Home values across the country have declined, and many homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. When you’re “underwater” on your mortgage, it may be possible to refinance, but it will depend on your circumstances and the type of mortgage you have.
Refinancing an underwater mortgage is usually difficult, because lenders generally require that you have equity in your property. However, if you meet certain criteria, you may be eligible to refinance your mortgage through the federal Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). This program targets homeowners who are underwater but who are having no trouble making their mortgage payments.
To qualify for HARP, your mortgage must be owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, and you must be current on your mortgage at the time of the refinance. In addition, you must have made no late payments within the past six months, and no more than one late payment in the past twelve months. Other eligibility criteria also apply.
To find out if you’re eligible for HARP, start by verifying that your mortgage is backed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. You can do this by visiting www.freddiemac.com or www.fanniemae.com and using their lookup tools. Once you’ve established that your mortgage meets this basic criteria, contact your current lender or other lenders to see if they offer HARP refinances–not all lenders do. For more information about HARP, visit www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.
Another option you might have is a cash-in refinance. With this type of refinance, you bring cash to the closing to reduce your mortgage balance and increase your home equity, enabling you to meet the lender’s loan requirements. Underwater borrowers who can also afford to refinance to a shorter loan term (e.g., from 30 to 15 years) might especially benefit because they may boost their equity stake more quickly. However, home equity isn’t liquid and it’s possible that home values will continue to decline, sinking borrowers further underwater, so a cash-in refinance is only an option if you have substantial savings and can ride out the ups and downs of the housing market.