When an Appraisal Comes in Low for a Refi

April 13, 2008 by 1 Comment

Appraisals are being scrutinized more than ever with our current mortgage climate.  And I am seeing a few coming in lower than what the home owner anticipated.    If you have plenty of equity, a lower appraisal may not impact you.   However, mortgages are often priced based on loan to values and depending on the type of mortgage and property.  Different scenarios have different pricing based on "risk".  A higher loan to value over a certain price point can increase the cost of the loan.

For example, I recently had a refinance for an investment property where the home was appraised for slightly less than the home owner expected.  He estimated $200,000 for the value of the property and the appraiser (with supporting comparable sales a.k.a. comps) valued the property at $180,000.  The difference between 75.01-80% loan to value and 80.01% LTV is 0.5% to fee (that’s 0.5% of the loan amount or repricing the mortgage interest rate to absorb the 0.5% in fee).    

What are the options with this scenario?

  • The property owner could pay the additional 0.5% in fee ($900 based on the above scenario) to keep the same rate or have the rate bumped up to absorb the fee.   Plus they would pay private mortgage insurance since the LTV is over 80%.
  • The loan amount can be reduced back to 80% of the appraised value, keeping the current rate.  The property owner may have to bring cash in to closing if there is not enough equity to absorb the difference.
  • The loan may be re-priced to absorb closing costs and thus reduce cash needed for closing.

Many appraisals now require interior photos (including kitchen, main living area and bathroom).  Since the underwriter is reviewing the photos, you may want to make sure that your home and yard are tidy.  They are reviewing photos for clues of "pre-foreclosure" or fraud.  I recently even had an underwriter question why a room was vacant on an owner occupied refinance, the home owner had just finished a remodel and had not moved his furniture back when the appraiser was there for the photos.  His house appeared too clean!  Appraisers and underwriters are questioning everything and are being very cautious during these historic times.  What it boils down to is that nobody wants the lender pointing a finger back at them should the loan not perform (become a foreclosure). 

Filed Under: Appraisals, Refinance

Fannie Mae Clarifies Conforming Jumbo Guideline for Refi’s

April 7, 2008 by Leave a Comment

Great news!  I just received a memo from Fannie Mae clarifying that they will now allow purchase money second mortgages to be included in a conforming-jumbo refinance and to be treated as "limited cash out".   Previously, purchase money second mortgages (piggy back mortgages used for financing when you purchased your home) were going to be considered "cash out" and not allowed with the temporary conforming jumbos. 

In a nutshell, this means that if you have combined loan amounts up to $567,500 for King, Pierce or Snohomish counties, and the mortgages being paid off are from when you purchased your home, this is now a doable refinance utilizing a conforming jumbo mortgage (subject to credit scores, loan to value, documentation…etc.).   

A little easing will help many home owners who were hoping to consolidate their mortgages.

Filed Under: Jumbo/Non-Conforming, Refinance

Recently Listed Homes Cause Challenges for Refinancing

April 6, 2008 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE 5/2/17: Fannie Mae has changed guidelines for refinances of recently listed homes.

So you tried selling your home in this market and were not able to find a buyer.  Now, you want to take advantage of our current low mortgage rates and refinance to reduce your payments or perhaps take some equity out to improve your home now that you’re not moving anywhere.   Not so fast!  Most lenders will not refinance a recently listed property.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Refinance

Not a Friend of this Family: Part 2

March 31, 2008 by Leave a Comment

In part one of this story about Michael and Pam investigating a refinance with Woo Who, we uncovered how the bank Loan Officer was not willing to provide a copy of the Federal Truth in Lending to Michael and Pam.   It was not until after Michael insisted that it was his right to receive this document, that it appeared disclosing a prepayment penalty that he was not informed of. 

The story gets better.  As I mentioned, Michael and Pam’s existing adjustable rate mortgage is scheduled to adjust this June.  I reviewed the Note with Michael showing him that the index his mortgage rate is tied to is the Monthly Treasury Average (MTA).  The Monthly Treasury Average is just that: a 12 month average of the monthly average yields of the US Treasury securities.  The 12 month average is determined by adding together the Monthly Yields for the most recently available twelve months and dividing by 12. As it is based on a 12 month average, the rate does not move drastically.  This could act as a benefit when rates are moving upwards and is less beneficially when rates are dropping.   Here is the 411 on Michael and Pam’s current loan:

  • 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage current rate 5.125%.  Principal and interest payment of $1154.31.
  • 1st adjustment on June 1, 2008.  Adjusting annually thereafter. 
  • Index: Monthly Treasury Average – projected value on June 2008: 2.948%
  • Margin: 2.600%
  • Lifetime Cap:  11.950%

Based on this information, their new rate is estimated at 5.548%.  The new rate is rounded up to the nearest 0.125% = 5.625%.   The new mortgage would reamortize at their balance at that time (estimated at $196,000) based on the remaining term providing Michael and Pam a principal and interest payment of $1218.29.   This is without refinancing–no closing costs–no loan approval.  Simple.

Woo Whoo’s proposal is a 5/1 ARM with a prepayment penalty at 5.375% with a principal and interest payment of $1108.74 and closing costs of $2283.74 (not calculating how many years and what the penalty is for the prepay).

When Michael and Pam understood their options, they elected to stick it through with their existing ARM.  Their rate should drop lower when it adjusts again next June.   Michael was puzzled (to put it mildly) as to why the representative from Woo Whoo Bank didn’t explain this to them.  Especially since the loan that would be refinanced was with Woo Whoo.   

It’s painfully simple.  The Loan Originator would not be paid for giving free advice.  It’s real easy for LO’s and mortgage companies to target those with adjustable rate mortgages and plant fear of the adjustment.  Or perhaps the Whoo Who Loan Originator didn’t even consider how Michael and Pam would fair not refinancing.   

This is why it’s so important to review your mortgage Note and understand how and when it adjusts (if you have an ARM).  If it all seems like too much to figure out, contact your Mortgage Professional to help you.  If your loan originator is neglecting you (perhaps they’ve left the industry or do not care for clients after the transaction is closed), I’m happy to adopt your Washington State mortgage…no refinance required.

It’s all about understanding all of your options and sometimes, that option is: do nothing.

Filed Under: Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), Mortgage, Refinance

Not a Friend to this Family: Part 1

March 28, 2008 by Leave a Comment

When I helped Micheal and Pam with the financing of their home almost five years ago, it was a challenging transaction.  They were excellent borrowers, except for the particular type of Visa he had (they’re Canadian).   Long story short, we wound up doing a 5/1 ARM through Woo Whoo Bank as they were only planning on staying here for about 5 years.  About four months ago, Micheal met with me to review his Note and to see about refinancing.  They may be staying a few years longer if they have their choice…Michael is having a challenge extending his Visa.  Michael wanted to refinance and was concerned about his ARM adjusting.  With our current mortgage climate and his current situation with his Visa, I could not refinance him.   We reviewed how his ARM and discussed how it functions and at that time, I told him that he has time–he did not to refinance yet.  He was still feeling pressured to do something–letting his ARM adjust was not sinking in.  He went directly to Woo Whoo to investigate a refinance.  Michael forwarded me the first good faith estimate from Big Bank.  The rate seemed too high to me; especially compared to his current mortgage.   I again encouraged him to wait out a few more months to see what rates do and that by that time,he would have more information on the status of his Visa.  Fast forward to the present.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), Interest Rates, Rant, Refinance

New Conforming Loan Limit Won’t Help Refi’s w/2nds…FHA May Save the Day

March 13, 2008 by 2 Comments

Fannie Mae’s underwriting guidelines for the temporary conforming loan limits have been released and it looks like the new loan amounts are not going to be as helpful as many had hoped.   The new guidelines for loan amounts between $417,001 – $567,500 in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties are far more strict.

The biggest whammy is that if you were hoping to combine your first and second mortgage (or heloc) into one new conforming-jumbo mortgage, you’re out of luck.  Fannie is not allowing any "cash out" refinances.  This means that even if you were just paying off the two mortgages and not receiving a nickle back at closing–it’s not going to fly. 

You must have a minimum of 660 credit scores for a fixed rate purchase for a LTV of 80% or less for a purchase using a fixed or adjustable rate.

Limited cash out refinances are allowed up to 75% loan to value with a minimum 660 credit score.  Limited cash-out means that you are allowed to roll in the closing costs to the refinance and receive no more than $2000 cash back at closing (no second mortgages/helocs can be included in the refinance).

Update:  it appears that Freddie Mac will allow cash out refinances up to a 75% loan to value with a 720 minimum credit score.

Adjustable rate mortgages are qualified at the fully amortized PITI at the higher of the note rate or fully indexed rate (worse case rate). 

