These are the cities where home refinancing is easiest

Mortgages

Written by:

Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.

While mortgage rates have gradually increased since February, they are still more than 30 basis points lower than they were in March 2020. This means many homeowners might still be able to save on their monthly mortgage payments by refinancing into a loan with a lower interest rate.

To determine where homeowners are most likely to be approved for a refinance, LendingTree used data from the latest Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) to analyze more than 2.8 million mortgage refinance applications in the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas.

What LendingTree found was that while most mortgage refinances were approved, many were declined for common reasons, including a high debt-to-income ratio, poor credit history and lack of collateral.

Image Credit: Eugene Zvonkov / iStock.

Key findings

  • Across the nation’s 50 largest metros, nearly 83% of mortgage refinances were approved.
  • For the 17% of applications that were not approved, the top four reasons for denial were debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, credit history, incomplete credit application and collateral.
  • A too-high DTI ratio was the denial reason for 26.5% of denied applications. DTI can be an especially difficult-to-overcome barrier in expensive areas like Los Angeles, San Jose, California, and New York City.
  • A lackluster credit history held back 23% of failed applicants. Poor credit was a significant problem in southern metros like Louisville, Kentucky, Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Incomplete credit applications were a problem for 18.5% of unsuccessful applicants. HMDA doesn’t specify why applications were left incomplete, so it’s difficult to say why so many applications are denied for this reason. Regardless, refinancers in Sacramento, California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Riverside, California, were the most likely to be denied because of an incomplete application.
  • Insufficient collateral was the main reason that kept 14.9% of denied applications from being approved. Borrowers in areas where home prices are relatively low like Pittsburgh, Detroit and Buffalo, New York, struggled the most with collateral.

Image Credit: Bill Oxford/istockphoto.

50. Miami

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 72.52%
  • Collateral: 12.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.20%
  • Credit history: 20.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 32.00%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.00%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.70%

Image Credit: felixmizioznikov / iStock.

49. Houston

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 76.28%
  • Collateral: 12.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 21.00%
  • Credit history: 21.40%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.70%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 14.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.40%

Image Credit: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto.

48. San Antonio

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 76.92%
  • Collateral: 10.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.50%
  • Credit history: 25.60%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.40%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 15.50%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.50%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.

47. Orlando, Florida

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 77.07%
  • Collateral: 11.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.10%
  • Credit history: 25.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 28.20%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.90%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.10%

Image Credit: iStock/SeanPavonePhoto.

46. Tampa, Florida

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 77.09%
  • Collateral: 13.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.80%
  • Credit history: 24.80%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.60%
  • Employment history: 1.00%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 12.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.20%

Image Credit: miroslav_1 / iStock.

45. Jacksonville, Florida

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 77.54%
  • Collateral: 12.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.50%
  • Credit history: 24.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 24.50%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 15.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.10%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

44. Memphis, Tennessee

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 77.82%
  • Collateral: 15.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.00%
  • Credit history: 31.80%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 20.10%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.40%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.10%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

43. Oklahoma City

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 78.36%
  • Collateral: 16.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.30%
  • Credit history: 28.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 22.50%
  • Employment history: 1.00%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.30%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.20%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

42. Hartford, Connecticut

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 78.60%
  • Collateral: 20.60%
  • Incomplete credit application: 16.20%
  • Credit history: 20.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 27.20%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 11.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 1.80%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

41. New Orleans

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 78.98%
  • Collateral: 15.90%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.00%
  • Credit history: 25.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.10%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.80%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.00%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

40. Cleveland

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 79.02%
  • Collateral: 21.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 14.40%
  • Credit history: 26.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.20%
  • Employment history: 0.60%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 8.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 1.90%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

39. Buffalo, New York

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 79.28%
  • Collateral: 21.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.30%
  • Credit history: 23.60%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.60%
  • Employment history: 1.00%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 8.80%
  • Unverifiable information: 1.70%

Image Credit: pabradyphoto/ iStock.

38. Virginia Beach, Virginia

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 79.61%
  • Collateral: 13.40%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.50%
  • Credit history: 27.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 19.00%
  • Employment history: 0.60%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.40%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.20%
  • Other: 15.60%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.00%

Image Credit: DenisTangneyJr.

