Income Limits for USDA Zero Down Rural Loans

January 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

EDITORS NOTE 2/13/2013: UPDATED USDA INCOME LIMITS ARE PUBLISHED HERE.

USDA offers a government backed program that allows zero down payment on homes that are in a designated rural community for families earning less than a certain income. A majority of Washington State single family residences (homes and condos) qualify…of course if you live in metropolitan areas like Seattle or Bellevue, odds are your home will not. However, if you’re considering areas like Duvall, parts of Maple Valley, Vashon or Bainbridge Island, it may qualify for zero down financing.

To qualify, families must be without “adequate housing” (may not own a home or adequate home), must have reasonable credit history and be able to afford the mortgage (29/41 is the debt to income ratio guidelines).  

Income limits vary by county and the entire household income is considered (not just the primary borrowers or those borrowers on the mortgage) for determining if the income meets the guidelines.  This is separate from income considered for “debt-to-income” ratios.  USDA loans allow incomes up to 115% of the median income for the area.  Income limits vary on household size from 1-4 person or 5-8 person. 

As of the publishing of this article, in Washington, the income limits by county are:

  • King and Snohomish Counties: 1-4 Person $93,450 | 5-8 Person $123,350
  • Pierce County: 1-4 Person $82,450 | 5-8 Person $108,850
  • Island County: 1-4 Person $89,550 | 5-8 Person $118,200
  • Kitsap County:  1-4 Person $86,950 | 5-8 Person $114,750
  • Thurston County: 1-4 Person $86,250 | 5-8 Person $113,850
  • Clark County: 1-4 Person $83,950 | 5-8 Person $110,800
  • San Juan County: 1-4 Person $78,050 | 5-8 Person $103,050
  • Whatcom County: 1-4 Person $78,000 | 5-8 Person $102,950
  • Benton and Franklin Counties: 1-4 Person $76,800 | 5-8 Person $101,450
  • Skagit County: 1-4 Person $75,750 | 5-8 Person $100,000
  • All other Washington counties:  1-4 Person $74,950| 5-8 Person $98,850

You can check current USDA income limits by visiting the USDA site (clicking here)…be sure to click the “guaranteed” option.   Income limits can and do change. You can also use USDA’s income eligibility calculator which will factor in deductions to income, select the “guaranteed” results (not “direct”).

Income used to determine if a family is under the household income limits includes all those (18 years and older) who will be living in the home regardless of whether or not they’re on the mortgage.  Incomes of children over 18 who working AND who are full time students are not factored. Here is more information of how USDA loans calculate household income.

Once you’ve determined that you meet the household income limits, the next step is to see to see what communities in your area are eligible for USDA financing. You don’t have to go too far from Seattle or Bellevue to find homes that do qualify for this type of mortgage.   Using the USDA site, under “Property Eligibility” click “Single Family Dwelling”.  From there you can either enter a specific address or click on the map to narrow down your search. 

Sellers and real estate agents who are working in neighborhoods that qualify should be sure to include this program as an option they’ll consider for financing on their offers.  

This map is as of the publishing of this post. Areas that are outside of the peachy orange shade are eligible for USDA zero down home loans.

USDA Map
 

I’m pleased to offer USDA financing as an option for borrowers who meet the criteria. If you have any questions regarding USDA or other mortgage programs for financing homes located anywhere in Washington State, please contact me, I’m happy to help!

Filed Under: USDA Tagged With: , , ,

How much home do I qualify for with a $70,000 down payment?

January 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I’m working with a couple in Seattle who would like to buy a home. They have excellent credit (scores of 740 or higher) and are planning on using $70,000 for their down payment and closing cost. They want to know how much home they can buy based on their down payment.

The following rate quotes are effective as of January 24, 2013 at 12:20 pm. Rates change constantly, for your personal rate quote for a home located in Washington state, click here.

Conforming High Balance allows them to buy a home priced at $576,000.

The conforming loan limit in Seattle/King-County is currently $506,000. Using a conventional mortgage, they could buy a home priced at $576,000. 

