How Often Can You Refinance Your Home?

Home refinance applications increased 4% in April, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Market forecast predicts interest rates to drop to 6% by 2024-end so, if you want a refinance, it might be beneficial to delay until then.

Knowing how often you can refinance your home can increase your monthly savings. You will need to find a lender, and with Houzeo it’s never been easier. Check out our list of verified lenders and begin your refinancing journey now!

How Often Can You Refinance Your Home?

There is no fixed limit on how many times you can refinance your home, in general. However, there can be a limit on how often you can refinance your home in a year. It depends upon the type of your home loan. 

Each lender and type of loan has a different waiting period, wherein home buyers must own the house for at least 6 to 12 months before refinancing it. Let’s look at how often you can refinance your home, or if you should do it in the first place:

1. Conventional Loan 

Conventional home loans usually have a 6-month to 2-year waiting period for a refinance from the first mortgage date. So, if you want to refinance with the same lender, you can do it twice a year. With a new lender, you can do it unlimited times in a year.

2. Cash-Out Refinance

Lenders typically impose a 6-month waiting period on cash-out refinances to assess a borrower’s financial credibility. This means that you need to hold the property for at least 6 months before you can refinance, so you can only do it twice a year. 

Moreover, lenders offer cash against a certain percentage of your home ownership in cash-out refinance. To seek a cash-out refinance, you should own at least 20% of your home equity. 

3. Government-Backed Loans 

You can also refinance government-backed mortgages. Here are some important refinancing requirements for different types of federal loans:

• FHA Loans: The Federal Housing Administration issues FHA loans, which have a waiting period of 210 days from the closing date of the mortgage. Moreover, you should have paid at least six mortgage payments.
• VA Loans: Similar to FHA loans, VA loans also mandate a waiting period of at least 210 days. This term is calculated from the first payment date or until the sixth monthly payment, whichever is later. 
• USDA Home Loans: You need to wait for 12 months from the date of closing to conduct a refinance on a USDA loan. 

When Should You Refinance Your Home?

Refinancing a mortgage often comes with added expenses. However, there are also scenarios where refinancing can yield you benefits:

1. Lower Your Interest Rate

You can refinance your home if the interest rates have reduced reasonably or if your credit score has increased over time. For a loan amount of $425,000 at the current interest rate of 7.4% over 30 years, you would have to pay $2,943 monthly interest.

However, if the interest rate decreases to 6.0%, the annual interest would reduce to $2,548. A lower interest rate offers more liquidity by lowering your monthly payments.

2. Change Your Loan Term

The average tenure of home loans in the U.S. is 30 years. Even though the duration of the mortgage makes monthly payments more affordable, you will have to pay a large sum as interest. Refinancing your home can reduce the term. 

If your financial situation improves, refinancing will help you pay off the loan and get ownership of your house sooner. However, remember that reducing the loan term will increase your monthly payments.

3. Remove Private Mortgage Insurance 

The cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) for a conventional loan usually varies between $30 and $70 per month for every $100,000 you borrow. Once you have 20% equity, you can refinance your home to remove this PMI.

4. Avoid Payment Jump in Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

Adjustable-rate mortgages have variable interest rates. If the interest rate goes up, your monthly mortgage payments will also increase. In such cases, you can refinance your home to fixed mortgage rates to avoid the payment jump. 

5. Borrow Against Your Home Equity

Cash-out refinance can be an excellent option if you need money for specific purposes. The interest rate in cash-out refinance is typically lower because you convert your equity into debt. 

You can refinance your home if you have paid a significant sum of your mortgage already. However, we advise you to have at least 50% home equity before seeking cash-out refinance.

What Happens When You Refinance Your Home Often?

Even though you can refinance your home multiple times, you should only do it when necessary. This is because you might have to pay additional costs and prepayment penalties. Consider these factors before you refinance your home:

1. You’ll Need to Pay Closing Costs Again

Homebuyers have to pay closing costs when they replace their current mortgage with a new one. The closing costs usually vary between 2% to 6% of the loan amount. 

Closing costs mostly depend upon the loan size and the lender. Some lenders even charge a flat closing fee irrespective of the loan amount. You’ll have to pay the following types of refinancing costs:

• Loan Application Fee: It ranges between $100-$500.
• Home Appraisal Fee: This process is used to determine the accurate value of your home, and ranges between $200 to $700.
• Credit Report Fee: It’s usually up to $100 per person. 
• Title Search and Insurance Fee: It ranges between $400 to $900.
• Document Preparation Fee: This can go up to $600. 

You can also consider a no-closing cost refinance to avoid these additional fees. However, they might result in marginally higher interest rates, or an increased mortgage principal.

2. You’ll Need to Meet Your Lender’s Credit Standards

You’ll have to meet the eligibility criteria set by the lenders before you refinance your home, especially credit standards. If your credit score is less than 620, the interest rate will likely be high. 

Most lenders require a 700+ credit score for low interest rates. Therefore, carefully check the lender’s credit standards before submitting the refinance application.

3. You Might Face Prepayment Penalties 

Many lenders impose penalties on repaying the full loan early. If you want to refinance to reduce the loan term, check whether your lender levies a prepayment penalty. If the penalty amount is high, you should avoid refinancing your home for loan prepayment. 

However, if you want to make the prepayment due to unavoidable circumstances, you can itemize deductions under Schedule A (Form 1040) and get tax savings.

Should You Refinance Your Home More Than Once?

Refinancing your home can be tricky, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Make sure you have a valid reason to do it. Check the existing market conditions, future predictions, and refinance rules to find the best possible terms.

Factors such as seasoning requirements and credit score impact how often you can refinance your home. You must also find a lender offering suitable terms as most charge a prepayment penalty for an early pay-off on the original loan.

With Houzeo, looking for lenders has never been easier. We have curated a list of verified mortgage lenders near you to help speed up this process. The best loan terms for you are out there waiting, so don’t delay!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Refinance