After this week ends, the FHA is raising mortgage insurance premiums on its new Cincinnati borrowers. It’s the FHA’s third such increase in the last 12 months.
Beginning with FHA Case Numbers assigned April 18, 2011, mortgage insurance premiums will be higher by 25 basis points per year, or 0.25%.
Against a $200,000 loan size, the MIP increase adds $500 to an FHA-insured borrower’s annual cost of homeownership. All new FHA loans are subject to the increase — purchases and refinances.
Existing FHA-insured homeowners across Ohio are unaffected. Premiums do not rise for loans already made.
The FHA is increasing its mortgage insurance rates because, as a group, the FHA is insuring a much larger percentage of the U.S. housing market.
In 2006, the FHA held a 4 percent market share. By 2010, that share ballooned to 19 percent and, today, it’s estimated to be even higher.
In its official statement, the FHA says that the quarter-point MIP bump will “significantly strengthen” its reserves which are depleted because of delinquencies and defaults. By law, the FHA’s capital reserves must meet certain levels.
Therefore, to meet these requirements, the FHA is rolling out its new mortgage insurance premium schedule:
15-year loan term, loan-to-value > 90% : 0.50% MIP per year
15-year loan term, loan-to-value <= 90% : 0.25% MIP per year
30-year loan term, loan-to-value > 95% : 1.15% MIP per year
30-year loan term, loan-to-value <= 95% : 1.10% MIP per year
In order to calculate what your FHA monthly mortgage insurance premium would be, multiply your beginning loan size by your insurance premium in the chart above, then divide by 12.
The FHA also charges a 1 percent, up-front mortgage insurance premium at closing. That figure remains unchanged.
FHA Streamline Refinance guidelines are changing. For the better.
In an effort to improve its loan portfolio, the FHA is loosening approval standards on its popular refinance program, rendering large groups of homeowners suddenly FHA Streamline-eligible.
Now, that may seem counter-intuitive — lowering qualification standards in order to reduce loan defaults — but in the FHA’s case, it makes complete sense. It’s because the FHA doesn’t make loans. It insures them. What’s good for FHA-insured homeowners is good for the FHA, therefore.
All things equal, lower housing payments for its insured homeowners should correlate to fewer FHA loan defaults in Ohio and nationwide.
One interesting facet of the FHA’s new rulebook is the manner in which the government group is applying common sense to the approval process. So long as the homeowner is current on their mortgage and there’s a demonstrable benefit in the refinance, the FHA reasons, there’s good reason to insure the new loan.
The FHA defines “current on the mortgage” as being up-to-date on payments, and having zero 30-, 60-, or 90-day lates within the last 12 months. Demonstrating benefit is a little more tricky.
According the FHA, “benefit” is defined by refinance type.
When refinancing any fixed rate mortgage, or an existing ARM to a new ARM, the borrower’s new monthly (principal + interest) + (mortgage insurance premium) must be 5% or more below the current levels to meet the FHA’s minimum benefit requirements.
The refinance of any ARM to a fixed rate mortgage is considered an acceptable benefit.
Beyond that, Streamline Refinance guidelines are simple:
Income is not verified, or required
Employment is not verified, or required
Assets are not verified, unless required to meet closing costs
Note that an appraisal is not required, either This allows “underwater” homeowners to refinance their FHA-insured home loan without penalty. The downside is that without an appraisal, the new loan size may not exceed the current principal balance plus the FHA’s 1% upfront mortgage premium. All other charges must be paid as cash at closing.
The FHA Streamline program is a refinance program special to FHA-insured homeowners. To confirm your own eligibility, check with your lender.
Beginning April 1, 2011, Fannie Mae is increasing its loan-level pricing adjustments. Conforming mortgage applicants in Ohio should plan for higher loan costs in the months ahead.
If you’ve never heard of loan-level pricing adjustments, you’re not alone; they’re an obscure mortgage pricing metric and, thus, are rarely covered by the media. That doesn’t make them any less relevant, however.
