VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans

va-m26-7-ch06

VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 6 governs VA refinancing loans (incl. IRRRL).

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source:
  type: regulation
  id: va-m26-7-ch06
  authority: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans
  description: |
    VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 6 governs VA refinancing loans (incl. IRRRL).
  effective_date: '2009-04-10'
obligations:
  - id: va-m26-7-ch06-irrrl-veteran-recoupment-statement
    canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch06-irrrl-veteran-recoupment-statement
    section: VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL Veteran Recoupment Acknowledgment Statement
    description: |
      For all IRRRLs, [LENDER] must obtain a signed statement from the
      Veteran acknowledging the effect of the refinancing loan on the
      Veteran's loan payments and interest rate. The statement must show
      the interest rate and monthly payments for the new loan versus the
      old loan, and how long it will take to recoup ALL closing costs
      (both those included in the loan and those paid outside of closing).
    type: do
    audit_question: For every IRRRL, can [LENDER] evidence retention of a signed Veteran acknowledgment statement showing the new vs. old interest rate and monthly payments AND the recoupment-period calculation across ALL closing costs (financed and paid outside closing)?
    program_review: Does the program ensure every IRRRL file holds a signed Veteran acknowledgment showing new-vs-old rate and monthly payments AND the recoupment period across ALL closing costs (financed and paid outside closing)?
    file_review: Spot-check IRRRLs; confirm the signed Veteran recoupment acknowledgment with the rate/payment comparison and all-in recoupment calculation.
    judgment: false
    feeds: []
    workflow_phase: origination
    owner_role: loan_officer
    secondary_owner_role: underwriter
    cadence: per_loan
    consequence: ''
    tags:
      - round-b
      - regulator-direct
      - va
      - m26-7
      - ch06
      - irrrl
      - recoupment
      - promoted
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans
      source_class: va-handbook-m26-7
      source_url: https://benefits.va.gov/WARMS/M26_7.asp
      snapshot_id: e9c94ae5dc0a61f0
      fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:50:00Z'
      content_hash: sha256:3cffeec90efad00b76c2984956a10f10bd9f0b99880c94bd3c269192cfe674f5
      paragraph_quote: For all IRRRLs, the veteran must sign a statement acknowledging the effect of the refinancing loan on the veteran’s loan payments and interest rate.
      drafter_attestation: Copied verbatim from VA Handbook snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0 (M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL veteran statement) at 2026-05-23. Source PDF retrieved via Wayback Machine.
      quote_healed: true
      effective_date: '2009-04-10'
      effective_date_source: va-change-date-preceding
    promoted_at: '2026-05-23T02:04:41+00:00'
    promoted_from: va-m26-7-ch06-roundb-v1.yaml
  - id: va-m26-7-ch06-irrrl-piti-20pct-certification
    canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch06-irrrl-piti-20pct-certification
    section: VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL 20 Percent PITI Increase Certification
    description: |
      If the IRRRL's monthly payment (PITI) increases by 20 percent or
      more, [LENDER] must include a certification that the Veteran
      qualifies for the new monthly payment which exceeds the previous
      payment by 20 percent or more.
    type: do
    audit_question: For every IRRRL where the new PITI increases by 20 percent or more over the prior payment, can [LENDER] evidence a written lender certification that the Veteran qualifies for the increased payment, included in the loan file?
    program_review: Does the program account for the 20%-PITI-increase trigger — where the new PITI increases by 20 percent or more, include a written lender certification that the Veteran qualifies for the increased payment?
    file_review: Spot-check IRRRLs where PITI rose 20%+; confirm the written qualification certification is in the file. The officer judges whether the qualification basis supports the certification.
    judgment: true
    feeds: []
    workflow_phase: origination
    owner_role: loan_officer
    secondary_owner_role: underwriter
    cadence: per_loan
    consequence: ''
    tags:
      - round-b
      - regulator-direct
      - va
      - m26-7
      - ch06
      - irrrl
      - piti-jump
      - requalification
      - promoted
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans
      source_class: va-handbook-m26-7
      source_url: https://benefits.va.gov/WARMS/M26_7.asp
      snapshot_id: e9c94ae5dc0a61f0
      fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:50:00Z'
      content_hash: sha256:3cffeec90efad00b76c2984956a10f10bd9f0b99880c94bd3c269192cfe674f5
      paragraph_quote: 'If the monthly payment (PITI) increases by 20 percent or more, the lender '
      drafter_attestation: Copied verbatim from VA Handbook snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0 (M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL PITI 20% cert) at 2026-05-23. Source PDF retrieved via Wayback Machine.
      effective_date: '2009-04-10'
      effective_date_source: va-change-date-preceding
    promoted_at: '2026-05-23T02:04:41+00:00'
    promoted_from: va-m26-7-ch06-roundb-v1.yaml
  - id: va-m26-7-ch06-report-loan-within-60-days
    canonical_id: va-m26-7-ch06-report-loan-within-60-days
    section: VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — 60-Day Post-Closing Reporting
    description: |
      [LENDER] must report a loan (i.e., submit all documentation) to VA
      within 60 days of closing. A lender that fails to meet this time
      limit must provide a written explanation.
    type: do
    audit_question: For every VA loan [LENDER] closed, can [LENDER] evidence that all required documentation was submitted to VA within 60 days of closing, or — if not — that a written explanation accompanies the late submission?
    program_review: Does the program track the 60-day post-closing reporting clock — all documentation submitted to VA within 60 days of closing, with a written explanation accompanying any late submission?
    file_review: Spot-check closed loans; confirm submission to VA within 60 days or a written explanation for late submission.
    judgment: false
    feeds: []
    workflow_phase: closing
    owner_role: loan_officer
    secondary_owner_role: closer
    cadence: per_loan
    consequence: ''
    tags:
      - round-b
      - regulator-direct
      - va
      - m26-7
      - ch06
      - post-closing-reporting
      - promoted
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans
      source_class: va-handbook-m26-7
      source_url: https://benefits.va.gov/WARMS/M26_7.asp
      snapshot_id: e9c94ae5dc0a61f0
      fetched_at: '2026-05-23T01:50:00Z'
      content_hash: sha256:3cffeec90efad00b76c2984956a10f10bd9f0b99880c94bd3c269192cfe674f5
      paragraph_quote: A loan must be reported (such as, all documentation submitted) to VA within 60 days of closing.
      drafter_attestation: Copied verbatim from VA Handbook snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0 (M26-7 Ch. 6 — 60-day reporting) at 2026-05-23. Source PDF retrieved via Wayback Machine.
      quote_healed: true
      effective_date: '2009-04-10'
      effective_date_source: va-change-date-preceding
    promoted_at: '2026-05-23T02:04:41+00:00'
    promoted_from: va-m26-7-ch06-roundb-v1.yaml
_promotion_history:
  - promoted_at: '2026-05-23T02:04:41+00:00'
    candidate_path: obligations\_remediation\_round_b_drafts\va-m26-7-ch06-roundb-v1.yaml
    candidates_promoted: 3
    candidates_skipped_existing: 0

