Do you get money when you refinance your home

The cash-out refinance process is similar to the process you undergo when you buy a home. After you know you meet the requirements, you choose a lender, submit an application and documentation to underwriting, get an approval and wait for your check.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps.

1. Check The Requirements

Your lender sets their own requirements when it comes to deciding who qualifies for a refinance. Some of the most common cash-out refinancing requirements include:

A Credit Score Of At Least 580

To refinance, you'll usually need a credit score of at least 580. Although the qualifying score may need to be higher in certain cases to take cash out, there are exceptions.

If you're eligible for a VA loan, you can take cash out with a median FICO® Score of 580 or higher as long as there is at least 10% equity left in the home after you complete the refinance. It's worth noting that you can take out up to the full amount of your equity with a 620 qualifying credit score using a VA loan.

An FHA loan may be used to pay off debt at closing if you're an existing client of ours with a median 580 credit score. Otherwise, all other purposes for taking cash out require a 620 credit score. Conventional loans always require a 620 qualifying credit score.

A Debt-To-Income Ratio (DTI) Of Less Than 50%

Your DTI ratio is the amount of your monthly debts and payments divided by your total monthly income. For example, if you pay $1,500 in bills every month, including your mortgage, and you have a total monthly household income of $4,000, your DTI is $1,500 divided by $4,000, or about 37.5%. Although it's a good idea to target a DTI of 50% or lower, it's possible to qualify with higher debt loads on FHA or VA loans. 

Equity In Your Home

You’ll need to already have a sizable amount of equity built in your home if you want to secure a cash-out refinance. Remember that your lender won’t let you cash out 100% of the equity you have unless you qualify for a VA refinance, so take a careful look at your current equity before you commit to a cash-out refinance. Make sure that you can convert enough equity to accomplish your goals.

2. Determine How Much Cash You Need

Once you know that you meet the requirements for a cash-out refinance, determine how much money you need. If you’re planning to cash out for repairs or renovations, it’s a good idea to get a few estimates from contractors in your area so you know how much you need. If you want to refinance to consolidate debt, sit down with all of your credit card and bank statements and determine exactly how much cash you need to cover your debts.

3. Apply Through Your Lender

After you apply for a cash-out refinance, you receive a decision on whether your lender approves the refinance. Your lender might ask you for financial documents like bank statements, W-2s or pay stubs to prove your DTI ratio. After you get an approval, your lender will walk you through the next steps toward closing.

After closing, all that’s left to do is wait (typically 3 – 5 days) for your check to arrive.

The refinancing process is often less complicated than the home buying process, although it includes many of the same steps. It can be hard to predict how long your refinance will take, but the typical timeline is 30 to 45 days.

Let's take a closer look at the refinancing process.

Applying

The first step of this process is to review the types of refinance to find the option that works best for you. When you apply to refinance, your lender asks for the same information you gave them or another lender when you bought the home. They’ll look at your income, assets, debt and credit score to determine whether you meet the requirements to refinance and can pay back the loan.

Some of the documents your lender might need include your:

• Two most recent pay stubs
• Two most recent W-2s
• Two most recent bank statements

Your lender may also need your spouse’s documents if you’re married and in a community property state (regardless of whether your spouse is on the loan). You might be asked for more income documentation if you’re self-employed. It’s also a good idea to have your tax returns handy for the last couple of years.

You don’t have to refinance with your current lender. If you choose a different lender, that new lender pays off your current loan, ending your relationship with your old lender. Don’t be afraid to shop around and compare each lender’s current rates, availability and client satisfaction scores.

Locking In Your Interest Rate

After you get approved, you may be given the option to lock your interest rate, so it doesn’t change before the loan closes.

Rate locks last anywhere from 15 to 60 days. The rate lock period depends on a few factors like your location, loan type and lender. You may also get a better rate by opting to lock for a shorter period of time because the lender doesn’t have to hedge against the market for as long. Be warned, though: If your loan doesn’t close before the lock period ends, you may be required to extend the rate lock, which may cost money.

You might also be given the option to float your rate, which means not locking it before proceeding with the loan. This feature may allow you to get a lower rate, but it also puts you at risk of getting a higher one. In some cases, you might be able to get the best of both worlds with a float-down option, but if you’re happy with rates at the time you’re applying, then it’s generally a good idea to go ahead and lock your rate.

Underwriting

Once you submit your application, your lender begins the underwriting process. During underwriting, your mortgage lender verifies your financial information and makes sure that everything you’ve submitted is accurate.

Your lender will verify the details of the property, like when you bought your home. This step includes an appraisal to determine the home’s value. The refinance appraisal is a crucial part of the process because it determines what options are available to you.

If you’re refinancing to take cash out, for example, then the value of your home determines how much money you can get. If you’re trying to lower your mortgage payment, then the value could impact whether you have enough home equity to get rid of private mortgage insurance or be eligible for a certain loan option.

Home Appraisal

Just like when you bought your home, you must get an appraisal before you refinance. Your lender orders the appraisal, the appraiser visits your property and you receive an estimate of your home’s value.

To prepare for the appraisal, you’ll want to make sure your home looks its best. Tidy up and complete any minor repairs to leave a good impression. It’s also a good idea to put together a list of upgrades you’ve made to the home since you’ve owned it.

If the home’s value is equal to or higher than the loan amount you want to refinance, it means that the underwriting is complete. Your lender will contact you with details of your closing.

What happens if your estimate comes back low? You can choose to decrease the amount of money you want to get through the refinance, or you can cancel your application. Alternatively, you can do what’s called a cash-in refinance and bring cash to the table in order to get the terms under your current deal.

Closing On Your New Loan

Once underwriting and home appraisal are complete, it’s time to close your loan. A few days before closing, your lender will send you a document called a Closing Disclosure. That’s where you’ll see all the final numbers for your loan.

The closing for a refinance is faster than the closing for a home purchase. The closing is attended by the people on the loan and title and a representative from the lender or title company.

At closing, you’ll go over the details of the loan and sign your loan documents. This is when you’ll pay any closing costs that aren’t rolled into your loan. If your lender owes you money (for example, if you’re doing a cash-out refinance), you’ll receive the funds after closing.

Once you've closed on your loan, you have a few days before you're locked in. If something happens and you need to get out of your refinance, you can exercise your right of rescission to cancel any time before the 3-day grace period ends.

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