What are Seller Buydowns?

“Seller Buydown” seems to be a very trendy phrase these days since interest rates have moved higher. There are a couple different types of Seller Buydowns that help make homes more affordable for potential home buyers. [Read more…]

Honoring our Hometown Heroes

Rhonda_Hometown HeroMortgage Master Service Corporation recently started a program to honor our local heroes. We are now offering a $625 credit towards closing cost for a home purchase or refinance when we provide the mortgage.

Mortgage Master Service Corporation’s Hometown Heroes program is available for:

  • Police Officers
  • Firefighters and EMTs
  • Doctors and Nurses
  • Teachers
  • Military

We thank our heroes for taking care of our community and hope we can take care of you with your mortgage needs.  Please feel free to share this! I’m am honored to help you with any home purchase or refi on homes located in Washington state.

Note: This program cannot be combined with any WSHFC program. Program and pricing subject to change.

 

Rehab Mortgage Loans for Remodeling Your New or Existing Home

Want to build an ADU on your garage? Are you having a hard time finding a home that has your dream kitchen? Whether you are buying or refinancing a home, you may want to consider a “rehab” mortgage. At Mortgage Master Service Corporation, we currently have a couple options available. [Read more…]

Fannie Mae increases income limits for HomeReady

iStock_000009450603SmallFannie Mae will be increasing the income limits for HomeReady effective July 16, 2016 making it easier for more people to qualify for this mortgage program. [Read more…]

Freddie Mac Reports that Mortgage Rates continue to trend Lower

PMMS Jan 14 2016The Prime Mortgage Market Survey reports that last week, the 30 year fixed averaged 3.92 percent with an average 0.6 point.  The week prior, the reported average was 3.97 percent. A drop in rate of 0.05%.

[Read more…]

80 – 10 – 10’s now are back… at Mortgage Master Service Corporation!

It’s back… the 80/10/10 mortgage program which allows home buyers to put just 10% down and avoid having private mortgage insurance via a second mortgage/home equity line of creedit.  The second mortgage/home equity line of credit technically does not have to be at 10% with the first mortgage at 80% of the loan to value (sales price). Often times, the mortgages may be structured around conforming loan limits, as long as the total combined loan to value is 90%.

[Read more…]

Protect your Preapproval Status over the Holidays

santawalletTis the Season for holiday shopping. The aggressive sales push this year started BEFORE Thanksgiving with more mega-stores even remaining open on a day when employees should have had the day off (or at least had working on Thanksgiving as being “optional”).Cyber Monday is now cyber week…anyhow, my point is, stores are competing for your dollars. If you are considering buying a home or are currently pre-approved to buy a home, I thought I’d share some tips for you on how to make sure your “pre-approved” status is not jeopardized during the holiday season.

[Read more…]

Reader Question: Can Closing Cost be financed with a VA Loan?

I received this email from one of our subscribers:

 ”…with a VA mortgage,  can you finance buyer closing costs in excess of the purchase price (e.g. not ask for seller financing contributions, but just borrow them in excess of the purchase price)”

With a VA mortgage, the buyers closing cost cannot be financed, with exception to the VA funding fee, regardless of the appraised value.

The VA loan amount is limited to the purchase price, appraised value or VA county loan limit (or VA jumbo loan amount)*, whichever is less.

*NOTE: VA does not set actual loan limits on counties. They do set a limit as to their maximum guarantee (meaning zero down financing). In the greater Seattle/King-County area, the loan limit for zero down financing is currently $500,000. Click here for a complete list of VA loan amounts per county.  VA loan amounts exceeding $500,000 in the Seattle/King County area are considered VA Jumbos and will require some down payment depending on the difference between the sales price and county loan limit. 

USDA loans, on the other hand, will allow for buyers closing cost to be financed IF the appraised value is higher than the sales price. The loan amount is limited to the appraised value and must be applied to bona fide closing cost.

USDA loans are also zero down programs and are only eligible in specific designated rural areas, like Snoqualmie, Carnation or Duvall, and to borrowers who meet certain household income limits. 

Sellers can contribute towards closing cost for both of these mortgage programs and currently, low mortgage rates are often paired with enough rebate pricing to cover a majority of the closing cost.

Thanks for your question!