Looking to make some major home improvements? Consider a cash-out refinance. Refinancing is a low-interest way to get tax-free cash for remodeling your kitchen, finishing your basement – or anything you choose.

Let’s look at how cash-out refinancing works and what you need to know about using cash from your home for repairs and renovations.

Qualifying For A Cash-Out Refinance

Credit Score Requirements

In most cases, you’ll need a credit score of at least 620 to do a cash-out refinance. The exact credit score you’ll need depends on factors like your loan type, how many units the property has and how much cash you’re taking out.

Equity Requirements

To take cash out, you need to have a certain amount of equity in your home. When you apply to refinance, your lender will require an appraisal of the property to determine property value.

You can subtract your current loan balance from the appraised property value to determine how much equity you have in your home.

The minimum amount of equity you’ll need to leave in your home when you refinance varies by loan type and by lender. If you want to take cash out with a conventional loan, you’ll typically need to leave at least 15% to 20% equity in your home.

If you refinance with an FHA loan, you’ll need 15% equity in your home. VA loans are unique in that you can refinance 100% of the home’s value – in other words, you don’t have to leave any equity in the home as long as you meet your lender’s credit score requirements.

Debt-To-Income Ratio (DTI) Requirements

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is also considered when you refinance. DTI is calculated by combining all your recurring monthly debt and dividing it by your gross monthly income. The maximum DTI allowed varies by loan type and lender, but you’ll typically need a DTI of 50% or lower.

The Benefits Of A Cash-Out Refinance

Low-Cost Home Improvements

A cash-out refinance is a low-cost way to make home improvements when you don’t have the money on hand. Refinancing can be a good way to borrow a lot of money at once, which means expensive renovations are in reach and won’t take much (if anything) from your monthly budget.

You Could Secure A Better Loan

The best time to refinance your mortgage is when interest rates decline. The lower the interest rate you secure, the bigger your savings will be over time and on a month-to-month basis.

If you refinance at the right time, you could find yourself in an even better loan than you had before. You could gain access to some of your equity and lower your mortgage payment at the same time.

Boost Your Property Value

Improvements can add value to your home. Add a lower interest rate and you’ll come out ahead if your house is worth more. The right home improvements could make your home more appealing to buyers down the line.   

Maintain One Payment

A cash-out refinance isn’t the only way to get funds for home renovations, but it’s likely to be easiest on your budget. Home equity loans, personal loans and credit card debt add extra payments and more interest.

With a cash-out refinance, you’ll maintain a single mortgage payment that may not to be much higher than the one you have now.

Low Interest Rates

Some people turn to credit cards or personal loans to bankroll home improvements, but those options come with higher interest rates, sometimes in the double-digit range. When you refinance your mortgage, you can borrow money at a much lower interest rate – in today’s market, typically around 3.5% to 4.5%.

You May Get A Tax Deduction

Mortgage interest is usually tax-deductible, but the interest on many other types of debt is not. Depending on where you live and the tax rules that apply to you, the interest you pay on your mortgage can be deducted. Check with a tax professional to see how this applies to you.

You Can Use The Cash However You Want

There are no rules about how to use the cash from a cash-out refinance. If you have leftover money after home improvements, you can use it for other expenses or investments.

Things To Know About Doing A Cash-Out Refinance

The Amount You Borrow Depends On Your Equity

Lenders typically require you to maintain 15% to 20% equity in your home after a cash-out refinance. This can limit the amount you can access for home improvements.

If you had huge renovation aspirations, or if your appraisal comes back lower than you thought it would, you could be forced to find additional funding sources.

You’ll Get Different Loan Terms

Like any refinance, a cash-out refinances changes the terms of your loan. You’ll get a new loan with an updated interest rate, and your payment will change to reflect the change in your loan.

This could mean a larger payment, but not always. For example, if you’re resetting your term to 30 years, or if you’re getting a lower interest rate, your payment won’t necessarily go up.

Refinancing Requires Closing Costs

A cash-out refinance is like any other refinance, which means there are closing costs involved. The closing costs will typically be subtracted from the cash you’re getting, so you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket.

However, it’s a good idea to weigh closing costs against interest rate savings and the potential increase in value to determine if a cash-out refinance makes sense for you. If you plan to move soon or take out only a small amount of money, a cash-out refinance may not be the best option.

Alternatives For Funding Home Improvements

Not everyone has the equity to qualify for a cash-out refinance. If you need another way to make home improvements, here are a few other options:

• A home equity loan or home equity line of credit can let you borrow against the equity in your home. Neither of these loans will require you to change the terms or interest rate of your existing mortgage. However, you’ll pay a higher interest rate than you would with a cash-out refinance, and you’ll take on an additional monthly payment.

• Personal loans are another option. These are unsecured loans issued and supported only by the borrower’s creditworthiness, rather than by any type of collateral. As a result, they tend to have higher interest rates. Our sister company Rocket Loans® offers personal loans for home improvement and many other uses.

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