Mortgage Navigator • VA Home Loans

VA Cash-Out Refinance

VA cash-out can do something an IRRRL cannot: refinance a non-VA loan into a VA-backed mortgage and, when eligible, extract equity.

Two common uses

A VA cash-out refinance can take equity out for needs such as debt payoff, education or improvements, or refinance an existing non-VA mortgage into a VA-backed loan.

Occupancy required

The borrower generally must live in the home being refinanced and satisfy VA credit, income, COE and lender requirements.

Appraisal required

The lender orders a VA appraisal because the new loan must be supported by the property and VA's collateral requirements.

Funding fee

Current VA cash-out funding-fee rates are 2.15% for first use and 3.3% after first use unless the borrower is exempt.

Official VA baseline

VA Home Loans · VA Pamphlet 26-7 Lender's Handbook

VA sets the guaranty program rules, while private lenders underwrite and may impose overlays that are stricter than VA's baseline.