Current mortgage rates for a 30 year fixed conforming high balance ($417,001 – $506,000) based on this scenario is 3.750% (apr 4.094).  

3.750% is priced as close to “par” as possible meaning there is as little rebate credit or discount points priced with the interest rate. We could adjust the rate slightly higher to create more rebate credit to help pay for closing cost or we could reduce the rate by paying more in discount points. 

The loan to value based on a sales price of $576,000 and loan amount of $506,000 is 87.874% which means the Seattle home buyers will have private mortgage insurance (pmi). For this client, we’re opting to include the pmi in their mortgage payment instead of paying it as an upfront additional closing cost or doing “split premium” mortgage insurance.  

The principal and interest payment is $2,343.36 plus private mortgage insurance of $282.52 gives us a “PIMI” payment of $2,625.88. Property taxes and home owners insurance are additional.

The Seattle home buyers will negotiate the seller paying for remaining closing cost and prepaids/reserves estimated at $7900, leaving their amount due at closing very close to $70,000.  If the sellers opt to not pay for closing cost and prepaids, the buyers can use rebate pricing (slightly increasing the mortgage rate) to offset the cost.

FHA allows them to buy a home priced up to $637,500.

FHA mortgages in the Seattle/King County area have a loan limit of $567,500. With a down payment of $70,000 they could buy a home priced up to $637,500. The big difference between FHA and conventional financing is the mortgage insurance. FHA has both upfront and monthly mortgage insurance. 

The current mortgage rate I’m quoting for their FHA scenario is 3.375% (apr 4.059%).

This rate is priced with a little more rebate to help reduce closing cost. If the Seattle home buyers want a lower rate with less rebate credit, they certainly can opt for that. Mortgage rates are not locked until we have a bona fide contract and the rates will be “floating” while they shop for a home.

The principal and interest on this rate and loan amount is $2,552.80 with mortgage insurance at $562.43 providing a PIMI payment of $3,115.23. Property taxes and home owners insurance are additional.

After the rebate credit, if the buyers negotiate the seller paying the remaining balance of their closing cost, prepaids and reserves in the amount of $4,000, the buyers will need around $70,000 for funds due at closing.

VA loans allow them to purchase up to $780,000 with a “VA Jumbo” loan.

The VA zero down loan limit in Seattle is $500,000. When a loan amount exceeds the limit, eligible Veterans can have a down payment based 25% off the difference between the sales price and loan amount.  

For example, a sales price of $780,000 less $500,000 loan limit = $280,000. $280,000 x 25% = $70,000 down payment.

The current rate I’m quoting for this VA Jumbo 30 year fixed loan is 3.250% (apr 3.379).

The principal and interest payment on this loan is $3,136.31. There is no mortgage insurance on a VA loan. Property taxes and home owners insurance are additional. 

If the seller pays for $4500 of the Veteran’s closing cost and prepaids, then the amount due at closing will be around $70,000.

USDA loans are not eligible in the Seattle area because it’s not a rural area.

If you are interested in buying a refinancing a home located anywhere in Washington state, I’m happy to help you. I’ve been originating residential mortgages at Mortgage Master Service Corporation since April 2000. 

Filed Under: Fannie, Freddie and FHFA, FHA, Residential Purchase, VA Mortgage Loans Tagged With: , , , , ,

Reader Question: Should I Wait to Refi?

January 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

One of my returning clients is considering a refinance, however, they’re not sure if they should wait or not.  Their Seattle area home is really close to that magically 80% loan to value – based on best estimates – which would allow them to avoid private mortgage insurance if their home’s value increases.

