The Lending Coach

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Category: Mortgage (Page 39 of 61)

VA Loans: Some Specifics and Fee Structures

September 19, 2018 /

Veterans Affairs mortgages, better known as VA loans, offer considerable benefits for eligible military veterans, service members and spouses who want to buy a home.

What makes the VA loan so attractive to veterans is that they offer no down-payment loans and more lenient credit and income requirements than conventional and FHA mortgages.

With that said, there is some confusion surrounding what can and can’t be charged to the veteran at closing. The article below will outline some of the benefits of the VA loan as well as the fee structure associated with the loan.

The Specifics

VA loans generally offer more competitive rates compared to conventional financing. In many cases, these loans consistently offer the lowest rates on the market, according to reports by mortgage software firm Ellie Mae.

VA mortgages are made through private lenders and are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, so they don’t require private mortgage insurance, known as PMI.

Most members of the regular military, veterans, reservists and National Guard are eligible to apply for a VA loan. Spouses of military members who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability also can apply.

The Details and Fee Structures

The seller is allowed to pay all of the veteran’s closing costs, up to 4% of the home price. So, it is possible to avoid paying anything out of pocket to close your home purchase.

If you have little or no funds available for closing cost, let your real estate agent know that you are purchasing your home with a VA loan. Your agent may be able to request that the seller pay for some or all of your closing costs.

Also, the VA limits the amount of fees the lender can charge. This is a great benefit to the VA loan.

Fees Not Allowed to be Charged to the Veteran

Some fees are not allowed to be charged, per VA loan guidelines. Here are the specifics:

Attorney Fee

An attorney fee cannot be charges unless it is for anything besides title work.

Escrow Fee/Settlement Fee/Closing Fee

The VA does not allow the veteran to pay an escrow fee. The escrow fee varies greatly and can be quite expensive, so this is a great benefit to the VA loan.

Application Fee

This is a fee the lender sometimes charges up front before the borrower takes an application. This is not allowed on VA loans.

Mortgage Broker Fee

Sometimes charged by mortgage brokers when they broker a loan out to the lender.

Closing Protection Letter (CPL)

The CPL fee is often included in the escrow fee but sometimes charged separately. It is a letter that makes the title company responsible if escrow does not appropriate loan proceeds correctly.

Document Preparation Fee

Fee charged by escrow for preparing final loan documents.

Lock-in Fees

Fees charged by the lender to lock the interest rate.

Courier Fee/Postage Fees

Sometimes there are original documents that need to be hand-carried or sent via overnight service, and can’t be emailed or faxed. In this case, the escrow company will often charge a courier fee to ensure these services are paid for. The veteran is not allowed to pay these fees.

Notary Fees

Fees charged by escrow to send a notary to the borrower for a signing appointment outside escrow’s office.

Termite Report

The veteran cannot pay for a termite inspection or report in all but 9 states in the US.

Tax Service Fee

This fee is paid to the mortgage company to ensure they pay the real estate taxes.

The Fine Print

This list of allowable and non-allowable fees above is not all-inclusive and there may be other fees on your purchase transaction that are not mentioned here. In that case, it’s best to contact your lender to find out if the charge is allowable on VA loans.

Fees That Can Be Charged to the Veteran

VA Upfront Funding Fee

This fee goes directly to the Veteran’s Administration to defray the costs of the VA program. This is not a fee that is generally paid for in cash at closing – usually VA homebuyers opt to finance it into their loan amount. If the fee is wrapped into the loan amount, it does not increase the total amount of cash needed to close the loan.

Appraisal Fee

The appraisal is paid by the veteran and is usually paid at closing.  For more regarding appraisals, go here….

Origination Fee

The VA limits the lender’s compensation on VA loans to 1% of the loan amount. This fee is meant to compensate the lender in full. Fees for items such as processing and underwriting may not be charged if this 1% fee is charged to the veteran.

Third Party Fees

Companies involved in the transaction other than the lender are called third parties. Examples are title and escrow companies, credit reporting agencies, and appraisers. Their charges are called third party fees. Common fees are title insurance policies, recording fee, credit fee, and flood certifications.

Prepaid Items

Prepaid items are items the buyer has to pay in advance. Lenders require insurance policies and taxes to be paid in advance. Not paying for taxes and insurance can jeopardize the integrity of the collateral for the loan, which is the house.

