Fannie Mae has revamped some guidelines regarding student loans and how they are treated in debt to income ratios for qualifying for a mortgage. This is great news… however what’s even better news for home owners who have student loans, Fannie Mae is offering improved pricing on cash out refinances for paying off student loans! [Read more…]
Cash Out Refinances for Student Loans
April 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Friday Funny on Debt
April 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment
All sarcasm aside, if you want to buy or refinance a home, think twice before going deeper into debt.
If buying or refinancing a home in Washington state is on your radar, please contact me – I’m happy to help you with your mortgage needs and develop a game plan.
The Fed is Getting Tougher on Credit Card Companies
January 15, 2010 by 2 Comments
In a press release earlier this week, the Fed announced they have approved the final rule amending Reg Z regarding credit cards which will go into effect on February 22, 2010. The new rules set tougher guidelines on credit cards, especially with regards to protecting consumers against rate changes and how they are billed.
No interest rate increases for the first twelve months. There are some exceptions such as if you have a variable rate tied to an index; if your rate is an introductory rate (which in that case, your rate must be fixed for a minimum of 6 months); and if you're more than 60 days late on your bill.
Increases to your interest rate can only be applied to your new balance. Your old balance will keep the lower rate.
Payments will be applied towards the highest interest rates first when you pay more than the minimum payment. (Some exceptions may apply).
Statements must be mailed or delivered at least 21 days before your payment is due. Your due date should always be the same day of the month unless it falls on a weekend, in which case your due date will be the following business day.
Charges you make "over the limit" may be restricted (not allowed) unless you give your credit card company permission.
If you're under 21, you may need a cosigner such as a parent, to obtain a credit card. Guess those credit card companies will have to stop preying on college students unless Mom or Dad agree to cosign.
No two-cycle (double-cycle) billing. According to the FOMC's site "credit card companies can only impose interest charges on balances in the current billing cycle.
When your rate or fees are going to change, you must be notified 45 days priorto the change taking place. You will have the option to refuse the change, however this probably means that your canceling your account. If you do refuse the change, and your account is canceled, the creditor can impose higher payments by requiring to pay off your account in five years. NOTE: Canceling your account may be damaging to your credit scores. Should you get a notice that your rate or terms are changing and you don't agree with it, you are probably better off (as far as your credit score is concerned) paying off the card by applying more principal than canceling it with the creditor.
New monthly statements will show you how long it will take you to pay off your credit card making minimum monthly payments as well as what your monthly payment would need to be if you wanted to pay off your card in three years.
I applaud the new credit card rules. Since their not going into effect until February 22, 2010 you may want to keep an eye on your interest rates…with just over a month before they take place, sly credit card companies may try to sneak a few changes in before things get tougher.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do…Especially When You Own a Home Together
July 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
I’ve written articles before about issues to consider if you’re going through a divorce and have a mortgage…what if you were never married? Couples (or single people) often buy homes together…what if worse case scenario, it doesn’t work out and one party wants to keep the home?
A divorce decree allows you to refinance to cash out the other spouse and still have the mortgage treated as a “rate term” refinance. There are significant differences between a cash-out and rate-term refinance. A cash out refinance is limited to an 85% loan-to-value and the rate is higher (approx. 0.5% in fee at an 80% loan to value with credit scores of 740 and higher). If there is a court order, it’s possible that FHA might allow a cash-out refi with a non-married co-owner.
There’s also the issue of excise tax. An excise tax affidavit is filed whenever a deed is recorded (in the State of Washington). Excise tax may not be due when the person being removed from vesting is pursuant to a divorce decree. However, when there is no decree or court order involved and the person is being removed, excise tax may be due as they consider the transfer of that person’s interest to the other person “a sale“. I’m told the county may charge excise tax on half of the underlying mortgage. As of the date this post was published, King County charges 1.78% for excise tax. Possible exceptions to this would be if the co-owners were registered as domestic partners, or the transfer of the property to one co-owner is by court order.
Just like a divorce, simply deeding the property over to the party who’s remaining in the home does not remove the other person from responsibility or liability of the mortgage. And it probably makes good sense to contact an attorney who specializes in divorce to assist with the separation of the real estate property.
EDITORS NOTE: This post was written in 2009 and may not be as accurate with regards to excise tax with laws regarding recognizing partners since the writing of this post.
Upside down in your home with good credit? March 4, 2009 may be an important date for you.
February 23, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Just received this email, which I'm sure echos the thoughts of many home owners:
"Been meaning to contact you to get your take on the recent wholesale changes that are coming hard and fast at the mortgage bankers out there and, of course, see if there can be any benefit to a re-fi given the new lending "rules" (for lack of a better term). We're horribly upside-down on our current loan balance vs. current home value, so we don't know what can happen for us, if anything. But if there's a way to get that rate down and send out less each month. we're listening! What do you think about all this?"