37. Philadelphia

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 79.64%
  • Collateral: 16.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.40%
  • Credit history: 23.20%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.00%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

36. Birmingham, Alabama

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 79.73%
  • Collateral: 16.70%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.10%
  • Credit history: 31.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 19.50%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.30%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 1.60%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

35. Atlanta

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 80.17%
  • Collateral: 13.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.70%
  • Credit history: 25.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.90%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.80%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 12.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.60%

Image Credit: .

34. Pittsburgh

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 80.25%
  • Collateral: 23.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.70%
  • Credit history: 26.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 22.20%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 7.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 1.80%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

33. New York City

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 80.66%
  • Collateral: 15.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.40%
  • Credit history: 16.20%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 35.90%
  • Employment history: 1.00%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.80%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.90%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

32. Cincinnati

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 81.74%
  • Collateral: 18.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 16.10%
  • Credit history: 28.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.40%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.60%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 9.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.00%

Image Credit: aceshot / iStock.

31. Baltimore, Maryland

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 82.07%
  • Collateral: 17.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.50%
  • Credit history: 24.80%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 21.40%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 12.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

30. Dallas

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 82.54%
  • Collateral: 12.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.90%
  • Credit history: 20.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.30%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 14.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.90%

Image Credit: typhoonski.

29. Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 82.78%
  • Collateral: 12.70%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.70%
  • Credit history: 26.10%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.80%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.90%

Image Credit: Sean Pavone / iStock.

28. Providence, Rhode Island

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.52%
  • Collateral: 17.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.70%
  • Credit history: 20.60%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 28.80%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.30%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.20%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: iStock.

27. Las Vegas

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.58%
  • Collateral: 11.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.90%
  • Credit history: 21.20%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.50%
  • Employment history: 1.30%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.60%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 14.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.40%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

26. Richmond, Virginia

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.60%
  • Collateral: 15.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.70%
  • Credit history: 26.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 21.20%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

25. Austin

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.67%
  • Collateral: 11.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.00%
  • Credit history: 20.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 28.30%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.40%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.60%

Image Credit: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock.

24. Columbus, Ohio

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.71%
  • Collateral: 17.40%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.50%
  • Credit history: 23.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.40%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.60%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.10%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

23. Washington, D.C.

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.77%
  • Collateral: 13.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.40%
  • Credit history: 23.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.40%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.80%

Image Credit: dkfielding.

22. Louisville, Kentucky

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.83%
  • Collateral: 15.40%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.70%
  • Credit history: 32.10%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 20.90%
  • Employment history: 0.60%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

21. Riverside, California

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 83.92%
  • Collateral: 12.40%
  • Incomplete credit application: 22.80%
  • Credit history: 18.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 26.80%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.10%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

20. Indianapolis

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 84.48%
  • Collateral: 18.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.70%
  • Credit history: 27.60%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 20.50%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

19. Chicago

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 84.49%
  • Collateral: 18.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.00%
  • Credit history: 22.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.60%
  • Employment history: 0.80%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 10.60%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

18. Nashville

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 85.28%
  • Collateral: 12.40%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.60%
  • Credit history: 26.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.90%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.20%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.80%

Image Credit: iStock/Vito Palmisano.

17. Detroit

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 85.79%
  • Collateral: 22.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 16.20%
  • Credit history: 21.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 24.60%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 9.60%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.60%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

16. Kansas City, Missouri

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 85.85%
  • Collateral: 18.70%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.90%
  • Credit history: 25.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 20.50%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

15. Raleigh, North Carolina

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 86.05%
  • Collateral: 12.90%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.70%
  • Credit history: 25.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.60%
  • Employment history: 1.30%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.90%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.00%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

14. Los Angeles

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 86.11%
  • Collateral: 10.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 18.20%
  • Credit history: 13.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 37.80%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.80%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.90%
  • Unverifiable information: 4.80%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

13. San Diego

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 86.81%
  • Collateral: 12.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 19.10%
  • Credit history: 14.40%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 33.50%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.50%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 4.20%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

12. Phoenix, Arizona

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.00%
  • Collateral: 12.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 23.10%
  • Credit history: 21.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 23.90%
  • Employment history: 1.30%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.80%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.80%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.90%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

