Homeowners within the United States who are having a difficult time making their monthly mortgage payments have an extension to take advantage of a government refinance program. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has extended the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP loan, through September 2017.The FHFA approximates that above 300,000 U.S. homeowners whose mortgages are in trouble -- they owe more than their home is worth -- can still refinance through HARP to lower their monthly payments and escape foreclosure.Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will offer a new refinance program for mortgagors with high loan-to-value ratios commencing in October 2017. Meanwhile, the HARP loan, which was supposed to conclude at the close of 2016, will "create a bridge" to the new refinance program. The FHFA states "the new refinance offering will provide much-needed liquidity for borrowers who are current on their mortgage, but are unable to refinance through traditional programs."More than 3.4 million homeowners have utilized HARP to refinance their mortgages since 2009, when the program was launched in response to the housing crisis, according to the FHFA.