Be prepared for a "full doc" mortgage.  There is no "stated income" allowed.   You will also need two months of reserves (PITI) and are limited to a 45% DTI (debt to income) ratio.

You can only have four financed properties, including your principal residence.

On Monday, I believe lenders will finally unveil pricing…which again is said to not be as exciting as consumers had hoped.  I’m hearing that the rates will fall between current Jumbo and conforming.   

Rumor has it that the FHA-jumbo will be more friendly to "jumbo" homeowners…if they can get over paying the upfront MIP (1.5% of your loan amount) and monthly mortgage insurance (0.5% of your loan amount/12 months).   For example, on a $500,000 loan amount, the upfront MIP would be $7500 (typically financed into the loan) plus monthly mortgage insurance in the amount of $208.33…even if you have an 80% loan to value.  We’ll just have to wait and see a couple more days.

Remember, these loan limits only last through December 31, 2008.

More to follow. 

Filed Under: Home Equity Loans & Second Mortgages, Jumbo/Non-Conforming, Refinance, Residential Purchase

Second Mortgage Subordinations May Cause Huge Delays with Refi’s

March 11, 2008 by 13 Comments

If you have a second mortgage (home equity line or fixed term), and you are not going to pay it off during a refinance; it needs to be “subordinated”.   This is because of lien position with your mortgages…who gets to be first.   Lien position is determined by when a document (such as a Deed of Trust) is recorded at the county.   If you have two mortgages and are only refinancing the first mortgage, the second mortgage will need to be “subordinated”.  The subordination agreement is a recorded document with the second mortgage lien holder and the borrower that the second mortgage will go back into second position after the new first mortgage is recorded.   If this document was not recorded, than the old second mortgage would be in “first lien position” and the new refinance would be in “second lien position”.  This boils down to which mortgage has more rights in the event of a foreclosure…everyone wants to be first as the further down the line you are, the higher the odds are that the lien may not be cashed out (again, in a worse case scenario). 

Prior to our current mortgage crisis, a subordination agreement typically was not an issue.  We send a request for subordination along with a copy of the appraisal from the refi.  The second mortgage lien holder would review the request, consider the amount of equity remaining in the property and 9 times out of 10, agree.  This process would take a couple days.

With more banks being concerned about depreciating or soft values, they are now taking much much longer to consider if they will all allow a subordination to take place. In fact, I recently closed a transaction where the bank took over 10 business days (this eats away at your lock) for a borrower with 800 credit scores and a loan to value of just over 50% to subordinate a HELOC that with a zero balance.    An Account Manager from a bank that does a large amount of second mortgage recently sent out this memo:

“UPDATE on SUBORDINATIONS:   Please get your files in early… the subordination dept is running approx 20 business days.  I do not have any contacts for rushes etc.  They are trying to work date sensitive deals, but they have not been able to get caught up…”

Folks…20 business days is a month! 

If you are refinancing and have a second mortgage or HELOC that will not be included in the refinance, make sure your loan originator is aware and that they know how long subordinations are taking so they can lock your rate in appropriately.   A 30 day lock with a 20 day subordination is not going to cut it.  You’ll be looking at having to deal with a lock extension.

If your loan to value is higher, there is a possibility that the subordination may be declined.  Discuss this with your loan originator upfront.  Lenders are looking at any way to protect themselves from additional risk during these historic times.  If your loan amount qualifies and you have enough equity, you just may have to include that second mortgage in your refinance.

 

Filed Under: Home Equity Loans & Second Mortgages, Refinance Tagged With: , ,

New Conforming Loan Limits

March 6, 2008 by Leave a Comment

OFHEO just released the temporary conforming loan limits (through 2008).  It does not appear as though that every county that received an increase in FHA limits received one with conforming.   Here is what I show for Washington State:

King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties

1 Family – $567,500

2 Family – $726,500

3 Family – $878,150

4 Family – $1,091,350

Kitsap County

1 Family – $475,000

2 Family – $608,100

3 Family – $735,050

4 Family – $913,450

Clark and Skamania Counties

1 Family – $418,750

2 Family – $536,050

3 Family – $648,000

4 Family – $805,300

San Juan County

1 Family – $593,750

2 Family – $760,100

3 Family – $918,800

4 Family – $1,141,850

Jefferson County

1 Family – $437,500

2 Family – $560,050

3 Family – $677,000

4 Family – $841,350

This data is still very new and I’m just making it available to you as soon as I receive it.  More information will follow.

Filed Under: Mortgage, Refinance, Residential Purchase
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