January 17, 2017
— The Federal Housing Finance Agency created the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP , in 2009 to give refinance options to homeowners whose mortgage balances are higher than their property values and who are often turned away by traditional lenders. So far, HARP has helped more than 3.4 million homeowners refinance their loans.
HARP expires Sept. 30, 2017, but two refinance options will fill the void:
Both refinance options have the same requirements and are meant for borrowers with high loan-to-value ratios.
As of October 2016, more than 251,000 mortgages were eligible for a HARP loan. However, fewer than 139,000 would actually benefit from one, according to the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center, because the closing costs to refinance those mortgages would outweigh any long-term savings.
Here’s a closer look at these two programs:
Like HARP, the new refinance options can reduce the term or interest rate on your existing loan, as well as lower your overall monthly principal or interest payments. That frees up space in your monthly budget to meet other financial obligations.
“Providing a sustainable refinance opportunity for high LTV borrowers who have demonstrated responsibility by remaining current on their mortgage makes financial sense both for borrowers and for [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac],” said FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt in a release. “This new offering will give borrowers the opportunity to refinance when rates are low, making their mortgages more affordable and thus reducing credit risk exposure for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”
If you already have a HARP loan, you won’t be able to refinance through these programs, because you’ve already received federal mortgage relief. To be eligible, you must also:
These new loans have several advantages over a traditional refinance. They don’t:
They also have a streamlined application and documentation process.
If you want to refinance but traditional lenders have turned you away, ask Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac if you qualify once the new programs go live in October. And contact your current lender as soon as possible to explore relief options.
Deborah Kearns is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: dkearns@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @debbie_kearns.
This story originally appeared on NerdWallet .
