"Speaking of HARP though—isn't that program pretty much phased out now?"
Yeah, you're right about HARP being phased out—I looked into it myself a while back and found out they replaced it with something called the High LTV Refinance Option. Seems similar, but the eligibility criteria felt tighter when I checked. I refinanced around the same time you did, thinking rates couldn't possibly get lower... and now here we are, second-guessing again. Might be worth a quick call to your lender just to clarify current options before diving deeper into renovation math.
Yeah, HARP's definitely done—I checked into it last year when rates dropped again. The High LTV option seemed similar at first glance, but honestly, the fine print made me think twice. Did you notice how strict they got with credit scores and payment history? Felt like jumping through hoops compared to the old HARP days... Might still be worth a quick check-in with your lender though, just to see if anything's loosened up lately.
"Did you notice how strict they got with credit scores and payment history?"
Definitely noticed that too—lenders have tightened up significantly since HARP ended. The High LTV option can still be viable, but the underwriting process is noticeably more rigorous. I've seen clients surprised by the stricter debt-to-income ratios as well...worth keeping in mind.
I've definitely seen the same tightening trend lately. While HARP itself isn't an option anymore, there are still refinancing programs out there designed for borrowers with high loan-to-value ratios. But yeah, lenders are being extra cautious now—credit scores, payment history, and even employment stability are under closer scrutiny. Had a client recently who was surprised when their refi got delayed because of a small dip in their credit score...so it's smart to be proactive and keep an eye on these details ahead of time.
I've noticed the same thing lately—lenders are definitely tightening up. Even with alternative refinancing programs, the criteria seem stricter than before. A friend of mine recently had their refi delayed because the lender wanted extra verification on employment stability, despite having a solid job history. It seems like they're really digging deeper into details that weren't as critical a few years ago. Keeping tabs on your credit and financial profile ahead of time is definitely wise advice these days...