There are pros and cons to waiting to a refi, similar to those with having an extended closing when you’re buying a home.  Here are a few:

  • changes to home value. Your home’s value may increase as the Seattle markets seems to be doing well with purchase inventory… or a home in the neighborhood that’s a potentially a strong comparable for your appraisal might become a short sale or foreclosure, which may negatively impact your home’s appraised value.
  • changes to employment. If your or your spouse decides to change jobs and it’s not in the same line of work or the new job has a different pay structure, this may impact qualifying.
  • credit scores vary. Credit scores impact the pricing of your rate and underwriting decisions. Lately I’ve been encountering clients who have paid off credit cards and closed them which sounds great, however they now have “shallow credit” and lower credit scores. I’ve also seen late payments on a credit report caused by a parent co-signing for their child. Sometimes it may be worth deciding to delay a refi if you’re trying to improve your scores, or proceeding with the refi and rechecking scores prior to closing.
  • interest rates. Mortgage rates change daily. Sometimes rates change throughout the day. Although it’s anticipated that mortgage rates will remain low for the remainder of the year, members of the Fed have hinted that the Fed should consider no longer buying mortgage backed securities, which has kept rates at their manipulated lower levels. As the economy improves, mortgage rates tend to trend higher.
  • loan programs and guidelines may change. Currently, unless our elected officials take action, HARP 2.0 is set to expire at the end of this year. Banks and lenders currently adjust their underwriting guidelines (aka overlays). And we’re waiting for FHA to increase their mortgage insurance premiums which impacts FHA streamline and non-streamline refi’s. 

Refinancing now is gambling that your home will appraise high enough or you may be out the appraisal fee unless mortgage insurance or a piggy-back second mortgage makes sense to proceed with the refi.

Delaying the refinance adds other potential risk factors assuming you’re satisfied with the current low mortgage rates and you qualify.

I recommend reviewing possible refinance options that are available now and weigh out the pro’s and cons. Refinancing now, should you decide to, also means that you’re reducing your payment and higher interest sooner. 

If you are interested in a mortgage rate quote for your refinance or purchase of a home located anywhere in Washington, click here.  I’m happy to help you!

Filed Under: Refinance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Mortgage Update for the week of January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

It’s another short week with the Martin Luther King Holiday observed today.

President Obama is also being sworn in for his second term. Many home owners are hopeful that President Obama is successful in getting HARP 3.0 and the “Obama Refi” aka #MyRefi programs that he pushed for in his first term, approved and available for those who need to refinance and do not qualify for HARP 2.0 or streamlined refinances, such as FHA, VA or USDA.

Here are some of the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week:

Tuesday, January 22: Existing Home Sales

Thursday, January 24: Initial Jobless Claims

Friday, January 25: New Home Sales

If you are considering buying a home or refinancing a home located in Seattle, Sammamish, Gig Harbor or anywhere in Washington state, I’m happy to help you! Click here if I can provide you with a no-hassle mortgage rate quote.

Filed Under: Economy, Interest Rates Tagged With: , , , ,

Why would a consumer work with a non-licensed Mortgage Originator?

January 17, 2013 by 1 Comment

Following the release of the QM and Ability to Repay rules from CFPB, I decided to try to read through the proposed Loan Originator Compensation rules. I found this pretty interesting. Instead of making additional regulations for Mortgage Originators who work at banks or credit unions, why not just make them subject to the SAFE Act and require them be licensed?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: CFPB, Legislation, Rant Tagged With: , , ,

Waiting for HARP 3.0? You can sign this Petition.

January 15, 2013 by 49 Comments

A petition to remove the securitization date with HARP 2.0 is making it’s way through social media. Currently, in order for a mortgage to qualify for a Home Affordable Refinance (HARP 2.0), the mortgage needs to have been securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to June 1, 2009. Securitization has nothing to do with when a loan closed and it often takes place weeks or sometimes months after closing.

Many home owners have felt burned by this cut-off date as they have no control over when Fannie or Freddie securitized their loan yet they’re being punished by not being allowed to use this program to refinance. 

The petition is also asking the home owners who have already refinanced using the HARP program, to be allowed to “re-HARP” or refinance again under the HARP program.

Click here for more information about the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).

Congress and the Obama Administration has been discussing the possibility of changing guidelines to the Home Affordable Refinance Program, including removing or extending the securitization date among other things. The revamped program, which may also be open to loans not securitized by Fannie or Freddie, has been referred to HARP 3.0 or #MyRefi.