More Information Available

For more information regarding VA loans and eligibility, don’t hesitate to contact me – as it would be my pleasure to help!

Rising Interest Rates Aren’t Deterring Buyers

September 10, 2018 /

Mortgage interest rates have risen consistently over the last year-and-a-half. At that time, rates for the 30-year fixed were just under 4%. Lately, the average is closing in on 5% percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Let’s take a look at the facts and crunch the numbers. You’ll likely find that minor rate fluctuations won’t affect a buyer’s ability to purchase a home

Despite these rising mortgage rates, there’s good news:

  • Rising mortgage rates don’t have to stifle the buyer’s dream of owning
  • In fact, a new study by Redfin shows that rising rates aren’t scaring off many shoppers
  • Rates remain historically very affordable, even if they are a bit higher today

Source: You can find out more here – by reading Erik Martin’s entire piece at The Mortgage Reports

What the research found on interest rates and purchasing patterns

A recent survey of potential buyers by Redfin reveals some interesting findings:

  • Only one in 20 would call off their search if rates rose above 5 percent
  • One in four said such an increase would have no impact on their search
  • Nineteen percent would increase their urgency to find a home before further rate increases
  • Twenty-one percent would look in other areas or search for a more affordable home
  • One-third would slow down their search to see if rates came back down

This means that many buyers understand the environment today – and realize the long-term benefits of home ownership.

How to read the data

Taylor Marr, senior economist at Redfin, says these results are telling.

“Only a small share of buyers will scrap their plans to buy a home if rates surpass 5 percent. This reflects their determination to be a part of the housing market,” he notes.

Marr says buyers are well aware that rising mortgage rates mean slightly higher monthly payments. Yet buyers are willing to make compromises, as they understand that actual wages are higher today, making the purchase more affordable. Also, they know that real estate generally appreciates.  Finally, today’s rates remain very low, compared to historical norms.

“By historical terms, 5 percent mortgages are not that high. A rate below 7 percent is really a good deal on long-term money,” Joshua Harris, clinical assistant professor of real estate at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, says. “Plus, rents are generally high. So even at 5 percent, many buyers will still be saving money on monthly housing costs.”

What buyers can do now

Most experts recommend the following steps:

Buy now if you can afford it – “While rates are going up, so are home prices in most markets,” says Harris. “The job market is great. Many are seeing wage growth in many sectors. These forces will push rates up and give people more money to spend on a house. So waiting can be a very costly decision if you need a house and don’t want to rent.”

Get your financial house together – start the pre-approval process and get qualified for a loan. “Ask questions and understand the monthly payments you’ll need to make,” suggests Suzanne Hollander, real estate attorney, broker and Florida International University instructor. Will your income be able to cover the principal, interest, taxes and insurance? Will it provide enough money to live the lifestyle you prefer?”

Don’t sweat a minor rate hike – “So long as you intend to hold the home for at least five years, these small fluctuations shouldn’t affect your decision to buy,” Harris adds.

With economic gains outpacing mortgage rate interest rates in many markets, you may be better able to buy a home today than at any time over the last 10 years. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me and find out more!

The Top 5 Down Payment and Mortgage Insurance Myths

August 12, 2018 /

For first-time home buyers, it can be more than overwhelming to hear all the stories from friends and colleagues about getting their first home loan.

Many times they are led to some false conclusions.

If they don’t know the real facts about the loan qualification process, it can keep them from taking the necessary steps toward owning the home they’ve been dreaming about.

Let me clear up some facts and make sure the correct information is out there.

The Top 5 Down Payment and Mortgage Insurance Myths

Number 1: Borrowers need a 20% down payment

According to the National Association of Realtors, the majority of first-time home buyers believe they need at least a 10% to 20% down payment. However, that’s simply not true with all of today’s different loan types and programs. Across the US, today’s average down payment is generally in the range of 5-10%. Even so, there are loan programs that allow as low as 3% and even a few no-down loan options.

Number 2: Mortgage Insurance (PMI or MIP) is required on all home loans with less than 20% down

Mortgage insurance is generally required by the lender when a borrower purchases a home using conventional financing with less than a 20% down payment. But there are dollar house questionmarkloan programs available that don’t require PMI. VA Loans do not require PMI, for instance. There are other loan programs with possible reduced mortgage insurance, so be sure to check in your mortgage lender to find out what might fit your particular situation.