Last week, President Obama announced his plans to help stimulate the economy and help provide stability with America's housing. With the Homeowner Affordibility and Stability Plan, home owners who are "credit worthy" may be able to refinance their home up to 105% loan to value.
On March 4, 2009, more details are suppose to be announced. Here's what we understand so far:
- The program is limited to loans held or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
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First mortgage may not be more than 105% of the value of the property.
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Borrowers with a second mortgage may still be able to refinance if the second mortgage lien holder is willing to remain in second lien position and if the borrower still qualifies.
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The program will offer 30 year or 15 year fixed interest rates based on market rates.
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The program only applies to the home you live in. It does not apply towards vacation or second homes or investment properties.
According the the Treasury, this program will not be available until March 4, 2009. Lenders will become even more buried with refinance business once this happens. It is to your advantage to be prepared. By gathering the following information:
- 2008 W2s (if self employed or paid commission, 2 years of complete tax returns)
- Most recent paystubs covering 30 days of income.
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Most recent mortgage statements.
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Information on current monthly debts including amount paid monthly and amount owed.
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Most recent bank statements/asset accounts (all pages).
If your home is located in Washington State, you can apply on line now by clicking the link under my photo. However, I don't anticipate having more details until March 4, 2009.
More to follow.
Game plan for preparing to buy a home when you’re credit score is low
October 28, 2008 by 2 Comments
I don’t blame anyone for wanting to own a home. Sometimes when I meet with clients and review their current scenario, a game plan needs to be created so they can work on getting themselves into a better position to buy a home. The last thing anyone wants is to cram themselves into a mortgage they cannot afford or to commit to a long term payment when they don’t have a great track record of making payments on time. Some times a plan may take 6 months or a year or longer before someone is ready to buy a home.
I have someone with low credit scores who wants to buy a home. She knows she will probably be a candidate for FHA financing because she has little down payment and her credit. Although FHA is not as persnickety about credits scores as conventional financing, they scrutinize credit history: especially the last 12 months.
This person has a few late payments this year, the last one being as recent as August. FHA financing is most likely out of the question for her until August next year assuming she does not make any other late payments between now and then. She can work on her credit for the next 10-12 months (until she has 12 months since her last late payment). She doesn’t have any collections but she does have a few small accounts that are “maxed out”.
- Credit card “A” with a balance of $477 and a limit of $500.
- Credit card “B” with a balance of $323 and a limit of $300.
- Credit card “C” with a balance of $215 and a limit of $300.
- The first thing she should do is focus on getting card “B” under the limit of $300. She’s getting whammo’d with her credit scores for being extended beyond what her credit limit is with this account (in addition to being maxed out). She should at least pay it down enough to make sure that her interest fees won’t keep popping her over her limit.
- Next she should select one of her two smallest cards to pay down to at least just below 50% of her card limit. Card “C” would only take about $65 to bring her debt down to 50% of the line limit (300 x 50% = $150).
- Then pay down the next card to at least 50% of the limit. “Card B” will take $150 (assuming she’s paid the extra $23 that has pushed her over the limit) to be at 50% of the credit line limit.
- Credit card “A” will take a little extra cash at $227. (500 limit x 50% = $250. 477 – 250 = 227).
She needs to keep her credit below 50% of the credit line at the very minimum. I know I said FHA is not as picky as conventional. However, you do want your credit scores above 600 in order to receive better pricing (620 and higher is even better).
Not only will this help her with qualifying for FHA financing, she’s probably also paying higher insurance rates due to her current credit scores.
She has a decent income and no savings. She needs to use this time of working on her credit to also build up her reserves. Not only for what the lender will require (3.5% minimum down payment for FHA as of January 1, 2009); but for her sake should her income change or issues arise, she should have a minimum of 6 months worth of living expenses saved (FHA does not require this, I’m suggesting it).
She has been considering homes priced around $275,000. FHA’s minimum required investment for this home next year will be $9,625. The seller can pay the remaining closing costs and prepaids as long as she has met the above requirement (which can be a gift or loan from family members)–this would need to be negotiated in the purchase and sale agreement.
The proposed mortgage payment would be around $2,000 (including taxes, home owners insurance and mortgage insurance). This is $700 more per month than what she is currently paying for rent. Once she has corrected her credit, she should practice making a $2000 mortgage payment by paying the difference ($700) into a savings account that she leaves untouched for her down payment and to hopefully create a savings cushion. $12,000 in savings would be ideal (6 months of mortgage payment) but not required. If she has no savings, it will take her just over a year to pay $700 per month to come up with the down payment (9625 divided by 700 = 13.75). Another 17 months to have a savings cushion of $12,000.
I know this isn’t instant gratification. It is developing responsible financial habits. There are expenses to owning a home beyond renting. One of my last homes required a new roof just months after moving in to the tune of $15,000. Savings has always been important and it’s even more true in our current economy.
She’s all ready moving in the right direction by contacting a Mortgage Professional who is interested in her long term financial well-being and is willing to help her create a game plan.
Check out my related article: Getting on Track to Buy Your First Home.
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