Tag Archives: mortgage

Real Estate

Obama’s New Mortgage Plan To Help Homeowners


 

President Obama announced Monday a plan to ease eligibility rules for home owners who want to refinance to take advantage of ultra-low mortgage rates and lower their mortgage payments. The administration hopes that by broadening its requirements for the Home Affordable Program that about 1 million home owners will now be able to qualify.

Here are more details about the newly announced changes to the program:

What is HARP?

It’s a program started in 2009 that allows home owners to refinance their mortgages at lower rates without having to meet the typical requirement of having at least 20 percent of equity in their home to do so. Under current guidelines, many underwater borrowers have been ineligible for the program because their home values had to be no more than 25 percent below what they owed their lender. Also, some home owners were unable to afford the closing costs and appraisal fees to participate.

What’s changing?

Many of the extra fees to participate in the program have been waived, and home owners’ eligibility won’t be contingent on how far their home’s value has fallen.

Who’s eligible?

  • Home owners with loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac can participate. (Home owners can visit: freddiemac.com/mymortgage or fanniemae.com/loanlookup to determine if their mortgage is owned by either).
  • Home owners must be current on their mortgage.

When will it take effect?

The changes could take effect by Dec. 1. HARP also is being extended through 2013 to allow more home owners the opportunity to qualify.

How successful will this be?

The administration hopes that by home owners being able to lower their monthly mortgage payments (with an average annual savings of $2,500 expected), they’ll be more likely to stay current on their mortgage and avoid foreclosure. Also, the administration hopes that it will then free up household money to start spending more on other things, which could provide an overall boost to the economy. However, the administration says it realizes that aiding the housing market requires much more than a refinancing plan.

“This is only one piece of a broader strategy to help the housing market,” says Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan. Donovan also notes federal efforts to help home owners who are delinquent on their mortgages and the unemployed.

Source: “A Guide to Administration’s New Mortgage-Refi Plan,” The Associated Press (Oct. 24, 2011)

 

 
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Real Estate

Looking To Buy A Home? Triggers For Rejection Of Your Loan


Last year, more than two million people were turned down for homes, according to federal data, often because the applicants didn’t meet certain lender requirements or because their applications were incomplete or otherwise problematic.  With lenders’ underwriting criteria becoming more rigorous in recent years, it’s important buyers know the most common triggers for mortgage-loan rejection.

  • Insufficient income: Lenders want to be sure borrowers can afford to make the mortgage payments.  Lenders typically look for at least a two-year track record of income, which could hurt those who have changed jobs recently.
  • Cloudy financial picture: Generally, total debt payments, including the mortgage, cannot exceed 45 to 50 percent of a borrower’s adjusted gross monthly income.  Overtime and bonuses are included only if the borrower has worked for the same employer at least two years, and has a history of receiving them.
  • Poor credit: Lenders typically reject applicants with FICO scores below 620.
  • Low appraisal: One of the predominant reasons buyers are turned down for home loans is because the appraisal on the property is too low.  A buyer may think he or she is purchasing a house worth $800,000, but if the appraisal comes in less than that, the lender will not loan the borrower the money.
  • Property problems: Sometimes issues turn up within a house, like a major repair or safety issue that needs to be addressed, before an application can be approved.
  • Information mix-ups: Approximately 12 percent of new mortgage applications were denied because of unverifiable information or incomplete credit applications, according to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

Read the full story


 

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Politics

How To find Out What Your Home Is Worth & Refinancing


Declining property values are preventing some homeowners from taking advantage of today’s historically low interest rates and refinancing.

 

  • Many homeowners nationwide have either no equity or are in a negative equity position in their homes.  This leaves them with two options for refinancing, paying extra at the closing or what’s known as a cash-in mortgage.
  • Those considering refinancing will need to determine the current valuation, comparing it with the mortgage balance.  If the balance is at least 15 to 20 percent higher than what is owed, a refinance without a second down payment is possible.
  • To obtain a good valuation, some homeowners hire an appraiser, at a cost of $300 to $600, or more on a large or expensive property.  While this may be informative, most lenders require an official appraisal anyway, and that will have to be conducted by someone on the lender’s approved list.
  • Another, less costly, option a homeowner can use prior to approaching a lender, is to check the comparable sales in the neighborhood and see which homes and for what amounts homes have sold in the last three to six months.
  • Homeowners also can go to the county assessor’s office and look up specific homes that have sold recently in the neighborhood.
  • When looking at comps, homeowners should consider homes with similar amenities and square footage as the property in question.
  • Just before the home is scheduled for its official appraisal, homeowners should spend a few hours touching up and making sure it looks well maintained.  Hiring a cleaning crew, repairing any broken windows, and providing documentation on upgrades also can help the appraiser.

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Real Estate

U.S. Lowers The Size Of Mortgage It Will Guarantee

September 30, 2011
The current conforming loan limit, which determines the maximum size of a mortgage that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac can buy or guarantee – is set to expire Friday, Sept. 30.