Verbatim regulatory text (3)

Verbatim provisions from VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans — each quote is a verified substring of the regulator-published source snapshot, not retyped. Quoted for reference; this is not legal advice. The operational layer (P&P updates, prompts) lives in the regulation update kits.

VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL Veteran Recoupment Acknowledgment Statement

Effective 2009-04-10 · VA Change Date for this topic

For all IRRRLs, the veteran must sign a statement acknowledging the effect of the refinancing loan on the veteran’s loan payments and interest rate.

Source: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans · source URL · snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0

VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — IRRRL 20 Percent PITI Increase Certification

Effective 2009-04-10 · VA Change Date for this topic

If the monthly payment (PITI) increases by 20 percent or more, the lender

Source: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans · source URL · snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0

VA M26-7 Ch. 6 — 60-Day Post-Closing Reporting

Effective 2009-04-10 · VA Change Date for this topic

A loan must be reported (such as, all documentation submitted) to VA within 60 days of closing.

Source: VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans · source URL · snapshot e9c94ae5dc0a61f0

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Operationalizing VA Lender Handbook M26-7 Chapter 6 — Refinancing Loans

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Source of record: https://claudeforcompliance.com/regs/va-m26-7-ch06/ · register va-m26-7-ch06 · Claude for Compliance. Free to read and download; see regulatory updates and methodology.