USDA streamline — no appraisal, no income verification.
Already have a USDA Guaranteed loan? Streamline lets you refi to a lower rate with minimal paperwork — including a Streamline-Assist option that skips the credit review.
How it works
- You must have an existing USDA Guaranteed loan
- Two options: standard USDA Streamline and USDA Streamline-Assist
- Streamline-Assist: no appraisal, no credit review, no DTI calc — but requires $50+/month payment reduction
- 12 months of on-time payments required (Streamline-Assist)
- No cash out allowed on either option
- Property must still be in a USDA-eligible area
Requirements
- Existing USDA Guaranteed loan
- 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments
- New loan must reduce monthly P&I by at least $50 (Streamline-Assist)
- Property still located in a USDA-eligible area
Pros & cons
Pros
- No appraisal required
- Streamline-Assist skips credit review and DTI entirely
- Lower mortgage insurance than FHA (0.35% annual)
- Closing costs can usually be financed in
Cons
- Only available to existing USDA borrowers
- No cash out allowed
- Property must still be in a USDA-eligible area
- 1% upfront guarantee fee still applies
Who it's best for
- Existing USDA borrowers when rates have dropped
- Rural and suburban homeowners who want a no-appraisal refi
- Borrowers with 12+ months of on-time payments and a $50+/month savings
- USDA borrowers whose home value has slipped (appraisal waived)
FAQs
What is USDA Streamline-Assist?+
USDA Streamline-Assist is the simplest USDA refinance option. It skips the appraisal, skips the credit review, and skips the DTI calculation entirely. The only hard rule is that the new loan must reduce your monthly principal + interest payment by at least $50, and you must have made 12 consecutive on-time payments on the current USDA loan.
Do I need an appraisal?+
No on USDA Streamline-Assist — appraisal is fully waived. The standard USDA Streamline option doesn't require a new appraisal either, but it does require credit and DTI review. Either way, you skip the appraisal.
How much can I save?+
Savings depend on your rate drop. Streamline-Assist requires at least $50/month in payment reduction to qualify, but most borrowers refinancing in a rate-drop environment see $150–$400+ in monthly savings. We'll run the numbers before you commit.
What is the difference between USDA Streamline and Streamline-Assist?+
Streamline-Assist is the lighter version: no appraisal, no credit review, no DTI, but it requires 12 months of on-time payments and a $50+ payment reduction. Standard USDA Streamline still skips the appraisal but does include a credit review and DTI calc, and it allows borrowers to add or remove a borrower from the loan. We'll choose whichever fits your file best.
Does the property still need to be in a USDA-eligible area?+
Yes — both streamline options require the property to remain in a USDA-eligible area. If your address has since been removed from the eligibility map, the USDA streamline isn't available; you'd need to refinance into a conventional or FHA loan.
Are USDA fees the same on a refi?+
Yes — the standard 1% upfront guarantee fee and 0.35% annual fee apply to USDA refinances, including streamlines. The upfront fee is financed into the loan.
Get a real refinance quote
Soft credit pull, no obligation — usually same day.