The petition was created last week is trying to reach 25,000 signatures by February 8, 2013. 

Under the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) The Director of The Federal Housing Finance Agency has authority to extend or eliminate the eligibility cutoff date. Currently the date is set as 5/31/09. Many responsible home owners are unable to take advantage of the program to reduce their mortgage rates because of this date. On 3/17/12 HARP was revamped (HARP 2.0) and home owners were given the power to shop for the best rates. However, those who previously refinanced under the original program are not eligible because of the the arbitrary cut off date and 1 time use limit set by FHFA Director Edward DeMarco. Eliminating the cutoff date and allowing home owners a 2nd chance to refinance under HARP 2.0 would help millions of Americans to save money on their monthly mortgage payment.

You can sign the petition by clicking here.

Filed Under: HARP - Home Affordable Refi Tagged With: , ,

Mortgage rate update for the week of January 14, 2013

January 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

This week is packed with economic reports that may impact the direction of mortgage interest rates. Mortgage rates are based on mortgage backed securities (bonds). When the Fed minutes revealed hints that the FOMC may stop purchasing mortgage backed securities last week, mortgage rates ticked slightly higher. However Japan is hinting of buying US bonds, which is helping rates trend lower this morning.

Signs of inflation or the economy recovering may also cause mortgage rates to trend higher. Here are some of the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week:

  • Mon, January 14: No scheduled data – however, Ben Bernanke is speaking this afternoon on monatary policy.
  • Tue, January 15: Producer Price Index (PPI), Retail Sales and Empire State Index
  • Wed, January 16: Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Beige Book
  • Thurs, January 17: Initial Jobless Claims, Building Permits, Housing Starts and Philadelphia Fed Index
  • Fri, January 18: UoM Consumer Sentiment Index

NOTE: Monday, January 21, 2012 our office will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

As I write this post (8:24 am pst) the DOW is up 5 at 13493 and MBS for the FNMA 30 year is up slightly.

If you would like a mortgage rate quote for your Washington state home, please click here. I’m happy to help!

Filed Under: Economy, Interest Rates Tagged With: , , , ,

A Strategy for Seattle Home Buyers: I Love Your Home Letters

January 12, 2013 by 2 Comments

The Wall Street Journal writes about a strategy home buyers in hot housing markets are using to get their offers accepted in hotter housing markets. From WSJ:

“In an echo of the last housing boom, ardent pitch letters from eager home buyers are popping up again in hot U.S. real-estate markets like Silicon Valley, Seattle, San Diego, suburban Chicago and Washington, D.C., housing economists and real-estate brokers say.

The heartfelt missives, often accompanied by personal photos, aim to create an emotional bond that can give their writers an edge—especially in situations where multiple bidders are vying for the same house. And the reappearance of buyer pitches, also known as love letters, offers further evidence that the housing market is rebounding after a five-year slump.”

I have written letters to underwriters before on behalf of my borrowers and have gone so far as to include a photo of my client which has helped with loan approvals. A letter from the buyer to “pitch” their story to the seller is something I haven’t heard of before.

What is probably more important than “a pitch letter” to the seller is your preapproval letter from a respected mortgage professional. A preapproval letter will assure the seller that you are approved for a mortgage specific to your offer and that the transaction should successfully close. A well written preapproval letter addresses the borrowers down payment, credit, income and employment have been verified. 

In a multiple offer situation (sometimes referred to as a “bidding war”) it’s not unusual for the seller’s real estate agent to call the mortgage originator who has written the preapproval letter to do a “sniff test”.  

While a letter from a potential home buyer expressing how perfect the home is for their family may give a buyer an edge over other offers, please don’t forget your mortgage preapproval letter.

If you are considering buying a home in Seattle or anywhere in Washington state, where I am licensed, please contact me. I would love to help you with your mortgage!

Filed Under: Featured, Residential Purchase Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »