What Is an Available Funds Letter and Are They a Scam?

An available funds letter is usually just a marketing scheme

Checked your mailbox lately? Chances are you get plenty of letters offering one-time deals and special offers.

Even mortgage companies send these types of advertisements such as an available funds letter. These often look like official documents requiring your attention. But in most cases are just ads trying to get you to refinance.

It’s best to toss these letters in the recycling bin. If you really do want to refinance, doing your own research will lead you to the best deal.

In this article (Skip to...)

• Available funds letters
• What to do about them
• Why lenders send these letters
• Do I have a lot of home equity?
• Safe ways to tap equity
• Other refinance options

>Related: The best way to refinance your mortgage

What is an available funds letter?

Some mortgage lenders try to solicit new refinance business by sending official-looking letters to homeowners. These come in a few different forms.

You might have received a letter titled something like:

• Available funds alert
• Report of available funds
• Report of accessible funds
• Understanding your available funds report
• You qualify for a mortgage insurance premium reduction

The letter may list your name, address, and a numerical amount of “available funds.” These letters may even show your approximate account balance, which they use to estimate the amount of equity you could cash out.

These so called available funds letters could also look like important notices from the federal government. A couple of years ago, this pretty convincing letter was going around, but it didn’t actually come from the Department of the Treasury.

Similar letters may look like they came from the IRS, a bank, or another financial institution.

How does an available funds letter work?

While they may look official or important, these available funds letters are actually just advertisements. “These letters are marketing pieces designed to entice a homeowner into refinancing their home,” explains Grant Moon, CEO of Home Captain.

“They generally list a potential amount of money — the ‘available funds’ listed — that you could get in a cash-out refinance. And they can be eye-opening, especially if your property’s value has appreciated and that available funds number is high,” he continues.

However, that enticing available funds alert may be exaggerated.

“There are many factors that go into how much a homeowner can cash out, so often the values listed on the letters [may be] incorrect. They are designed to get you thinking about the option,” Moon says.

What does an available funds letter look like?

An available funds letter, often appearing as an “available funds alert” or a “report of available funds,” typically resembles a certified financial statement from a bank or a financial institution.

These letters are crafted to look official, often using a letterhead that includes the bank’s name and contact information, such as a phone number. Available funds letters offer details about a real estate transaction, and it might indicate a loan amount or suggest a potential for a cash-out refinance based on the account holder’s equity.

The contents of an available funds alert usually highlight the account holder’s name and address, and might even include a snapshot or reference to an account statement, giving an illusion of a thorough underwriting process.

However, it’s important to recognize that these letters are primarily marketing tools. They aim to draw the recipient’s attention by suggesting that they have enough money or equity to engage in a new financial transaction.

Despite their official appearance, these letters are not bespoke financial advisories but are rather mass-produced advertisements designed to elicit a response from the recipient.

What to do if you receive a report of available funds letter

You typically have three choices you can make when you get an available funds letter:

1. Ignore it

“If you are not interested, just throw the letter away or, better yet, shred it. While it might be concerning to get a solicitation letter like this without asking for it, it’s relatively common and likely harmless,” advises Moon.

2. Report it

“If the available funds letter comes from a private company but was designed to mimic a government document, that’s deceptive in my legal opinion,” says fraud attorney David Fleck. “In this case, I would urge you to file a complaint with your state’s Department of Justice.” Or, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

3. Research your options

If you’re genuinely interested in the prospect of a cash-out refinance, do your homework. You might call the number on the letter, but also reach out to a few different mortgage companies to gauge how competitive your offers are.

Cash-out refinancing isn’t the only way to tap home equity, either. In today’s mortgage rate market, you might prefer a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). A lender can help you evaluate all these options and determine which one is best for your situation.

Should you act on an available funds alert?

You should never refinance based on an unsolicited offer alone. The lender sending those available funds letters may not be the most reputable — and there’s a good chance you could find a better offer.

“These letters are designed to prompt homeowners to respond and apply for a loan. But the companies that send these types of letters are typically not the lenders offering the best interest rates and loan terms,” cautions Bruce Ailion, a real estate attorney and Realtor.

If you think a refinance could benefit you — whether by cashing out equity or lowering your rate and mortgage payment — you should check in with at least three well-known and reputable lenders.

Find out whether you’re qualified, how much equity you truly have, and what kind of deal you can get on your new loan.

Why lenders send available funds letters

Mortgage advertisements are just like other ads. They’re intended to drum up business and make money for the sender.

Just because a lender says you could refinance, doesn't necessarily mean it's in your best interest to do so.

Baron Christopher Hanson, lead consultant and owner of RedBaronUSA, explains: “Such available funds alerts are purely marketing and sales gimmicks that enable their slick salespeople to build a database of leads and make a quick commission for many refinancing transactions they can generate.”

You likely got targeted because your financial data was legally sold and bought, according to Ailion.

“Lenders, especially predatory lenders, will search for homeowners with equity in their homes. This is typically determined by a tax appraisal minus a mortgage balance,” he says. “Once this group is identified, they will cross-reference with borrowers who often have high automobile and credit card debt to determine who would be a target for loan consolidation by refinancing.”

Some available funds letters may be intentional scams

While most letters are probably advertisements you can ignore, it’s possible your letter could be an actual attempt to steal money from your deposit accounts.

For example, if any letter asks for your checking account or savings account numbers — or for any specific account information about your mortgage — you could be dealing with a genuine scammer.

These kinds of scams use public information about your mortgage to bolster their case for legitimacy. They also may include official-looking logos to give recipients a sense of security — logos from the FDIC, an ATM network, or the Treasury Department, for example.

If a recipient calls the toll-free number in the letter, the operator will ask for sensitive financial information — like a bank statement — purportedly so you can receive a direct deposit or a wire transfer. In reality, they will likely transfer money out of your account, draining your available balance. Or, if the operator asks for your Social Security number, you could be dealing with an identity theft attempt.

Along with sending letters to encourage phone calls, some scammers now send text messages or available funds alerts.

Of course, you should never share details about your bank account or other financial information over the phone or through the mail. And, as fraud attorney David Fleck pointed out, you should report the fraud attempt to your state attorney general’s office or the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

How does the letter sender know my account balance?

Whether the available funds letter is a scam or an advertisement, letter recipients can get worried when the sender seems to know their mortgage balance and amount of equity.

But as long as the letter doesn’t include your mortgage account number, it’s probably just using public information about your loan to calculate the balance and the amount of funds you have available as home equity.

Anyone who knows your full address can use online search tools, in most U.S. counties, to find public information about your mortgage. Even if your account balance isn’t available as public information, the date you closed the loan and the term of your loan can be used to estimate your mortgage balance.

It’s also possible your loan servicer has legally sold some of your account information to a third party.

No matter what a letter seems to know, you should never provide additional information — such as your debit card PINs, your ACH or routing numbers, or your online banking log-in credentials — in response to an unsolicited letter.

If you’ve shared this kind of account information already, report this to your financial institution right away. You’ll likely need to open new accounts as soon as possible and — keep a close eye on your online banking or mobile app.

Once again, when you suspect fraud, report it at consumerfinance.gov. You may also want to report the letter to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Do I really have a lot of home equity?

The “accessible funds” or “available funds” numbers you see in this type of letter are an estimate of the equity built up in your home. Theoretically, this equity could be cashed-out by refinancing.

Home equity is normally calculated by subtracting what you owe on your home loan from the property’s fair market value. However, “The numbers you see on these letters are usually fake or teaser numbers meant to give you the impression there is a big pot of money waiting for you if you respond,” notes Ailion.

In fact, without talking directly to a lender, you can’t know exactly how much equity you are eligible to cash out, adds Moon.

The amount of money you can withdraw from your home equity depends on your loan balance, your credit score, and what type of mortgage you qualify for, among other factors. A lender can only tell you how much equity you’re able to cash out after you fill out an application and the lender takes a look at your finances.

How to tap your home equity safely

If you’ve received an available funds letter and you’d like to learn more, you should contact a few lenders of your own choosing.

You may actually have home equity you can access through a cash-out refinance or another type of cash-back mortgage loan. These include:

• Home equity loans: Often called a “second mortgage,” this type of loan uses your home for collateral and typically comes with a fixed interest rate that’s paid back over five to 15 years
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs): Unlike a home equity loan, this is a line of credit you can draw from when needed. It also uses your property as collateral. You can withdraw up to a preapproved spending limit over a set draw period (usually the first 10 years). The interest rate isn’t fixed — it’s a preset variable rate determined by current prime rates. You’ll only pay interest on the dollars you borrow, and you start to make minimum monthly repayments once you have a balance owed

These types of loans offer cash without requiring you to refinance your entire mortgage balance. They could be a better option for someone close to the end of their mortgage term, or someone who already has a very low interest rate.

“Talk with a trusted lender who can give you the best home equity financing options for your situation,” Moon recommends.

Other refinance options

Of course, it’s possible to refinance without taking any cash out.

Many homeowners refinance to lower their interest rate and monthly mortgage payments, which lowers the overall loan cost while leaving the home equity untouched. “This is a good option for any borrower who can lower their interest rate, even if they haven’t built up much equity in their home,” notes Moon.

Homeowners with government-backed loans have an even simpler option. They may be able to use a Streamlined Refinance program, which offers faster approval and lenient requirements.

With a Streamlined Refinance loan, the lender typically doesn’t require a home appraisal, and it may not check your credit or income either. Streamlined Refinancing options include:

• An FHA Streamline Refinance if you have an FHA loan
• A VA Interest Rate Reduction Loan (IRRRL) if you have a VA loan
• A USDA Streamlined Refinance if you have a USDA loan

In short, there are tons of different refinance options out there. So there’s a good chance the lender sending you an available funds letter isn’t your best bet.

If you think a refinance would be worthwhile, explore all your options and choose the one that makes the most financial sense for you.

Available funds letter FAQ

Bottom line about available funds letters

While available funds alert often appear enticing, it’s recommended to approach them with caution. These letters are generally marketing strategies, not personalized financial advice.

If you’re considering refinancing or exploring home equity loans, it’s advisable to conduct thorough research and consult with reputable financial institutions.

For those interested in genuinely exploring their options, click the links below to learn more about refinancing and home equity loan possibilities. Making informed decisions based on reliable information is key to your financial well-being, especially when it involves your home.