Survey Says!

July 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

According to Fannie Mae’s Monthly National Housing Survey, many Americans believe that home prices are on the rise. If you are shopping for a home in the Seattle area, you probably know this to be true and may have experienced a bidding war or two.   

Housing_Survey
 

If you are considering taking advantage of today’s very low mortgage rates and home prices, it’s crucial that you get preapproved by a qualified local mortgage originator.

A preapproval means that you have provided your supporting income and asset documents to prove you have the ability to purchase the home. If you have not provided income and asset documents to your lender, you are most likely not “preapproved” and may only be “prequalified”.  

I’m happy to assist with the financing of your home located anywhere in Washington state.  It all starts with a review of your financial scenario – click here to start the application process.

Filed Under: Residential Purchase Tagged With:

Should I do an FHA streamline refi if my rate is 4.875%?

July 6, 2012 by 18 Comments

This is a scenario I’m reviewing for one of my clients who lives in Seattle.  His existing mortgage is a 30 year fixed FHA at 4.875%. He closed on this loan after June 1, 2009 so it does not qualify for FHA’s reduced mortgage insurance premiums*. However, he can still take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates as long as the refi meets HUD’s “net tangible benefit” requirements of reducing his payment by at least 5%.

HUD’s Net Tangible Benefit requires that the “PIMI” (principal, interest and mortgage insurance) payment be reduced by at least five percent or the refinance cannot happen. This has been an issue for home owners who would like to refinance from their FHA 30 year fixed to an FHA 15 year fixed as HUD does not make an exception for those who would like to shorten their mortgage term if the payment increases — even if the borrower qualifies with documenting their income (some FHA streamlines do not require income to be documented). 

The Seattle client I’m working with is doing a “credit qualifying” FHA streamline refi for a 30 year fixed.  His current principal and interest is $1171.55 and the monthly mortgage insurance payment is $95.90 for a total PIMI payment of $1,267.45.  His new PIMI payment needs to be less by at least 5% ($63.37) which means his new PIMI needs to be $1,204.08 or lower.

As of 10:00 am this morning (July 6, 2012) I’m quoting 3.375% for a 30 year fixed FHA streamline refi with no appraisal (apr 4.554) with a base loan amount of $212,750.  After his upfront mortgage insruance premium credit from his existing FHA insured loan and interest rate credit, he’ll need to bring in about $1200 at closing. He won’t have a mortgage payment due until a month after closing and receiving a refund of his existing reserve account balance a couple weeks after closing.  

But what about the new PIMI?  Principal and interest is $957.01 and the monthly mortgage insurance is $210.85 for a total PIMI of $1,167.86.  The new refinance meets HUD’s net tangible benefit requirement.  

The Seattle homeowner is reducing their payment by $100 per month. **And after 60 payments and when the loan balance reaches 78% loan to value, the monthly mortgage insurance will terminate.  

**UPDATE 12/19/2012: FHA mortgage insurance will not be cancelled on new mortgages effective January 2013. It will remain on the life of the loan (until it is paid off or refinanced to a non-FHA mortgage).** Read more here.

*NOTE: If the FHA mortgage being refi’d was endorsed by HUD prior to June 1, 2009, the savings would be even greater as it would qualify for reduced mortgage insurance.

If you have an FHA insured mortgage and are interested in an FHA streamlined refinance on your home located anywhere in Washington, please contact me.  I’m happy to help you!

Filed Under: FHA, Refinance Tagged With: , ,

Has your Bank turned down your refi?

July 5, 2012 by 1 Comment

IStock_000014142621XSmallIn a time when one might assume that their bank would work with them to refinance their home, many Washington homeowners are finding quite the opposite. I’m hearing from local homeowners who have made their mortgage payments on time and who qualify for refinance (income, employment and assets) yet their bank is either unwilling to provide the refinance or is taking several months to close it.

For example, several large banks will only do FHA streamline refinances on mortgages they currently service.  You can have your checking and savings accounts any of these banks, but if they don’t currently service your mortgage, it’s my understanding they will not assist you with your FHA streamlined refinance.  NOTE: We can help you refinancing your FHA streamlined mortgage from any bank as long as your home is located in Washington.  

Banks are also being very selective when it comes to HARP 2.0 (home affordable) refinances. Some are electing not to help mortgages they currently service because of lpmi (lender paid mortgage insurance) or pmi when many of these loans are eligible to refinance. 

Bottom line, if your bank or mortgage servicer has turned down your refinance (or if they’re stalling the process) and your credit, income and assets are good: get a second opinion.  

If your home is located anywhere in Washington state, I’m happy to review your scenario. I’ve been originating and closing refinance and purchase mortgages at Mortgage Master Service Corporation since April 2000. 

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

Happy Independence Day!

July 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Our family, including Scupper, hope you and yours have a wonderful, safe and sane Independence Day.

2012-07-01 19.47.50

Mortgage Master Service Corporation is closed today and will reopen for business as usual on Thursday morning.