11. Minneapolis

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.02%
  • Collateral: 14.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.50%
  • Credit history: 21.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 25.30%
  • Employment history: 1.30%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.80%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 12.40%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.50%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

10. Sacramento, California

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.16%
  • Collateral: 14.20%
  • Incomplete credit application: 23.90%
  • Credit history: 16.50%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 24.30%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.40%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 13.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.80%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

9. San Francisco

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.33%
  • Collateral: 12.70%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.20%
  • Credit history: 13.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 35.80%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 3.60%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.90%
  • Unverifiable information: 4.70%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

8. Milwaukee

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.49%
  • Collateral: 17.00%
  • Incomplete credit application: 13.20%
  • Credit history: 25.90%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 24.70%
  • Employment history: 0.90%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.60%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 13.90%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.70%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

7. San Jose, California

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.70%
  • Collateral: 12.50%
  • Incomplete credit application: 16.40%
  • Credit history: 12.00%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 37.70%
  • Employment history: 1.10%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 5.10%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.00%
  • Unverifiable information: 5.20%

Image Credit: Andrei Stanescu / iStock.

6. Denver

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.71%
  • Collateral: 10.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.90%
  • Credit history: 23.10%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 27.90%
  • Employment history: 1.40%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.90%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 16.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

5. Seattle

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 87.96%
  • Collateral: 12.80%
  • Incomplete credit application: 21.30%
  • Credit history: 19.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 28.40%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.40%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.10%
  • Other: 11.50%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.10%

Image Credit: aiisha5 / iStock.

4. Boston

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 88.10%
  • Collateral: 14.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.20%
  • Credit history: 18.60%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 34.30%
  • Employment history: 1.00%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.10%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 9.50%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.00%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

3. St. Louis, Missouri

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 88.41%
  • Collateral: 17.60%
  • Incomplete credit application: 15.50%
  • Credit history: 26.40%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 24.50%
  • Employment history: 0.70%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 1.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 11.30%
  • Unverifiable information: 2.30%

Image Credit: iStock.

2. Portland, Oregon

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 88.48%
  • Collateral: 13.30%
  • Incomplete credit application: 20.70%
  • Credit history: 18.70%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 27.80%
  • Employment history: 1.20%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.20%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 12.80%
  • Unverifiable information: 3.30%

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

1. Salt Lake City

  • Refinance Approval Rate: 89.21%
  • Collateral: 16.10%
  • Incomplete credit application: 17.20%
  • Credit history: 18.30%
  • Debt-to-income-ratio: 27.50%
  • Employment history: 1.40%
  • Insufficent cash (down payment, closing costs): 2.70%
  • Mortgage insurance denied: 0.00%
  • Other: 10.70%
  • Unverifiable information: 6.10%

Image Credit: iStock/Sean Pavone.

How to increase the odds of a refinance approval

For some homeowners, being approved for a refinance can be a challenge, though not an insurmountable one. Below are a few tips to help you avoid the most common reasons why mortgage refinance applications are denied:

  • Credit history: Before applying for a refinance, carefully review your credit history and ensure that it’s accurate. If you have a low credit score, take steps to improve it, such as paying down debt and making payments on time. In some cases, you might want to consider working with a credit repair company that can help you resolve issues on your credit report.
  • Debt-to-income ratio: Don’t take out a new loan that stretches your ability to repay your new mortgage. Pay down debt prior to applying for a loan, and limit your spending.
  • Collateral: If a borrower has insufficient collateral, it means that their home was appraised at a value too low for their requested loan amount. Asking for a smaller loan amount is often a good way to get around collateral issues.
  • Incomplete applications: Make sure everything in your refinance application — from your tax records to your employment history — is both complete and accurate, and that you have paperwork to back up what you wrote down. Be proactive and gather all of the documentation you’ll need for a refi application so your loan approval isn’t derailed.

Image Credit: DepositPhotos.com.

Methodology

To conduct this study, LendingTree analyzed more than 2.8 million mortgage application records from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s Home Mortgage Disclosure Act 2019 data set (the most recent available).

This article originally appeared on LendingTree.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

Image Credit: marchmeena29/istockphoto.

AlertMe