Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
I’m still taking a break from work and blogging…I will be back to work on April 1, 2008. While I’m away, please contact my sister in law and President of Mortgage Master, Marilyn Porter.
I look forward to seeing and hearing from you then!
Pictured here is Thelma. The cat I inherited when I bought my old house. She’s a mouser!
This post was first written at Rain City Guide earlier this month. I’m taking a few days off and thought I would share this information with you here.
This morning it was announced from OFHEO that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have agreed to some major changes with regards to how appraisals will be ordered for conforming mortgages:
“…including eliminating broker-ordered appraisals, prohibiting appraiser coercion, and reducing the use of appraisals prepared in-house or through captive appraisal management companies in underwriting mortgages. The agreements also enhance quality control in the appraisal process and establish a complaint hotline for consumers. The agreements include a Home Valuation Code of Conduct that the Enterprises will apply to lenders selling mortgages to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The Code becomes effective on January 1, 2009.”
It’s ironic to me this is eliminating “broker-ordered” appraisals and “reducing the use of captive appraisal management companies” when it was Washington Mutual’s actions with eAppraisal that caused New York Attorney General Cuomo to investigate.
The appraiser I use has been doing his job for over 30 years. I trust him and respect his work. Last year, when he had an appraisal come in low on a property that was in a bidding war with zero down financing, I didn’t doubt him. The agents were furious…even the homebuyer wanted a new appraisal. They wound up buying the home for the appraised value instead of the bid-up price. I wonder if they realize what a favor he did for them by providing a true appraisal? (He’s come in low on some refi’s too). I have to admit, I’m less than happy realizing that I may not be able to rely on using his services for appraisals once the new guidelines go info effect.
I’m concerned that obtaining a conforming appraisal will be very similar to how VA appraisals are done: a crapshoot lottery. This is all well and good as long the appraisers in the pool are all competent and efficient. However when there is no competition for business, will it breed complacency?
I’m also wondering what will happen with the cost of appraisals. Presently, I have a rate sheet from my appraiser and I know how much the cost will be for each transaction after we have loan approval. Unless Fannie and Freddie decide to control what an appraiser will charge, the fees can vary. How will loan originators be able to provide accurate Good Faith Estimates without knowing who the appraisal will be through?
More questions than answers right now…and more changes with mortgages are on the horizon with HUD’s announcement of what the median home prices are due in about ten days.
Update: Fannie Mae is accepting comments until April 30, 2008.
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.
With every point of your credit score being more crucial than ever, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips on how to improve your credit scores beyond paying your bills on time. If you are considering obtaining a mortgage within the next 12 months, you should meet with your Mortgage Professional to help advise you on this process. Some steps in repairing your credit may actually temporarily lower your scores (such as paying off a collection). What steps you should take depends on how soon you plan on buying a home or refinancing.
I can’t tell you how honored I am to be a part of Seattle’s Rain City Guide. Here are a couple of recent posts that I really encourage you to check out…
Jillayne Schlicke just wrote a dead on post regarding our local situation with affiliated business arrangements between real estate, title and escrow and mortgage companies. This is a topic close to my heart as before I was in lending (8 years ago), I was in the title insurance industry for 14 years. I’ve seen drastic changes over this time since large real estate companies have entered into arrangements with title companies. Now the State is stepping in with new regulations. Read Jillayne’s post: Title Insurance Affiliated Business Arrangements Under Scrutiny.
ARDELL wrote a very timely post: Should You Buy Before You Sell? Her answer is NO! And during these times, I’m likely to agree. Bridge loans may be hard to come by and properties are taking longer to sell.
Don’t forget…I’m on vacation and will return on April 1.
I’m taking a few days off to relax and recoup beginning Wednesday, March 26, 2008.
I will return to work on April 1, 2008. While I’m away, should you need mortgage assistance for your properties located in Washington State, please contact Marilyn Porter, President of Mortgage Master Service Corporation, Licensed Loan Originator 510-LO21838, my "boss" and my sister-in-law.
Marilyn has been in the mortgage industry for over 30 years (I know she doesn’t look it…you’ll just have to trust me) and is a huge resource of information. She can help you with rate quotes, locks, new purchases or refinancing (you can complete a loan application and she will receive your information) while I’m away…I’ll "take over" when I return back to work.
Dawn’s Army recently climbed 69 flights of the Columbia Tower as part of The Big Climb: an event to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Dawn’s Army consists of her family members and a crew from The Talon Group, where she was employed when she was diagnosed with leukemia.
You can tell their leader, Dawn 
(pictured above), is quite proud of her team raising over $6,000 for this worthy cause.
You can still donate to LLS to help fight blood cancers.
Pictured to the right is "Gomer" and Tim Daniels, Chief Title Officer of The Talon Group and members of Dawn’s Army.
Note: As soon as I have a group troop photo, I’ll post it here!
Here’s the troop photo:
Last Friday, Governor Gregoire signed SB 6381 into law giving fiduciary duties to mortgage brokers. This new law does not apply to loan originators who work for bank-mortgage companies (like WaMU, Countrywide, Wells Fargo, Chase, Bank of America, etc).
Here are some of the highlights of what the law spells out for loan originators who work for mortgage brokers:
All of the above seems pretty straight forward to me and SHOULD all ready be happening when consumers work with a mortgage professional. I have always put my clients best interest first–above mine. The next two points are more surprising:
This will allow mortgage brokers to charge a fee for consultation, credit repair, working on preapprovals. This could change how a Washington State mortgage broker is paid and how much they charge in origination.
I see this last point as a conflict with the entire bill. What if the best loan for a consumer is FHA or VA and the mortgage broker does not have those loans available so they shoe-horn them into a loan they do have access to? How is that acting in the clients best interest? The other side of the coin is that if a mortgage broker has never provided a certain product (such as FHA or VA mortgages); how would they know if the consumer would be better off with these loans?
Note to Consumers and Real Estate Agents: If you are a first time home buyer, have credit scores below 700 or are putting less than 20% down; ask your mortgage broker if they are able to provide FHA financing. Those who have served our country should ask if VA financing is available.
Jillayne Schlicke wrote an interesting post on this earlier this month at Rain City Guide. This law is yet another reason why consumers may want to select a loan originator classified as a licensed loan originator working for a mortgage broker over a loan originator who works for mortgage-bank.
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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