LLPAs are mandatory closing costs assessed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, designed to offset a given loan’s risk of default. LLPAs were first introduced in April 2009.
This April’s amendment is the 6th increase in 2 years. LLPAs can be costly.
In addition to an up-front, quarter-percent fee applied to all loans, there are 5 additional “risk categories” in the LLPA equation:
Structure : Loans with subordinate financing may trigger additional costs
Equity : Loans with less than 25% equity trigger additional costs
Adjustments range from 0.25 points (for having a 735 FICO score) to 3.000 points (for buying an investment property with just 20% downpayment). And they’re cumulative. This means that a borrower that triggers 3 categories of risk must pay the costs associated with all 3 traits.
Loan-level pricing adjustments can be expensive — up to 5 percent or more of your loan size in closing costs. The fees can be paid a one-time cash payment at closing, or they can be paid in the form of a higher mortgage rate.
The loan-level pricing adjustment schedule is public. You can research your own loan scenario at the Fannie Mae website, but you may find the charts confusing.
Phone or email your loan officer if you’re unsure of what you’re reading.
Mortgage lending appears to be loosening. At least for now.
In its quarterly survey of member banks, the Federal Reserve asks senior loan officers around the country whether their “prime” residential mortgage guidelines had tightened within the last 3 months.
A prime borrower is one with a well-documented credit history, high credit scores, and a low debt-to-income ratio.
Of the 54 responding banks, just 2 said its guidelines had tightened during the period October-December 2010. That’s less than 4 percent. And, by comparison, 95 percent of banks said guidelines remained “basically unchanged”.
The remaining banks reported a loosening.
It’s a positive sign for the housing market, and for home buyers in Cincinnati and nationwide. If banks have stopped raising the hurdles of home loan approval, in theory, more would-be buyers will be approved.
It’s much tougher to get a home loan versus 5 years ago. Delinquencies and defaults have changed how banks review loan applications. Today’s underwriters are more conservative with respect to household income, total assets and overall credit scores.
Even as compared to January 2010, approval standards are higher :
Minimum credit score requirements are higher
Downpayment/equity requirements are larger
Maximum allowable debt-to-income ratios have been lowered
Although mortgage rates remain low, qualification standards do not. Based on last quarter’s banking survey, however, mortgage applicants in Ohio may find approvals easier to come by soon. Low rates don’t matter, after all, if you’re not eligible to get them.
The housing market is strong and lending looks to be loosening. It should help fuel the demand for homes in 2011, which will push supplies down and lead prices up. For homeowners that qualify, therefore, the best time to purchase a home may be sometime this spring.
Fannie Mae rolls out new mortgage guidelines Monday. Therefore, if you’re in the process of applying for a conforming home loan, consider giving your complete application by the close of business Friday.
All Fannie Mae applications taken on, or after, December 13, 2010, are subject to the changes.
As compared to mortgage guidelines updates of the last 3 years, Monday’s roll-out is relatively small. There is no change to the maximum debt-to-income ratio, for example; nor is there an increase in the minimum FICO score requirement.
Most mortgage applicants in Cincinnati and nationwide will be unaffected.
Others, however, will find getting approved to be more difficult.
The most major change is with respect to revolving and installment debt. This category includes credit cards, charge cards, and student loans, among others. Going forward:
Debt with fewer than 10 payments remaining must now be included in an applicant’s monthly obligations.
Debt not reporting a monthly payment must be assigned a payment equal to 5% of the outstanding credit balance.
These edits will raise applicants’ debt-to-income ratios, and may push some of them beyond the maximum allowable limits, resulting in a denial. People with relatively large car payments are especially susceptible.
Another change relates to receiving gift funds for a purchase. Unlike debt calculations, though, the “gifting” process is getting easier.
Under the new Fannie Mae guidelines, buyers of owner-occupied, 1-unit properties (i.e. single-family homes, condos, townhomes) can forgo Fannie Mae’s customary, minimum 5% downpayment contribution from personal funds. Downpayments can be comprised 100 percent of gifted and/or granted monies.
