MyRefiNest Refinance Guides, Calculators and Research

Updated October 2026

Loan Program Comparison: 2026 Benchmarks

MyRefiNest Refinance Guides, Calculators and Research — Compare remaining-term interest and closing costs with the new term; divide costs by positive monthly savings for a simple break-even, and account for financed fees.

Historical 2025 one-unit comparison: conforming $806,500; FHA floor $524,225. County and unit-count limits can differ.

Loan program	Down payment / equity	2026 one-unit baseline	Costs and page-specific comparison
Home Equity / Refinance	Equity and underwriting dependent	Property and lender dependent	Compare closing costs, term and break-even
Conventional	3%–5% subject to eligibility	$832,750	PMI generally below 20% down
FHA	3.5% at 580+; 10% at 500–579	$541,287 floor	1.75% upfront MIP; 0.55% annual for >95% LTV, base loan ≤$726,200, term >15 years
VA	0% for eligible borrowers	No VA limit with full entitlement	No monthly PMI; funding fee unless exempt
USDA	0% for eligible borrowers	Income, address and repayment eligibility	Guarantee and annual fees; confirm current schedule
Jumbo	Lender-specific cash and reserves	Above applicable conforming limit	Lender-specific pricing and insurance

Sources: FHFA limits; HUD FHA limits.

How we calculate payments

Monthly principal and interest use P × r / (1 − (1 + r)⁻ⁿ), where P is the loan amount, r is the monthly note rate and n is the number of payments. At zero interest, use P / n. Add property taxes, homeowners insurance and applicable mortgage insurance to estimate the full payment. Use parcel-specific taxes and an insurance quote when comparing homes.

APR includes applicable finance charges; use the note rate, not APR, for amortization. Compare Loan Estimates with the CFPB guide.