Yes, you can refinance out of an FHA loan as long as you qualify for a conventional loan with a credit score of 620 or higher and have 5% – 25% equity in your home. If you have 20% equity, you may also be able to remove your mortgage insurance and lower your monthly payment in the process.
There are no time limits on how soon you can refinance from FHA to conventional. As long as you qualify and there's a financial benefit, you don't have to wait to make the change.
“Conventional loans have higher minimum requirements than FHA and require a larger down payment,” Yates said. “Sellers prefer a buyer with conventional financing over FHA financing because they feel the buyer is in a better financial position.”
Some refinance loans do require you to wait a certain number of days after taking out your initial home loan before you can refinance. An FHA streamline refinance, for example, has a 210-day waiting period. A conventional cash-out refinance, meanwhile, has a six-month seasoning requirement in most cases.
An FHA loan may be a better option if you have a lower credit score, a higher DTI ratio, or less money saved for a down payment. On the other hand, a conventional loan may work better if your finances are sound and you can qualify for favorable loan terms.
FHA Loan: Cons
Here are some FHA home loan disadvantages: An extra cost – an upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 2.25% of the loan's value. The MIP must either be paid in cash when you get the loan or rolled into the life of the loan. Home price qualifying maximums are set by FHA.
There are drawbacks to conventional loans, the main one being that you'll typically need stronger finances to qualify. Conventional loans usually have larger down payment requirements and you'll need a higher credit score compared to government-backed mortgages.
Most conventional loans are conforming loans. This means they meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's guidelines. Since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac don't require a waiting period for rate-and-term refinances, you can refinance from an FHA loan to a conventional loan whenever you qualify.
Simply put: if you have an FHA loan term of more than 15 years, have been paying it for at least 5 years, and have an LTV ratio of 78% or less, PMI can be removed from the loan. FHA loans of 15 years or less have the same criteria, minus the 5-year requirement.
Home equity requirements by loan type
Conventional refinance: For conventional refinances (including cash-out refinances), you'll usually need at least 20 percent equity in your home (or an LTV ratio of no more than 80 percent).
Some reasons a seller might refuse an FHA loan include misconceptions about longer closing times, stricter property requirements, or the belief that FHA borrowers are riskier.
Because FHA closing costs include the upfront MIP, an FHA loan can have average closing costs on the higher end of the typical 3% – 6% range. That doesn't diminish in any way the value of getting an FHA mortgage, with its low down payment, lower interest rates and flexible underwriting.
Some believe going through someone whose qualified for a conventional loan will close quicker and have less obstacles along the way. Although this isn't true, which its closing success is nearly identical to conventional loans, some sellers still view buyers with FHA loans as riskier.
The only requirement is that you live in the home as your primary residence for the first year after closing on the FHA loan. You can move out of the home one year later and rent the entire home while retaining the FHA financing on the property. This rule is in place for both purchase and refinance FHA loans.
Once the loan has closed, the terms of the Note may not be changed. However, the terms may state that the interest rate is adjustable, or the payment changes from interest-only option to fully-amortized after, say, 10 years, or something similar — these are common features of loans.
FHA loans do not charge PMI. Instead, they require MIP, the FHA's own brand of mortgage insurance premiums. Modern FHA loans require MIP for the entire life of the loan unless you put 10 percent or more down. In that case they go away after 11 years.
Ask to cancel your PMI: If your loan has met certain conditions and your loan to original value (LTOV) ratio falls below 80%, you may submit a written request to have your mortgage servicer cancel your PMI. For more information about canceling your PMI, contact your mortgage servicer.
Mortgage insurance (PMI) is removed from conventional mortgages once the loan reaches a 78 percent loan–to–value ratio. But FHA mortgage insurance removal is a different story. Depending on your down payment, and when you first took out the loan, FHA MIP usually lasts 11 years or the life of the loan.
FHA appraisal guidelines tend to be more stringent than conventional appraisal rules, but they also come with extra protections worth knowing if you're buying a home with an FHA loan.
Given that FHA loans are typically for borrowers who may be less financially stable, some lenders may be hesitant to greenlight financing a second property. Understanding this, know that the lender will look at your finances closely to ensure that you will be able to maintain both loans and not overtax your finances.
In 2022, 9.1 percent of home purchase applications were denied — up from 8.3 percent the year before, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Credit issues, changes in employment status and high debt-to-income ratios are three of the most common reasons that applicants get denied.
Most lenders offer conventional loans with PMI for down payments ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent. Some lenders may offer conventional loans with 3 percent down payments. A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. FHA loans are available with a down payment of 3.5 percent or higher.
You'll pay many of the same types of fees charged on other home loan types, including credit report fees, underwriting costs and home appraisal fees. However, because FHA lending requirements cater to borrowers with much lower credit scores than other programs, the mortgage insurance costs are higher.