same steps as getting a purchase mortgage and can take 5–7 weeks to complete with most traditional lenders. Although some lenders have closing times in as little as 30 days and we find the best options available for all our clients.
Underwriting and Loan Approval
The appraised value must be incorporated into the lender's underwriting approval process before issuing a clear-to-close notice. Underwriting refi loans normally takes 1-2 weeks from a fully completed appraisal. Any appraisal issues can delay approval.
A refinance takes 30 to 45 days to complete in most cases, but it could always require more or less time depending on a variety of factors. For example, appraisals, inspections and other services that third parties handle can slow down the process.
With a standard rate-and-term refinance, you'll need to wait at least 210 days from your original loan's closing date. If you're looking to take cash out with your refinance, you'll need to have lived in the home for at least one year and made on-time mortgage payments for the last 12 months.
Conventional refinancing is one of the most common types. You'll need at least a 620 credit score to refinance your conventional loan (or into a conventional loan) — though at that score, you'll likely need a DTI ratio of 36 percent or less, which can be limiting.
How long does the underwriting process typically take? Underwriting can take a few days to a few weeks before you'll be cleared to close.
Let's discuss what underwriters look for in the loan approval process. In considering your application, they look at a variety of factors, including your credit history, income and any outstanding debts. This important step in the process focuses on the three C's of underwriting — credit, capacity and collateral.
- Getting pre-approved. ...
- Choosing your loan. ...
- Locking in your rate. ...
- Initial document collection and processing. ...
- Conditional approval and final review. ...
- Clear to close. ...
- Closing day. ...
- So, are you ready to refinance?
Underwriters consider factors like your credit history, your financial profile and a home appraisal when deciding on your loan. There are many steps involved in the underwriting process, which can take a few days or weeks to complete.
After final approval, you'll also receive an Initial Closing Disclosure (ICD). This is one of the most important pieces of documentation in any lending process: similar to your Loan Estimate, it's a standardized form containing an itemized breakdown of all the costs associated with your mortgage.
Do you need a down payment to refinance?
You don't need a down payment to refinance, but you'll likely have to come up with cash for closing costs. Some lenders let you roll closing costs into the mortgage to avoid upfront expenses. You can also try negotiating with the lender to waive them.
You can usually do a no-cash-out refinance of a conventional mortgage immediately after closing on the original home loan. But some lenders set waiting periods, around six months to two years, before you're able to refinance with the same company. (Get around this by shopping with other lenders.)
Mortgage Funding and Refinances
The three-day waiting period is known as the “recission” period, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains. The idea is to give borrowers time to finalize the loan – or decide if they want to cancel the mortgage funding process.
The most common reason why refinance loan applications are denied is because the borrower has too much debt. Because lenders have to make a good-faith effort to ensure you can repay your loan, they typically have limits on what's called your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio.
To qualify for a refinance, take a look at your debt-to-income ratio. The new monthly mortgage payment shouldn't be more than 30% of your monthly income. To refinance $200K over a 30-year fixed term, you'll need an income of approx. $5,200/month.
In general, lenders expect you to have a minimum of 20% in home equity to refinance. In other words, the loan balance must be 80% or less of the home's value. If you don't have enough equity to meet the lender's requirement—especially if you want to take cash out of the home—you may not be eligible to refinance.
For this reason, the interaction between a loan officer and an underwriter is limited to a simple transfer of the borrower's facts and data. A loan officer may not attempt to influence the underwriter. Loan officers and underwriters are both crucial roles in the home buying process.
How often does an underwriter deny a loan? A mortgage underwriter typically denies about 1 in 10 mortgage loan applications. A mortgage loan application can be denied for many reasons, including a borrower's low credit score, recent employment change or high debt-to-income ratio.
Credit score is the most important factor in determining mortgage approval, but your income and debt levels, as well as the size of the loan vs. the home's value, are also major factors. Recent changes in your financial stability, such as a new job or unusual bank account activity, can delay mortgage approval.
- Approved: Your mortgage is clear to close. ...
- Denied: If you're denied, you'll typically receive a letter in the mail with the reason why. ...
- Pending: Your application may need some additional documentation before a decision can be reached.
Can you be denied after underwriting approval?
The underwriter will also have access to information that wasn't available during pre-approval because it hadn't happened yet. Many situations in which a prospective homebuyer is denied for mortgage after pre-approval result from changes in the homebuyer's finances or other new information.
Underwriting simply means that your lender verifies your income, assets, debt, credit and property details to issue final loan approval. An underwriter is a financial expert who looks at your finances and assesses whether you are a good candidate for loan approval.
- Failing to do your homework. ...
- Assuming you're getting the best deal. ...
- Failing to factor in all costs. ...
- Ignoring your credit score. ...
- Neglecting to determine your refinance breakeven point.
Get approved by underwriting.
Working through each step is part of the reason why it can take 30 – 45 days on average to move from underwriting to closing.
The winter holiday season is a traditionally slow time in the real estate market; homeowners want to relax and avoid having prospective buyers visit their homes. Therefore, the demand for mortgage money is less, so lenders lower the spread in order to attract new business. This can be a great time to refinance.