 

  • Beginning Oct. 1, the conforming loan limit will decline to $625,500, from the current $729,750 limit, though the majority of counties will fall far below the $625,500 maximum.
  • Non-conforming or jumbo loans typically carry a higher mortgage interest rate than a conforming loan and require a higher down payment, increasing the monthly payment and negatively impacting housing affordability for California home buyers.
  • Under the new GSE loan limits, Monterey County would see the greatest drop in the loan limit at $246,750, followed by San Diego ($151,250), Sonoma ($141,550), Solano ($140,500), and Napa ($137,500) counties.
  • Under the new FHA loan limits, Monterey County would see the greatest drop in the loan limit at $246,750, followed by Merced ($201,450), Riverside ($164,650), San Bernardino ($164,650), Solano ($157,300), and San Diego ($151,250) counties.
  • The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) estimates that more than 30,000 California home buyers statewide will be impacted by the change to the conforming loan limits.
  • In anticipation of the conforming loan limit decline, some banks already have stopped accepting conventional and government applications for loan amounts that exceed the new permanent loan amounts.

Read the full story

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Real Estate

Home Owners Beware A New Twist on Foreclosure Rescue Fraud

Forensic Mortgage Loan Audit Scams:

Fraudulent foreclosure “rescue” professionals use half-truths and outright lies to sell services that promise relief to homeowners in distress. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, the latest foreclosure rescue scam to exploit financially strapped homeowners pitches forensic mortgage loan audits.

In exchange for an upfront fee of several hundred dollars, so-called forensic loan auditors, mortgage loan auditors, or foreclosure prevention auditors backed by forensic attorneys offer to review your mortgage loan documents to determine whether your lender complied with state and federal mortgage lending laws. The “auditors” say you can use the audit report to avoid foreclosure, accelerate the loan modification process, reduce your loan principal, or even cancel your loan.

Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the FTC and its law enforcement partners:

  • there is no evidence that forensic loan audits will help you get a loan modification or any other foreclosure relief, even if they’re conducted by a licensed, legitimate and trained auditor, mortgage professional or lawyer.
  • some federal laws allow you to sue your lender based on errors in your loan documents. But even if you sue and win, your lender is not required to modify your loan simply to make your payments more affordable.
  • if you cancel your loan, you will have to return the borrowed money, which may result in you losing your home.

If you are in default on your mortgage or facing foreclosure, you may be targeted by a foreclosure rescue scam. The FTC wants you to know how to recognize the telltale signs and report them. If you are faced with foreclosure, the FTC says legitimate options are available to help you save your home.

Spotting a Scam

If you’re looking for foreclosure prevention help, avoid any business that:

  • guarantees to stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances are
  • instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor
  • collects a fee before providing any services accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer
  • encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time
  • recommends that you make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender
  • urges you to transfer your property deed or title to it
  • offers to buy your house for cash at a fixed price that is inappropriate for the housing market
  • pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.

Source: Federal Trade Commission

 

 

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Real Estate

Getting A Real Estate Loan If You Are Freelancing


After the financial market downturn in 2008, getting approved for a mortgage loan became even more difficult.  Combine that with the fledgling economy, which left many people turning to freelance work, and the challenges involved in qualifying for a home mortgage increase exponentially.  However, with a little extra work, home buyers using freelance work as proof of income still can qualify for a new lo

  • Borrowers who earn most of their income on 1099s should be prepared for extra preparation, paperwork, and discussion of their financial standing when applying for a mortgage.
  • It’s important that independent contractors show that their income is stable and increasing. For some, that may mean declaring all their income on their tax returns, and not, say, carrying anything over to the next year, even if it means paying more taxes.
  • Consistency in income is key, so those applying for a mortgage this fall or winter should be prepared to provide proof for year-to-date income.
  • To increase the chances of getting a mortgage approval, borrowers should pay off other debts, including balances on credit cards.
  • Pinpointing the source of the down payment also is helpful.  If the down payment will be a gift from a relative, borrowers are advised to submit an account statement showing the funds are available and awaiting the home purchase.  Same goes for borrowing from a 401(k).
  • Freelancers also should be prepared for a more in-depth analysis of their ability to repay the debt.  Submitting tax returns from the last three years and explaining any significant differences in income is advised.

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Real Estate

Mortgage Fraud Remains Rampant, FBI Says

About $10 billion in originated loans last year contained fraudulent information, according to CoreLogic.

“The current and continuing depressed housing market will likely remain an attractive environment for mortgage fraud perpetrators who will continue to seek new methods to circumvent loopholes and gaps in the mortgage lending market,” said a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that cited CoreLogic’s figures.

The most prevalent mortgage fraud schemes include fraud involving loan origination, foreclosure-rescue initiatives, short sales, property flipping, equity skimming, builder bailouts, and reverse mortgages, the FBI says. Additionally, it’s finding many of the mortgage fraud schemes have a strong connection to organized crime.

