Guideline Sources

Source publication

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Generally 25% of the exempt portion, or higher supported comparable taxes.

Source publication

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Six months of full, regular and timely receipt and three years of expected continuance from application.

Source publication

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Fixed and variable distributions use different calculation bases.

Source publication

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Document the note, 12 months of receipt, and three years of continuance.

Source publication

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Continuance and documents depend on the benefit type and whose earnings record supports it.

Material guidance update

Oct 7, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Oct 7, 2026

The verified continuance change moved the one-time time-based award anchor from the note date to the application date. Other qualifying conditions still require review.

Material guidance update

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

Owner-occupied housing treatment, documented current housing payment, and 12-month management threshold.

Source publication

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

Long-term subject rent, expense add-backs and ADU restrictions.

Source publication

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

A supported subject-property short-term rent example uses a 50% factor. Verify scenario and evidence before using the result.

Source publication

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

After adoption: supported market rent, offset only, and six months of additional reserves if management history is under 12 months.

Source publication

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

After adoption: use market rent and cap qualifying use at the related PITIA offset.

Material guidance update

Sep 2, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Dec 1, 2026

Separate rules for subject, short-term, non-subject, and departing residence. The scope verified here includes the supported lease and Schedule E worksheets; optional adoption began September 2.

Source publication

Mar 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Match documentation, receipt history, and duration to the income source.

Material guidance update

Mar 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Jun 1, 2026

March income changes include a consolidated calculation and support for a documented nonrecurring gap. Applies June 1; optional from March 4.

Source publication

Dec 10, 2025

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified standard six-month title and twelve-month first-lien clocks. The section date does not establish when those clocks last materially changed.

Source publication

Oct 8, 2025

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Standard limited cash-out requirements do not establish a minimum monthly payment reduction or recoupment period.

Source publication

May 7, 2025

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Current and quick ratios; generally 1.00 or higher, with discretion to document another method.

Source publication

Apr 2, 2025

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified the DTI numerator and denominator for the worksheet. The section date does not imply that worksheet math changed.

Source publication

Jun 1, 2022

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

The standard purchase value basis is the lower of purchase price and appraisal. Specialized valuations and product limits are outside this review.

Material guidance update

Oct 20, 2021

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

The October 20, 2021 update removed the $50 floor; the current August 26, 2026 reissue retains the 50-bp rate reduction and any positive payment reduction including MI. The DU update was implemented December 4, 2021.

Source publication

Jun 5, 2019

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Review ownership, distributions, corporate cash-flow adjustments and double counting.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Assess cash-flow impact of withdrawing business assets; a ratio alone does not establish access or no adverse impact.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verify required years, income stability, access, and business analysis.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Source worksheet reviewed for cash-flow categories. Enter adjustments already verified for the borrower and business.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Sources and allowable adjustment categories for supported individual schedules and business returns.

Source publication

Feb 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

25% or a documented current withholding rate; 15% of eligible Social Security is an exempt-portion documentation exception.

Material guidance update

Feb 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Feb 4, 2026

Certain inherited-land and legal-award construction cases require separate review. The ordinary seasoning screen is suppressed when the user selects an exception.

Source publication

Feb 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified standard six-month title and twelve-month first-lien clocks from the February 2026 Guide section.

Source publication

Feb 4, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Different income sources have distinct history and continuance requirements. See the selected income type.

Material guidance update

Dec 4, 2024

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Apr 1, 2025

The published update replaced the 52-week average with a 200-day simple moving average and changed performance history treatment. The resulting formulas were cross-checked against the May 2026 Guide snapshot.

Material guidance update

Dec 1, 2021

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Jan 31, 2022

The update removed the $50 monthly floor and retained the 50-bp rate test.

Source publication

May 1, 2019

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Source worksheet reviewed for entity and adjustment categories. Automatic line-by-line tax return eligibility is outside this scope.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Use the current Form 91 adjustment treatment and verify business access before including positive earnings.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Aug 3, 2026

Verified ratio terminology in the published section effective August 3, 2026. Product and underwriting limits are outside this check.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

The standard no cash-out requirements are distinct from the Refi Possible benefit test.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

The April 2026 Guide section retains the first-lien 50-bp rate reduction and a lower monthly P&I plus applicable MI.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Compared the May 2026 Guide snapshot for trend and documentation. A current material revision date for the scoped worksheet is not established.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Document sufficient liquidity and ability to generate stable income. No Fannie ratio benchmark is applied to this review.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Reviewed lease and Schedule E treatment in the April 2026 Guide snapshot. The revision date of a material worksheet change has not been established.

Source publication

Aug 12, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified the FHA monthly deductions, household count exception and use of the VA minimum. The August handbook date is the edition date, not a verified material change to this method.

Material guidance update

Aug 12, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Nov 10, 2026

The August revision includes a November 10 mandatory change to refinance documentation, with optional adoption beginning August 12. The worksheet preserves a separate historical review path.

Source publication

Aug 12, 2026

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Rate and Term and Simple Refinance have separate requirements from the Streamline NTB test. The handbook edition date is not a verified change to this comparison.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Refinance chapter reviewed. FHA cash-out exceptions and the governing rule dates remain outside the automated screen.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Refer to the FHA TOTAL or manual underwriting sections for the income source.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Subject vs. non-subject treatment, lease and appraisal, equity, relocation, ADU limit, and Schedule E.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

The continuing savings may be added up to the greater of 15% or the appropriate prior-year tax rate; 15% when a return was not required.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Review business financial strength and allowable withdrawal under the FHA requirements.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Not yet verified

Effective date

Not yet verified

Material guidance update

Jul 24, 2020

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Jul 24, 2020

Updated fee exclusions and replaced Exhibit B. The worksheet uses current contractual P&I for comparison.

Source publication

Apr 20, 2020

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Explains that the later statutory first-payment-due rule governs Type I, while Type II follows the regulation’s actual payment date.

Source publication

Feb 14, 2019

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Used for the P&I comparison, disclosure details and Type I recoupment method. The 2019 statute governs the Type I seasoning date.

Material guidance update

Dec 17, 2018

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Feb 15, 2019

Introduced the cash-out benefit and seasoning framework.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Statutory and regulatory sources reviewed for context; VA cash-out eligibility is not automated.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified the eligible balance, allowable costs, up to two financed discount points, and eligible energy improvements.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Not yet verified

Effective date

Not yet verified

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Not yet verified

Effective date

Not yet verified

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified the preliminary and final passes and the instruction to round down if rounding. The form identifies its revision month; an exact publication or effective day is not established.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Confirm stability, duration, and the source-specific documentation.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Departing residence offset, non-subject rental documentation and reserves, and subject multi-unit income.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

VA applies 125% to the verified tax-free portion for DTI only. Residual income uses actual income.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Verified the $0.14 per square foot maintenance and utility estimate, both mortgage bands, regional tables, and household adjustments through seven.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Not yet verified

Incidental closing adjustments are distinct from equity withdrawal. Consult VA for an incidental refund above $500.

Source publication

Not yet verified

Last verified

Nov 9, 2026

Effective date

Apr 7, 2023

The IRRRL rate is 0.50%, subject to exemption; financing the fee is optional.