Buyers of second or investment homes, or multi-unit properties must still make a 5% downpayment from their own funds.
And, lastly, Fannie Mae is easing some of its documentation requirements. Salaried applicants from whom commissions and/or bonuses paid account for less than 25% of annual income will have fewer paystubs to produce for underwriting.
Fannie Mae’s complete guideline changes are available online at http://efanniemae.com.
It’s getting tougher to get approved for a mortgage. Still.
In its quarterly survey of senior loan officers around the country, the Federal Reserve asked whether “prime” residential mortgage guidelines” have tightened in the prior 3 months.
A “prime” borrower typically carries a well-documented credit history with high credit scores, has a low debt-to-income ratio, and uses a traditional fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage.
For the period July-September 2010, 52 of 54 responding loan officers admitted to tightening their prime guidelines, or leaving them “basically unchanged”.
Just 4% of banks loosened their lending standards.
If you’ve applied for a home loan lately — for either purchase or refinance — you’ve likely experienced the effects of the last 4 years. Because of delinquencies and defaults, today’s mortgage underwriters are forced to scrutinize income, assets and credit scores, among other facets of an home loan application.
Mortgage applicants in Cincinnati have higher hurdles to clear:
Minimum credit scores are higher versus last year
Downpayment/equity requirements are larger versus last year
Debt-to-Income ratios must be lower versus last year
In other words, although mortgage rates are the lowest they’ve been in history, qualification standards are not. Minimum eligibility requirements are tougher, and appear to be toughening still.
If you’re among the many people wondering if now is the right time to join the Refinance Boom, or to buy a home, consider that, while mortgage rates may fall further, eligibility standards may not.
Low mortgage rates don’t matter if you can’t qualify for them
Starting Monday, December 13, 2010, Fannie Mae is changing its mortgage lending guidelines.
For some mortgage applicants of Ohio , the loan approval process will simplify. For others, it will toughen. How you’ll be affected personally will depend on your credit profile and your loan characteristics.
Among the biggest changes from Fannie Mae is a new set of guidelines for gift funds. When the new rules roll out, accepting cash gifts for downpayment will be easier.
Undetr the new guidelines, buyers of owner-occupied, 1-unit properties (i.e. single-family homes, condos, townhomes) can forgo Fannie Mae’s typical, minimum 5% personal downpayment contribution. Downpayments on homes meeting the above criteria can be comprised of 100% gifted and/or granted funds.
Buyers of second homes and multi-unit properties, however, are not exempt.
There’s also two changes pending with respect to revolving debt.
Debt with less than 10 payments remaining may no longer be waived in debt-to-income ratio calculations
Debt lacking a monthly payment on credit must be assigned a payment equal to 5% of the outstanding balance
Both of the above should increase the number of loan denials in 2011.
And, lastly, Fannie Mae changes some of its documentation requirements, the most noticeable of which will be with respect to income verification. Salaried workers and applicants whose commission/bonus accounts for less than a quarter of their income will have fewer paystubs to produce for underwriting.
Loan applications taken prior to December 13, 2010 are exempt from the new rules.
Fannie Mae’s complete guideline changes are available online at http://efanniemae.com.
Conforming mortgages is so named because, literally, they conform to the mortgage guidelines set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Of the many traits of a conforming mortgage, one is “loan size” and loan sizes have limits. Mortgages exceeding this loan size limit cannot be securitized as a conforming mortgage and, therefore, are ineligible for conforming mortgage rates.
Conforming mortgage rates are often the cheapest source of mortgage money for residents of Ohio , all things equal.
Each year, the government re-evaluates its maximum allowable loan size based on “typical” housing costs nationwide. Loans in excess of this amount are often called “jumbo”.
Between 1980 and 2006, as home prices increased, so did conforming loan limits — from $93,750 to $417,000. Since 2006, however, home prices have retreated but the conforming loan limit has not.
In 2011, for the 6th consecutive year, $417,000 will be the country’s conforming mortgage loan limit.
