How much equity do I need?

A rate-and-term refinance can work with as little as 3-5% equity. Dropping PMI takes about 20%, and a conventional cash-out requires you to keep 20% (an 80% loan-to-value cap).

Will refinancing hurt my credit?

The hard inquiry causes a small, temporary dip. Rate-shopping multiple lenders within a ~45-day window counts as a single inquiry for scoring.

Refinance With a 580 Credit Score

Refinancing With a 580 Credit Score is more doable than many homeowners assume. Below is what lenders actually require here and how to put your strongest file forward.

The short answer

At a 580 score you reach the threshold where FHA refinances allow up to 96.5% LTV on rate-and-term and 80% on cash-out. Conventional refinancing generally stays out of reach until you cross roughly 620. An existing FHA borrower can use a Streamline refinance and usually bypass the credit pull, appraisal, and income documentation altogether.

What refinance lenders look for

Equity: ~3-5% for a rate-and-term, 20% to drop PMI, and 20% kept for a cash-out (80% LTV cap).
Credit: roughly 620+ for conventional; FHA and VA streamlines do not re-check your score.
Debt-to-income: generally under ~43-50% including the new payment.
Break-even: closing costs divided by monthly savings — refinance only if you will keep the home past it.

Refinance rates and guidelines change. Join the free Refi Rate Guide alerts to hear when the rules or rates that affect this situation move.

Your next steps

Pull your credit, estimate your home's value and current balance to gauge equity, and get quotes from two or three lenders the same day so the comparison is apples-to-apples. Then run the break-even before you commit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Refinance With a 580 Credit Score — is it possible in 2026?: At a 580 score you reach the threshold where FHA refinances allow up to 96.5% LTV on rate-and-term and 80% on cash-out. Conventional refinancing generally stays out of reach until you cross roughly 620. An existing FHA borrower can use a Streamline refinance and usually bypass the credit pull, appraisal, and income documentation altogether.
How much equity do I need?: A rate-and-term refinance can work with as little as 3-5% equity. Dropping PMI takes about 20%, and a conventional cash-out requires you to keep 20% (an 80% loan-to-value cap).
Will refinancing hurt my credit?: The hard inquiry causes a small, temporary dip. Rate-shopping multiple lenders within a ~45-day window counts as a single inquiry for scoring.