Filed Under: Just for Fun

What May Impact Mortgage Rates: July 2 – July 6, 2012

July 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Seattle_fireworksWe have a short week packed with economic data with Independence Day on Wednesday and the Jobs Report on Friday.  Here are some of the economic indicators that are scheduled to be released this week:

  • Monday, July 2: ISM Index.
  • Wednesday, July 4: Happy Independence Day!
  • Thursday, July 5: ADP National Employment Report, Initial Jobless Claims and ISM Services Index
  • Friday, July 6: THE JOBS REPORT

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Economy, Interest Rates

From the Mortgage Junk Mail Bag

June 23, 2012 by 2 Comments

JunkIt’s been a while since I’ve shared a POS (piece of solicitation) from the junk mail bag. I don’t have an issue with lenders trying to obtain business from home owners by mailing marketing pieces…although I do wonder why they must resort to marketing to strangers instead of working with past clients.  

This letter was sent last month. It was packaged in a folding security envelope to look as if it may have contained important information, such as the code to an ATM card. It was only a trick to get one to open it. 

They start with quoting an APR of 3.125% for a 30 year fixed rate in the upper right corner with a very low payment of $651 on a $250,000 loan amount. That’s a great rate and an amazingly low payment!  However if you read the very tiny print on the bottom of the page, you’ll see that what the rate offered is actually based on a 5 year interest only adjustable rate mortgage (ARM).  Why not have that information in the upper right corner with the teaser rate and payment? 

The lender who sent this is from a company in California. I really recommend working with lenders in your own state where processing and underwriting are done locally as well. Why would they have to mail to Washington state home owners to try to get refinance business?

I also recommend that you use the NMLS Consumer Access site to research any Mortgage Loan Originators you’re considering allowing to assist you with your refinance. The NMLS Consumer Access site will disclose their employment history and whether or not they’re licensed to originate mortgages in Washington.  I think it’s also a good idea to “google” their name and the company’s name to learn more about them. 

Instead of calling a stranger from out of state for your mortgage needs, do your own research. 

If your home is located anywhere in Washington state, I’m happy to help you with your refinance or financing your home purchase. And by the way, I have never bought “a lead” or sent out a piece of junk mail to try to solicit a mortgage prospect.

Filed Under: Opinion, Rant Tagged With:

HUD rescinds recent guidelines on collections and disputed accounts

June 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Earlier this year, HUD released Mortgagee Letter 2012-3 which featured tougher underwriting guidelines. This week they released ML 2012-10 which effective immediately recinds the guidelines that would impact:

  • paying off collections and judgements; and
  • disputed accounts

All other guidelines address in ML 2012-3, including those that address income of self employed borrowers, are still going into effect.

Per ML 2012-3, the old guidance (which is now the “effective” guidance per ML 2012-10) does not automatically require collections to be paid off however judgements do need to be satisfied and paid off.  Disputed accounts are to be referred to underwriting (and most likely will need to be removed from the credit report).

Again, we’ll need to see how banks and lenders treat this rescission of guidelines or if they opt to stick with the tougher requirements by creating their own underwriting overlays.

Filed Under: FHA, Underwriting and Qualifying

Banks playing hardball with FHA Streamline Refi’s: ACT NOW!!

June 18, 2012 by 3 Comments

No sooner had the reduced MI gone into effect with FHA streamline refinances, some banks announced that they would only provide FHA streamline refinances on mortgages they currently service.  I can understand a bank doing this on the “non-credit qualifying” refinances where borrowers do not document their income or assets, however I have a hard time accepting this when a borrower is doing a full “credit qualifying” FHA streamlined refinance.

By limiting availability of a program to home owners who are ABLE AND WANT to continue to make their mortgage payments and take advantage of the historically low mortgage rates, these banks are hampering the recovery of our housing markets.

Wells Fargo, with a significant market-share of FHA insured loans, was the first bank to come out with this announcement. If you have an FHA mortgage with Wells Fargo, I can help still you with your refinance if your home is located in Washington. I just have to keep your new FHA loan with Wells Fargo. Other banks have followed suit with a few giving us deadlines of up to this Friday, June 22, 2012 for accepting FHA streamline loans they do not service.  

UPDATE: Received a notice of one bank adding a price hit for FHA streamlined refinances… somehow I don’t think HUD invisioned banks cherry picking and charging more for this program when HUD reduced the mortgage insurance premiums.

I continue to get announcements from the various banks and lenders we work with. Thankfully not all banks are following Wells Fargo’s suit.

BOTTOM LINE: if you have an FHA mortgage and are interested in an FHA streamlined refinance, please don’t delay! Banks are making them less available.

If your home is located anywhere in Washington state, I can help you with your FHA insured loan.  We are *currently* working with lenders who will accept FHA loans currently being serviced from other banks.  Click here to apply.

Filed Under: FHA, Refinance Tagged With:
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