Conforming loan limits very by property type. The complete breakdown is as follows:
1-unit properties : $417,000
2-unit properties : $533,850
3-unit properties : $645,300
4-unit properties : $801,950
Despite the limits, some parts of the country get “loan limit exceptions”. In areas considered “high cost”, conforming loan limits range from $417,001 to $729,750. High-cost is defined by the median sales price of a region.
Los Angeles County, for example, is a high-cost region, along with a lot of California. There are less than 200 such areas nationwide, though.
You can verify your local market’s loan limit via the Fannie Mae website. A complete county-by-county list is published online.
The tightening in mortgage-lending policies that characterized the last 3 years appears to be slowing.
According to the Federal Reserve’s quarterly survey of senior bank loan officers, roughly 1 in 10 lenders added mortgage qualification hurdles between April and June. It’s a huge departure from just 2 years ago when the mortgage industry was facing its first wave of challenges.
During that period, eight in 10 lenders added hurdles.
For mortgage applicants in Cincinnati , this quarter’s Fed survey results signals that mortgage lending may have reached its limits of restriction.
Since 2007, mortgage guidelines have become increasingly restrictive. There’s extra scrutiny on assets and tax returns; employment history is given more weight; loan purpose matters. There’s a bevy of traits that can stand between you and an approval that didn’t exist a few years ago.
That said, lots of homeowners are still getting loans.
Verifiable income, good credit scores and equity are the “magic formula” and banks want to lend to good credit risks. And the best news for those that qualify is that mortgage rates are fantastic right now.
So, if you’re among the many wondering if now is the right time to buy a home — or refinance one — remember that, although mortgage guidelines likely won’t get worse, mortgage rates probably will.
The New York Times ran an important story this week concerning pregnancy and mortgage approvals. Titled “Need a Mortgage? Don’t Get Pregnant“, the article discussed the difficulties that expecting and recently-expanded families are having with their mortgage financing.
The crux of the issue is that maternity/paternity leave often leads to a change in household income and mortgage lenders will no longer assume one or both parents will go back to work full-time. The loss of income can raise a household’s debt-to-income ratio to unlendable levels.
Now, your loan officer cannot ask you about a pregnancy; such questions would be in violation of Equal Credit Opportunity Act. But he can ask if whether you expect your future employment and income situation to change. This would be a perfect time to broach the topic. And you should. If you’re found to have withheld employment and income information from your lender at a later date, it could result in an immediate loan denial plus a loss of earnest monies paid.
Across both pieces, though, the prevailing message is this: Families concurrently planning to (1) have a baby and (2) buy a home should be up-front and forthcoming with their loan officers. Financing is often still available for families expecting an addition — there’s just some extra paperwork though which to work.
Be prepared for that paperwork and you’re more likely to get your loan.
If you plan to finance your Cincinnati home with a conforming interest only mortgage, get your loan application submitted no later than this Friday, June 18.
Starting next week, Fannie Mae is clamping down on the popular loan product.
An “interest only” mortgage is exactly what its name implies — a mortgage for which the monthly payments consist entirely of interest with no principal reduction. Because there’s no amortization, payments are less costly on a month-to-month basis.
For example, assuming principal + interest payments at 5 percent, a $250,000 mortgage carries a monthly payment of $1,342. The payment on a comparable interest only mortgage, however, drops to $1,042.
That’s a payment difference of $300 and the size of the cost savings, not surprisingly, is the biggest reason why Fannie Mae is making its changes.
In its official announcement, Fannie Mae says it wants the give the interest only option to “borrowers who are in a position to choose it as a financial management tool” rather than allowing homeowners use it as an affordability tool for their budgets.
Going forward, there are new minimum standards for interest only home loans.
Applicants must have a 720 credit score or better
Applicants must have at least 24 months of reserves
The property type may not be a 2-unit, 3-unit or 4-unit
The property must be a primary residence, or vacation home
Furthermore, only purchase and rate-and-term refinances are eligible. Cash out refinances are prohibited.
