Articles Tagged With: Mortgage Underwriting

February 18, 2013

FHA Loan Questions: When Do The New FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Take Effect?

A recent FHA press release announced changes to the FHA mortgage insurance policy, including higher MIP and other changes. According to the FHA official site. “FHA will increase its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for most new mortgages by 10 basis points or by 0.10 percent. FHA will increase premiums on jumbo mortgages ($625,500 or larger) by 5 basis points or 0.05 percent, to the maximum authorized annual mortgage insurance premium. These premium increases exclude certain streamline refinance transactions. FHA will also require most FHA borrowers to continue paying annual premiums for the life of their mortgage loan.” Those are significant changes to the FHA loan program, but who is affected by these changes and when do they take effect? Some borrowers who already have FHA home loans are concerned | more...

February 14, 2013

FHA Proposes Down Payment Changes For Larger FHA Loans

By Joe Wallace

The FHA is considering changes to the maximum LTV and down payment rules for certain FHA mortgages (described by the FHA as those “in excess of $625,500”) according to the FHA official site. According to HUDNo.13-010, “FHA will announce a proposed increased down payment requirement for mortgages with original principal balances above $625,500. The minimum down payment for these mortgages will increase from 3.5 to 5 percent.” “This change, coupled with the statutory maximum premiums charged for these loans, will help protect FHA and further facilitate its efforts to encourage higher levels of private market participation in the housing finance market.” In a statement published in the Federal Register Volume 78, Number 25, you’ll find some supplemental information including the following: “…the maximum LTV will be limited to 95 percent | more...

February 12, 2013

New “Final Rule” On Housing Discrimination Standards

By Joe Wallace

The FHA and HUD have a new yardstick to measure housing discrimination and take appropriate action where needed, according to a recent press release issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to the press release HUDNo.13-022, HUD is “issuing a final rule to formalize the national standard for determining whether a housing practice violates the Fair Housing Act as the result of discriminatory effect.” “Through the issuance of this Rule,HUD is reaffirming its commitment to enforcing the Fair Housing Act in a consistent and uniform manner,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “This will ensure the continued strength of one of the most important tools for exposing and ending housing discrimination.” As the press release states, HUD is “statutorily charged with the authority and responsibility for interpreting and | more...

February 11, 2013

FHA Loan PMI Changes: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks. “I read somewhere that the PMI will no longer drop off after 78% of the LTV is reached and will remain on the loan until full payment. Is this true?” The FHA has indeed changed its rules concerning mortgage insurance premiums. We covered the FHA announcement in a recent post, but many borrowers or soon-to-be FHA loan applicants wonder if the new FHA loan rules for mortgage insurance apply to their loans. Let’s examine what the FHA has announced about mortgage insurance premiums. The changes are twofold–one is an increase in the MIP premiums, the other change has to do with mortgage insurance cancellation policy. In a press release titled, “FHA Takes Additional Steps To Bolster Capital Reserves” the agency announced; “FHA will increase its annual mortgage | more...

February 8, 2013

FHA Loan FICO Score Requirements: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My credit score is 678. When my husband tried to get his FICO score, he was told he couldn’t because he did not meet the minimum scoring requirements. (He is just starting to build credit and has nothing). Will we be able to qualify for an FHA loan based on my credit score?” FHA loan rules have a lot to say on this. In HUD 4155.1, you’ll find the following under the section titled Analyzing The Borrower’s Credit: “Neither the lack of credit history nor the borrower’s decision not to use credit may be used as a basis for rejecting the loan application. We also recognize that some prospective borrowers may not have an established credit history. For those borrowers, and for those who do not use | more...

February 7, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: FHA Loans After a Foreclosure

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I had a bankruptcy discharged in 2009. My mortgage was part of this bankruptcy however the bank did not foreclose until 2012. I am employed and have an average credit score of 678. Would I qualify for a FHA loan on a new property?” This is a tricky question because it includes both a bankruptcy AND a foreclosure. In such cases it’s best to contact the FHA directly for advice. Does the borrower’s two situations–bankruptcy and foreclosure–have any special consideration? There are different possibilities depending on the type of bankruptcy (not mentioned in the reader question), but let’s examine the FHA rules for the borrower’s more recent foreclosure issue. Can a borrower apply for an FHA mortgage in 2013 if there was a foreclosure action in 2012? | more...

February 6, 2013

FHA Loan Rule Changes

By Joe Wallace

The FHA has issued several rule changes recently including alterations to the FHA HECM and HECM Saver programs, new guidelines for mortgage insurance, and also the procedures for how some FHA loan applications must be processed with credit scores and debt-to-income ratios that exceed certain new guidelines. For example, FHA refinance loans for borrowers with negative equity in their homes have new guidelines which state, “Refinances of Borrowers in Negative Equity Position where the borrower has a decision credit score below 620 and the debt-to-income ratio exceeds 43.00% must be manually underwritten.” The same is true in cases of FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages. New FHA rules state, “While Energy Efficient Mortgages where the borrower has a decision credit score below 620 and the debt-to-income ratio exceeds 43.00% must be manually | more...

February 5, 2013

FHA Announces Changes To HECM Loan Program

By Joe Wallace

The FHA has issued a press release and Mortgagee Letter describing changes to the FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program. According to the FHA official site, the FHA will merge certain options associated with the HECM program and the FHA HECM Saver program as described below: “…FHA will consolidate its Standard Fixed-Rate Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) and Saver Fixed Rate HECM pricing options. This change will be effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after April 1, 2013. The Fixed Rate Standard HECM pricing option currently represents a large majority of the loans insured through FHA’s HECM program and is responsible for placing significant stress on the MMI Fund.” The FHA press release adds, “To help sustain the program as a viable financial resource for aging homeowners, | more...

February 4, 2013

FHA To Increase Mortgage Insurance Premiums

By Joe Wallace

In the last week of January 2013, the FHA issued a statement announcing an increase in annual mortgage insurance premiums or MIP for its single family home loans. According to the FHA official site, “FHA will increase its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for most new mortgages by 10 basis points or by 0.10 percent.” The FHA is also increasing the annual MIP for FHA Jumbo Loans, which are defined as mortgages at $625,500 or more, “by 5 basis points or 0.05 percent, to the maximum authorized annual mortgage insurance premium.” The FHA also says the increases mentioned here are excluding “certain streamline refinance transactions.” This change takes effect for FHA loans with case numbers assigned on or after April 1, 2013, with certain exceptions as granted by the FHA | more...

February 1, 2013

FHA Loan Amounts: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My son and I have a combined income of $68,000 yearly. His credit score is 643 and mine is 639. I also have a IRA worth $190,000 what do we qualify for from a FHA Loan?” This is a type of question that comes in frequently and unfortunately the answer isn’t as simple as doing the math and returning a loan amount. There are many variables that go into calculating an FHA home loan amount including the borrower’s financial qualifications, the lender’s requirements, the cost of the home and other factors. A house for sale in one part of the country for $150,000 might be worth much or (or less) in another part of the country. Since FHA loans for new purchases are calculated on the fair | more...