Number 3: Mortgage Insurance is Permanent

Mortgage insurance is in place to protect the lender when there is less than 20% equity built up. Once more than 20% equity is in place, this insurance can be removed. Believe it or not, PMI will automatically be terminated when the principal balance reaches 78% of the original value. You can also request cancellation sooner in writing if your home value has increased enough (contact your lender for exact requirements and instructions).

For those with FHA loans, borrowers can refinance into a conventional loan to eliminate the insurance when your loan-to-value reaches 80%.

Number 4: Mortgage Insurance Protects the Borrower

Interestingly, many borrowers make the mistake of thinking that PMI is insurance that either protects the home or protects them if they end up in a foreclosure situation.House_key_digital

Actually, mortgage insurance is in place to protect the lender from default on the loan, which enables lenders to help more borrowers get loans. It does not provide protection for the borrower if they go into foreclosure.

Number 5: No Gifts Can Be Used for a Down Payment

It’s common for today’s U.S. buyers to receive cash down payment gifts. First-time home buyers are most likely to receive a cash gift among all buyer types, but repeat- and move-up buyers receive them, too.

The down payment gift rules are (1) the gift must be documented with a formal “gift letter”; (2) a paper trail must be shown for the gifted monies as they move from the giver’s account to the home buyer’s account; and (3) the gift may not be a loan-in-disguise. You can find out more about the specific of gifts from Dan Green at The Mortgage Reports here.

Now that you know more of the facts about down payments and mortgage insurance, let me know how I can help you begin your home ownership journey!

Tom Title Bar

The Ever-Changing Mortgage Lending Landscape – Alternative Options Included

August 5, 2018 /

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Historically, mortgages in the U.S. were traditionally financed by banks. Interestingly, these institutions also operate other lines of business, like offering deposit accounts, safe deposit boxes, and insurance products.

But today, mortgage lending is anything but old-fashioned, and as buyers are looking to lenders other than banks to fill the void. home loan tiles

Fortunately, these newer financial institutions continue to create innovative mortgages that fit the diverse needs of borrowers, rather than forcing consumers to conform to rigid standards. The end result is more people with the financing to afford the home they need, rather than being shut out of homeownership entirely.

The trend away from banks and toward nontraditional lenders is a relatively recent development that is reshaping the financial landscape in the U.S. This can be seen in a report of the top U.S. mortgage lenders by market share in 2011 compared to 2016. Get this, in 2011, 50 percent of all home financing was underwritten by the five biggest banks in the country.

Just five years later, however, six of the top 10 mortgage lenders by volume were considered “non-bank lenders” that focus on home loans almost exclusively.”

Explaining the shift in the mortgage market

Why are more homebuyers choosing non-bank lenders over traditional banks?

Much of the shift has to do with the increasingly strict standards that banks adhere to when vetting mortgage applications. Prospective homebuyers were expected to have stellar credit scores, high income and significant net worth already established before being approved for a traditional loan.

However, this is not the financial reality for millions of Americans. The new lenders can be a better alternative for families that have imperfect credit for one reason or another and just need a second chance.

Secondly, the new mortgage lenders are much more in tune with their customers and provide a far better experience. There is a much greater level of personalization, With the larger banks, on the other hand, customers can just become a number.magnifier-inspection-house

These new lenders have dramatically increased their market share purely on the basis of the superior service and support they provide.

Finally, the speed in which mortgage lenders can close transactions is much quicker than those of traditional banks. There are fewer layers in these organizations decision making can be made at a faster pace.

Traditional banks are not known for their efficiency, and the result for mortgage applicants is a long, drawn-out process of signing paperwork and enduring waiting periods

Many mortgage lenders can close loans in under 25 days, where that is not the case with larger institutions.

Non-Prime Lending Options

The need for non-prime products is growing, as conforming loan rules have tightened.  Working with a lender that can only provide standard, conventional products will limit a legitimate and legal funding resource for many customers.

Approved_pagadesignA bank statement loan or a loan on a non-warrantable condo are examples of “non-prime” products.  A bank statement loan, among other things, can support the private business owner who has significant expense associated with their business and can still satisfy credit and ability to repay. These are individuals who will not qualify under the conventional guidelines of Fannie/Freddie but still have the ability to service a mortgage on time.

