How Long Does It Take to Refinance a House?

By Bill Lyons | Published on August 7, 2023

You can refinance your mortgage to fund home improvements, pay college tuition, or accomplish other financial goals. However, if you’re on a timeline you might be asking yourself, “How long does it take to refinance a house?” It can take up to 45 days or longer depending on the type of loan you opt for as well as other factors. The good news is that you’re no longer a first-time home buyer, which can give you the confidence to quickly move forward with your plans.

Refinancing a loan is also a great way to reduce your interest rate and monthly payment or leverage the home equity you’ve built over the years. By understanding the factors that influence your refinancing timeline, you’ll be better prepared to make the right decisions when consulting with your loan officer.

How Quickly Can You Refinance a Mortgage?

It generally takes about 30-45 days to complete a refinance, although a number of factors can speed up or slow down this timeline. You may be able to complete a refinance in under 30 days, or, in some circumstances, a refinance can take as long as 60 days.

Griffin Funding aims to complete most types of refinances in 30 days or less. Whether you’re looking to refinance a VA loan, a conventional loan, or another loan type, our team has experience when it comes to helping homeowners through the refinancing process.

Factors That Impact the Home Refinance Process

The type of loan, the market situation, your personal circumstances, and how long it takes you to get the paperwork together all impact your time to close. The mortgage underwriting process can go much more smoothly if you hand in the paperwork quickly and answer any questions that arise promptly.

Below, we go into more detail about the different factors that can impact the mortgage refinancing timeline.

The type of refinance loan

Here are examples of typical refinance loan types:

• Cash-out refinance: A loan such as a VA cash-out refinance allows you to borrow money against the equity in your home. The money you borrow can be used for any purpose, such as paying off debt, making home improvements, or funding a major purchase.

• VA streamline refinance loan (IRRL): A VA IRRRL, or interest rate reduction refinance loan, is a type of refinance loan that is available to veterans and active-duty service members. It allows you to refinance your existing VA loan to a lower interest rate without having to provide proof of income or assets.
• Rate and term refinance: A rate and term refinance allows homeowners to change the interest rate and loan terms on their current mortgage. This can be a good option for borrowers who want to take advantage of low interest rates and alter certain aspects of their loan terms. For instance, you may want to switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage in order to lock in a low rate.
• Reverse mortgage: A reverse mortgage is a refinancing option available to those 62 years of age and older who have built significant equity in their home. With this type of loan, homeowners can leverage the equity in their property and receive either a lump sum or monthly payments from the lender.

These are just some of the refinancing options currently available to homeowners. Griffin Funding offers several types of refinance loans for eligible applicants.

Market conditions

Market conditions also impact the timeline of your loan. For example, if relatively few homeowners are seeking refinance loans, your loan will probably go through more quickly. On the other hand, if there’s a backlog of applications due to increased demand, it will take longer to process your loan. When interest rates are high, fewer homeowners are refinancing, so you may be likely to close faster.

Your financial situation

The following financial factors will often impact your eligibility to refinance and how long it takes to complete the home refinancing process:

• Credit score
• Household income
• Assets
• DTI ratio
• Your home equity

All of these financial metrics will have an impact on the types of refinancing options you’re eligible for and how long the refinancing process takes. In order to expedite the refinancing process, it’s a good idea to optimize your financial wellbeing before beginning to refinance.

Paperwork and documentation

If you can get your paperwork and documentation together quickly, it will help the refinancing process go much more smoothly. Your loan officer and the underwriting team will use this information to determine your eligibility for a refinancing loan. This requires verification of your assets, debts, income, property value and identity, among other factors.

Have the following paperwork ready quickly and you could help expedite your time to close:

• Driver’s license or government ID
• Social Security card
• Recent pay stubs (not applicable on bank statement, DSCR, or asset-based loans)
• Your W-2 forms or tax returns (not applicable on bank statement, DSCR, or asset-based loans)
• Bank statements
• Debt statements
• Mortgage statements
• Homeowners insurance policy
• Home appraisal (if applicable)

Putting this paper work together ahead of time can greatly reduce the stress associated with refinancing your mortgage. Additionally, make sure to keep in close contact with your lender throughout the refinancing process and provide any documentation they may request.

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How to Streamline the Home Refinance Process

How quickly can you refinance a mortgage? Follow the tips below to help the home refinance process proceed without delays.

Confirm that you qualify

It’s important to make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the type of loan you’re applying for. For example, you’ll need a score of at least 620 to refinance a conventional loan. In many cases, the debt-to-income ratio required is 43%.

On the other hand, a VA streamline refinance will have different requirements, such as providing a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Whatever type of refinance loan you’re considering applying for, make sure to review the qualification requirements beforehand to make sure you’re eligible.

Get your paperwork in order

You should gather all the documents that your loan officer may request and keep them in a safe and accessible place. You should also review your credit report and fix any errors or disputes that may lower your score or affect your approval.

If you need advice on what documentation you will need to complete your refinance application, reach out to Griffin Funding today. We can help you understand the various products available through Griffin Funding and which ones will work in your situation.

Communicate with your loan officer

You should respond to any questions, requests, or updates from your loan officer as soon as possible and provide any necessary documentation or signatures. You should also make yourself available during the process and promptly answer any messages from our team. By maintaining clear and consistent communication with your loan officer, you can avoid any delays.

Find Out How Quickly You Can Refinance Your Mortgage

Refinancing your house can be a great way to save money, build equity, or achieve other financial goals. However, the refinance process can take some time, depending on various factors. By following the tips above, you can streamline the process and get approved faster.

If you’re ready to refinance your mortgage, contact Griffin Funding today. We offer fast and easy refinancing options for homeowners and can help you find the best refinance loan for your situation. We would love to get to know you and help you understand how your home refinance will impact your budget.

If you’re in search of a standard home loan rather than a refinance loan, we can help with that, too. Griffin Funding offers VA home loans, bank statement loans, DSCR loans, asset-based loans and more. Our team would love to take the time to help you understand the benefits and requirements of each loan type and how to apply for them.

Do you want to close in as little as 30 days? Get started by filling out our online application. Contact us if you have any questions about refinancing your home.

Bill Lyons

Bill Lyons is the Founder, CEO & President of Griffin Funding. Founded in 2013, Griffin Funding is a national boutique mortgage lender focusing on delivering 5-star service to its clients. Mr. Lyons has 22 years of experience in the mortgage business. Lyons is seen as an industry leader and expert in real estate finance. Lyons has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Wall Street Journal, HousingWire, and more. As a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Lyons is able to keep up with important changes in the industry to deliver the most value to Griffin's clients. Under Lyons' leadership, Griffin Funding has made the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list five times in its 10 years in business.