Interest only home loans aren’t for everyone, but if you plan to finance with a Fannie Mae mortgage and interest only is your preference, get your loan application submitted as soon as possible. Starting Monday, approvals will be tougher to come by.
A new loan quality initiative from Fannie Mae is making it harder for Cincinnati home buyers and refinancing homeowners everywhere to close on a mortgage.
Beginning June 1, 2010, with all new applications, Fannie Mae wants lenders to verify that borrowers have not taken on new debt during the underwriting phase of the mortgage.
If new debts are found, the mortgage is subject to a re-underwrite and a possible turndown.
For Fannie Mae, the goal is to reduce the number of loans that go bad because of new, non-disclosed debt. Lenders have the freedom to verify in whatever manner they wish, but in most cases, the verification process will amount to a credit re-pull made just prior to closing.
The underwriters will be looking for 3 things in particular — even after your loan is approved.
First, your updated credit report will show your current credit card bills and minimum monthly payments. Those numbers will replace your original numbers made at the time of application. If the debts exceed a certain threshold, your loan will be denied.
Second, underwriters will be looking at your updated credit score. If your FICO has dropped below minimum lending standards, your loan will be denied. Or, you may be subject to a new loan-level pricing adjustment.
Loan level pricing adjustments are mandatory loan fee based on your credit score.
And, lastly, underwriters will be looking at your credit report’s Credit Inquiry section. The goal is to see if you’ve been applying for credit elsewhere. Underwriters can use this information at their discretion.
Fannie Mae’s Loan Quality Initiative is just one more way that the government-backed group is trying to improve its loan pools. Unfortunately, it’ll mean more turndowns for mortgage applicants.
Therefore, take extra care of your credit between the time of application and the time of closing. Don’t buy new cars, don’t buy new appliances, and — most definitely — don’t open new credit cards. Be extra safe with your credit because a mortgage application that’s supposedly cleared-to-close can be revoked at the eleventh hour.
When in doubt, talk to your loan officer about what may or may not trigger the Loan Quality Initiative. Your loan approval is at stake.
A new loan quality initiative from Fannie Mae is making it harder for Cincinnati home buyers and refinancing homeowners everywhere to close on a mortgage.
Beginning June 1, 2010, with all new applications, Fannie Mae wants lenders to verify that borrowers have not taken on new debt during the underwriting phase of the mortgage.
If new debts are found, the mortgage is subject to a re-underwrite and a possible turndown.
For Fannie Mae, the goal is to reduce the number of loans that go bad because of new, non-disclosed debt. Lenders have the freedom to verify in whatever manner they wish, but in most cases, the verification process will amount to a credit re-pull made just prior to closing.
The underwriters will be looking for 3 things in particular — even after your loan is approved.
First, your updated credit report will show your current credit card bills and minimum monthly payments. Those numbers will replace your original numbers made at the time of application. If the debts exceed a certain threshold, your loan will be denied.
Second, underwriters will be looking at your updated credit score. If your FICO has dropped below minimum lending standards, your loan will be denied. Or, you may be subject to a new loan-level pricing adjustment.
Loan level pricing adjustments are mandatory loan fee based on your credit score.
And, lastly, underwriters will be looking at your credit report’s Credit Inquiry section. The goal is to see if you’ve been applying for credit elsewhere. Underwriters can use this information at their discretion.
Fannie Mae’s Loan Quality Initiative is just one more way that the government-backed group is trying to improve its loan pools. Unfortunately, it’ll mean more turndowns for mortgage applicants.
Therefore, take extra care of your credit between the time of application and the time of closing. Don’t buy new cars, don’t buy new appliances, and — most definitely — don’t open new credit cards. Be extra safe with your credit because a mortgage application that’s supposedly cleared-to-close can be revoked at the eleventh hour.
When in doubt, talk to your loan officer about what may or may not trigger the Loan Quality Initiative. Your loan approval is at stake.
As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for Cincinnati home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent.
