Not every household has perfect credit. Most don’t. Life moves, priorities shift, expenses come at the wrong time, and credit scores reflect all of that. If your credit is in the 580–620 range, there may still be real refinance options available that can help lower your monthly payment and ease monthly pressure.
At Royal United Mortgage, we’re in this space every day too. We talk with homeowners who are doing their best, managing real life, and simply looking for options that make sense. That’s exactly who these programs are designed for.
We’re proud to be 4.9-star rated on LendingTree and A+ accreditation from Better Business Bureau because we focus on what matters most – taking the time to understand your goals and help you explore what’s actually possible.
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Effective today, Royal United can now offer expanded access to:
- Fannie Mae DU Refi Now™
- Freddie Mac LP Refi Possible℠
These programs are designed to help homeowners reduce their monthly payment in a simple, focused way.
#### Key requirements:
- Minimum 580 FICO score
- Must already be Fannie-to-Fannie or Freddie-to-Freddie
- Loan must be at least 12 months old
- All payments in the last 12 months must be on time
- No forbearance in the last 12 months
- Must lower interest rate by at least 0.50%
- Must reduce monthly payment
- Income at or below 100% of Area Median Income (AMI)
- Primary residence only
- Max 55% debt-to-income ratio
- Max $250 cash back at closing
Loan ownership can be checked here:
#### Additional benefit
For these programs, there is also a $500 credit available when an appraisal is completed for the loan.
Other refinance paths
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#### FHA refinance
- Often works well for homeowners rebuilding credit
- Flexible guidelines starting around 580
- Some options allow closing costs to be rolled into the loan
#### VA & USDA refinance
- Flexible or minimal credit requirements (based on eligibility)
- Streamlined options that can simplify the process
#### Non-QM loans
- Designed for unique income or credit situations
- Can help when traditional guidelines don’t fit
- Typically come with higher rates
#### Co-signer option
- In some cases, a co-signer with stronger credit can help support approval. It’s a shared responsibility, so it’s important to understand how it impacts both sides before moving forward.
If timing isn’t right yet
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Sometimes the best move is a short pause to strengthen a few areas: On-time payments, lowering credit card balances, reducing overall debt where possible. Even a few months of consistency can open up better options. This isn’t about perfect credit or perfect timing. It’s about finding workable solutions that fit real life.
Because at the end of the day, this is about home, stability, and finding a little more room to breathe each month.