What Is HIRO?
HIRO is the mortgage relief refinance program for 2020. Run by Fannie Mae, this program does have some similarities to its ancestors (HARP and FMERR); however, it also allows homeowners to refinance even if they don’t have any equity. Furthermore, there isn’t a maximum LTV (loan to value) ratio. The biggest difference between HIRO and prior programs is that only people who currently have mortgages through Fannie Mae are able to qualify.
Some of the other conditions of this program include:
- The loan must have been originated on or after October 1, 2017
- There is a long history of making payments on-time
- There cannot have been any more than one late payment in the prior year
- There cannot be any late payments in the last six months
- The loan to value ratio is at 97.01 percent or above
If these conditions are met, someone might be able to find mortgage refinance relief through HIRO.
Reasons To Refinance
Of course, if someone is looking to apply for this program, there must be some tangible benefit. Some of the reasons why someone might want to refinance include a lower monthly payment, a loan with an earlier end date, or a transition from a risky adjustable-rate mortgage to a much safer fixed-rate mortgage. These are a few of the common reasons why someone might want to refinance through HIRO.
Options For Government-Backed Loans
If someone has a mortgage through a government program such as USDA, VA, or the FHA, they will need to apply for other mortgage relief programs. This means looking for streamline refinances. These are specific refinance programs that are meant for people with loans backed by the government. These programs often have less paperwork because there is no need to verify income or employment. Furthermore, there is no need to get the home appraised.
