A shorter-term loan will be in the borrower’s financial interest as the borrower will be paying off the loan in a shorter amount of time
For the reasons explained above, VA will require that the new loan must provide a net tangible benefit to the borrower. For the purposes of § , net tangible benefit means that the new loan is in the financial interest of the borrower.
First, the new loan must meet one or more of the following: The new loan eliminates monthly mortgage insurance, whether public or private, or monthly guaranty insurance; the term of the new loan is shorter than the term of the loan being refinanced; the interest rate on the new loan is lower than the interest rate on the loan being refinanced; the payment on the new loan is lower than the payment on the loan being Start Printed Page 64463 refinanced; the new loan results in an increase in the borrower’s monthly residual income as explained by § (e); the new loan refinances an interim loan to construct, alter, or repair the home; the new loan amount is equal to or less than 90 percent of the reasonable value of the home; or the new loan refinances an adjustable rate loan to a fixed rate loan.
VA has chosen these eight criteria because VA believes a loan that meets at least one of these criteria helps demonstrate that the loan is in the financial interest of the borrower. Continue reading