“There have been numerous instances in which various organized criminal groups were involved in mortgage fraud activity,” the FBI says. “Asian, Balkan, Armenian, La Cosa Nostra, Russian, and Eurasian organized crime groups have been linked to various mortgage fraud schemes, such as short sale fraud and loan origination schemes.”

Source: “Mortgage Fraud Remains Prevalent, Organized Crime Involved: FBI,” HousingWire (Aug. 12, 2011)

 
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Real Estate

Co-signing Or Not To Co-sign?


Tighter lender standards and an unstable job market have made it tougher for some people, especially those just starting out, to qualify for a home mortgage on their own.  So, some home buyers are turning to family members or close friends with good credit to co-sign a home loan.

Making sense of the story

  • While becoming a co-signer may seem like a good solution, money manager and lenders caution against those who are asked to be the cosigner.
  • A cosigner, even if not living in the house, is really a co-borrower, meaning he or she still is responsible for payments if the occupant is unable to meet his or her obligations.  In other words, if the principal party defaults on the loan, the cosigner is on the hook.
  • One financial planner suggests potential co-signers take a less risky alternative, such as providing a cash gift for the down payment.  Under current tax laws, a person can give as much as $13,000 to a person, free of gift taxes, or $26,000 per person, if a married couple filing jointly is giving the money.
  • Those considering co-signing a mortgage must conduct due diligence.  First, the cosigner must understand why the family member or friend is asking for help.  Potential co-signers shouldn’t be afraid to look into the requester personal finances to help determine whether he or she will be able to repay the loan.  Perusing credit reports also will show the track record he or she has for paying off debts.
  • A discussion about worst-case scenarios also should take place before signing on the dotted line.  Working out a written contract containing an agreement about what would happen in the event of a default, also is recommended.
  • Cosigners also should keep in mind that the mortgage will show up on their credit report, and could affect their own ability to borrow money or buy a second home.  If the principal borrower makes a late payment, that also will show up on the co-signer’s report.

Read the full story

 

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Real Estate

Distrassed Bank of America Homeowners in California Have Chance of Principal Reduction

Bank of America Nevada City Photo by John J. O'Dell
Bank of America Nevada City Photo by John J. O'Dell


Bank of America has joined the Keep Your Home California principal-reduction program, making it the largest loan servicer involved in lowering loan balances for those with economic hardships.

Making sense of the story

  • Keep Your Home California is a program offered through the California Housing Finance Agency to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.
  • Bank of America, which services more than two million home loans in California, joins others servicers involved in the program, including: California Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the California Housing Finance Agency, Community Trust/Self Help, GMAC, Guild Mortgage Company, and Vericrest Financial.  Agency officials hope the list will continue to grow, and that the program will continue to gain momentum.
  • Under the program, qualified homeowners may be eligible for up to $50,000 in assistance.  The program requires the mortgage investor to match dollar-for-dollar the amount provided by the program.
  • Bank of America borrowers who do not qualify for the principal-reduction program will be evaluated by bank representatives to explore other options, including a loan modification.
  • To be eligible for the program, applicants must: Own and occupy their homes as their primary residence; not exceed $729,750 in current unpaid principal balances on first mortgages; meet low- and moderate-income limits; complete and sign a hardship affidavit to document reasons for hardships; have mortgage loans that are delinquent or “in imminent default;” and have enough income to pay modified mortgage payments according to guidelines from servicers participating in the programs.
  • For more information about Keep Your Home California, visit keepyourhomecalifornia.org or call (888) 954-5337(KEEP).

Read the full story

 

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John J. O’Dell Realtor®
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Real Estate

Sorting Through Lending Costs

house made of dollars
Picture courtesy of Showcase Realty

Although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal agency created to oversee mortgage lending, only recently opened, the Bureau started looking at ways to protect consumers during the loan-shopping period long before it’s official start date.

Making sense of the story:

  • The bureau is exploring avenues for combining the two forms that borrowers currently receive – the three-page Good Faith Estimate and the two-page Truth in Lending Act form.  These forms tell would-be borrowers the terms of their loan – for instance, how payments on an adjustable-rate mortgage change.  They also lay out fees.
  • Fees can make a big difference when comparison shopping.  The simplest way to compare loans is by looking at the Annual Percentage Rate, or A.P.R.  That calculation rolls in fees as well as the stated interest rate.  Because lenders are required to follow the same formula, useful comparisons can be made.
  • Borrowers are advised to request a Good Faith Estimate from every lender they approach.  While the Good Faith Estimate is in place to help borrowers, according to one lender, some lenders may provide interest-rate quotations that expire almost instantaneously, making it difficult for buyers to comparison shop.
  • Borrowers should be wary if they receive two or three different Good Faith Estimates and there is a difference of several thousand dollars.

Read the full story 

 

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John J. O’Dell  Realtor® GRI
O’Dell Realty
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<a href=”mailto:jodell@nevadacounty.com”>jodell@nevadacounty.com</a>