For investors, there are products that utilize the rent from the property to qualify for a loan. In this option, the debt coverage ratio measures the ability to pay the property’s monthly mortgage payments from the cash generated from renting the property.

Lenders use this ratio as a guide to help them understand whether the property will generate enough cash to pay the mortgage expense.

The debt coverage ratio is calculated by dividing the property’s month net operating income (NOI) by a property’s monthly debt service. The monthly debt service is the total of the mortgage principal and interest payment, taxes, insurance, and any HOA fees.

Contact The Right Lender

When you are shopping for you lender, make sure that he/she has a wide variety of products available and takes the time to understand your individual needs. That will make all of the difference – and it would be my pleasure to help!

Tom Title Bar

The Latest on Interest Rates for 2018 and 2019

July 5, 2018 /

The Federal Reserve lifted the federal funds rate last month by a quarter percentage point to a range of 1.75 percent to 2 percent. The Fed has indicated that there will most likely be two more rate hikes this year.

Most financial experts expect the Federal Reserve to raise rates at least 3 times in 2019, as well.

Mortgage interest rates don’t necessarily move in step with the federal funds rate, as they are more closely tied to the 10-year Treasury Bond. So, borrowers today looking to get a mortgage aren’t directly affected by the latest Fed hike.

However, the federal funds rate does contribute to the longer-term trends of the 10-year Treasury, and long-term fixed mortgages as a result.

With the Fed likely lifting rates multiple times over the next couple of years, the trend for long-term mortgage rates is up. 

Many experts are forecasting that mortgage rates could move near the 6% range sometime in 2019.

Why is the Federal Reserve raising rates?

Well, it’s a bit complicated, but there are some very good reasons – and they are all designed to help foster stable, economic growth.

‘Quantitative Tightening’

Between 2009 and 2014, the US Federal Reserve created $3.5 trillion during three phases of what was called “Quantitative Easing”.  It was the Federal Reserve’s response to help reduce the dramatic market swings created by the recession about 10 years ago.

This seems to have helped the economy avert disaster, but their impacts were far from ideal. Nonetheless, the economy slowly lifted off as consumers rebuilt their balance sheets and asset values rose.

Today, the Fed is slowly reversing this stimulus program. They’re raising short-term rates and shrinking their bond and mortgage back securities portfolio.

The consensus thinking is that the Federal Reserve members fear that inflation will take hold if they keep interest rates artificially low.

Historically, when the bonds owned by the Fed mature, they simply reinvested the proceeds into new bonds.  It essentially keeps the size of the balance sheet stable, while having very little impact on the market.

However, when quantitative tightening began in October of 2017, the Fed started slowing down these reinvestments, allowing its balance sheet to gradually shrink.

In theory, through unwinding its balance sheet slowly by just allowing the bonds it owns to mature, the Fed can attempt to mitigate the fear of what might happen to yields if it was to ever try and sell such a large amount of bonds directly.

Essentially, the Federal Reserve is changing the supply and demand curve and the result is a higher yield in the 10-year treasury note.

Inflation and Interest Rates

Inflation is beginning to inch up as the labor market continues to improve. Most indicators suggest inflation has been climbing in recent months. If you look at both the Producer Price Index and the Consumer Price Index, you will see the trends.

This is a general reflection better economic data, rising energy prices, and increased employment.

Rising inflation is a threat to government bond investors because it chips away at the purchasing power of their fixed interest payments. As mentioned earlier, the 10-year Treasury yield is watched particularly closely because it is a bedrock of global finance. It is key in influencing borrowing rates for consumers, businesses and state and local governments.

Positive labor and economic news keeps coming in (as predicted over the last 6 months), and the prospect of inflation will put pressure on bonds and interest rates.

What It All Means

So, it is safe to say that we will continue to see pressures in the bond market and mortgage interest rates overall. These increases do look to be gradual for the time being, but consistent and into 2019, for sure.

With that said, home prices are increasing nationally at nearly 6%, so the increase in interest rate will be more than offset by the increasing value of one’s home!

Secondly, home buying power is still extraordinarily high, despite rising home prices and rate hikes. Find out more about that here.

In reality, now is a fantastic time to purchase. Contact me for more information, as it would by my privilege to help you.

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