Anecdotally, guideline changes have led to an increase in the number of home buyers accepting cash gifts from family.
Gifts are allowed in most cases but the problem is, if you don’t accept the gift in a “lender-friendly” way, the mortgage underwriter could reject it, and negate it.
You can’t just deposit a cash gift into your bank account. You have to follow a series of steps and keep records.
Provide an acceptable gift letter signed by all parties
Provide documentation of the gifter’s withdrawal of funds via teller receipts
Provide documentation of the giftee’s deposit of funds via teller receipts
Lenders require these 3 steps for two basic reasons. First, they want to make sure that the cash gift is “clean” (i.e. not laundered). Second, they want to make sure the gift is really a gift and not a loan-in-disguise.
It’s why lenders typically require that the loan application be accompanied by a signed, dated letter.
For example:
I am the [relationship to recipient] of [name of recipient] and this letter serves as evidence that I am gifting [name of recipient] [amount of gift] to be used for the purchase of the home at [complete address of property].
This is a gift — not a loan — and there is no expectation of repayment.
Signed, [Signature of gifter]
As an additional step, home buyers receiving cash gifts should make sure that gifted funds are not commingled at the time of deposit. If the cash gift is for $10,000, therefore, the bank’s deposit slip should indicate that a $10,000 deposit was made — nothing more, nothing less. Don’t add a random $100 deposit to the transaction, in other words. The $100 deposit should be a separate transaction.
It’s also worth noting that gifting funds between family members can create both legal and tax liabilities. If you’re unsure about how donating or receiving a gift may impact you, call or email me directly. If I can’t help you with your questions, I can refer you to somebody that can.
As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for Cincinnati home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent.
Anecdotally, guideline changes have led to an increase in the number of home buyers accepting cash gifts from family.
Gifts are allowed in most cases but the problem is, if you don’t accept the gift in a “lender-friendly” way, the mortgage underwriter could reject it, and negate it.
You can’t just deposit a cash gift into your bank account. You have to follow a series of steps and keep records.
Provide an acceptable gift letter signed by all parties
Provide documentation of the gifter’s withdrawal of funds via teller receipts
Provide documentation of the giftee’s deposit of funds via teller receipts
Lenders require these 3 steps for two basic reasons. First, they want to make sure that the cash gift is “clean” (i.e. not laundered). Second, they want to make sure the gift is really a gift and not a loan-in-disguise.
It’s why lenders typically require that the loan application be accompanied by a signed, dated letter.
For example:
I am the [relationship to recipient] of [name of recipient] and this letter serves as evidence that I am gifting [name of recipient] [amount of gift] to be used for the purchase of the home at [complete address of property].
This is a gift — not a loan — and there is no expectation of repayment.
Signed, [Signature of gifter]
As an additional step, home buyers receiving cash gifts should make sure that gifted funds are not commingled at the time of deposit. If the cash gift is for $10,000, therefore, the bank’s deposit slip should indicate that a $10,000 deposit was made — nothing more, nothing less. Don’t add a random $100 deposit to the transaction, in other words. The $100 deposit should be a separate transaction.
It’s also worth noting that gifting funds between family members can create both legal and tax liabilities. If you’re unsure about how donating or receiving a gift may impact you, call or email me directly. If I can’t help you with your questions, I can refer you to somebody that can.
FHA Streamline Refinance guidelines are changing. For the better.
Beginning April 1, 2011, Fannie Mae is increasing its loan-level pricing adjustments. Conforming mortgage applicants in Ohio should plan for 
Mortgage lending appears to be loosening. At least for now.
Fannie Mae rolls out new mortgage guidelines Monday. Therefore, if you’re in the process of applying for a conforming home loan, consider giving your complete application by the close of business Friday.
The tightening in mortgage-lending policies that characterized the last 3 years appears to be slowing.
If you plan to finance your Cincinnati home with a conforming interest only mortgage, get your loan application submitted no later than this Friday, June 18. 
A new 
As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for Cincinnati home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent.
