Tag: mortgage (Page 2 of 2)

FHA and Conventional Mortgage Options – Which is Better?

October 21, 2018 / Tom Bonetto

I’m often asked about the different types of loans available for those with a limited down payment. The main options are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conventional mortgages or FHA loans. But which one is best?

The FHA versus conventional analysis involves taking a look at your credit score, your available down payment, and your long-term financial goals.

Let’s take a look at all 3 issues:

1. Credit score – buyers with low-to-average credit scores may be better off with an FHA loan. FHA mortgage rates are generally slightly lower than conventional ones for applicants with lower credit, and FHA loans allow credit scores down to 580.

2. Down payment – borrowers can come in with a lower down payment with conventional products, at just 3% down. FHA requires 3.5% percent down.

3. Long-term goals – conventional mortgage insurance can be cancelled when the home achieves 20% equity. FHA mortgage insurance is payable for the life of the loan and can only be canceled with a refinance. Buyers who plan to stay in the home five to ten years may opt for conventional, as the FHA mortgage insurance can add up over time.

For a more, I’d invite you to visit the source at The Mortgage Reports and Dan Green’s post.

FHA Or Conventional – Which is Superior?

There are a multitude of low-down payment options for today’s home buyers but most will choose between the FHA 3.5% down payment program and conventional options such as HomeReady, Home Possible, and Conventional 97.

So, which loan is better? That will depend on your circumstance.

For example, in deciding between an FHA loan and a conventional option, the borrower’s individual credit score matters greatly. This is because the credit score determines whether the borrower is program-eligible; and, it affects the monthly mortgage payment, too.

FHA loans are available with credit scores of 580 or better. The conventional options, by contrast, require a minimum credit score of 620.

Therefore, if your credit score is between 580 and 620, the FHA loan is essentially the only available option.

As your credit score increases, though, the conventional options become more attractive. Your mortgage rate drops due to the lower score and your mortgage insurance costs do, too. This is different from how FHA loans work.

You can find out much more about mortgage insurance here….

With an FHA loan, your mortgage rate and MIP cost the same no matter what your FICO score.

Therefore, over the long-term, borrowers with above-average credit score will typically find conventional loans more economical relative to FHA ones.

In the short-term, though, FHA loans generally win out.

A Second Thought

One main consideration has to be the length of time you would expect to “keep” this mortgage.

Borrowers should take into consideration that FHA MIP is forever but conventional mortgage insurance goes away at 80% loan-to-value. This means that, over time, your conventional option can become a better value — especially for borrowers with high credit scores.

It’s hard to know for how long you’ll hold a loan, though. Sometimes, we expect to live in a home for the rest of our lives and then our circumstances change. Or, sometimes mortgage rates drop and we’ve given the opportunity to refinance.

As a general rule, though, in rising-value housing market, if you plan to stay in the same home with the same mortgage for longer than six years, the conventional 97 may be your better long-term fit.

One other thing to consider is upfront charges.

The FHA charges a separate mortgage insurance premium at the time of closing known as Upfront MIP. Upfront MIP costs 1.75% of your loan size, is generally added to your balance, and is non-recoverable except via the FHA Streamline Refinance.

Upfront MIP is a cost. The conventional versions do not charge a fee.

FHA vs Conventional Infographic

Image Courtesy of The Mortgage Reports

You can find out much, much more about low-down payment options, as well as the specifics of these loans here.

For today’s low down payment home buyers, there are scenarios in which the FHA loan is what’s best for financing and there are others in which the conventional option is the clear winner. Rates for both products should be reviewed and evaluated.

It would be my pleasure to help you find the version that’s most optimal for your situation, so please do contact me for more details!

VA Loans: Some Specifics and Fee Structures

September 19, 2018 / Tom Bonetto

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!

The Ever-Changing Mortgage Lending Landscape – Alternative Options Included

August 5, 2018 / Tom Bonetto

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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.

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_pagadesign A 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

Understanding Closing Costs

January 16, 2017 / Tom Bonetto

Closing Costs for Home Buyers

In addition to the down payment, you’ll also have to pay closing costs — miscellaneous fees charged by those involved with the home sale (such as your lender for processing the loan, the title company for handling the paperwork, a land surveyor, local government offices for recording the deed, etc.).

On average, homebuyers pay closing costs ranging from 2% to 5% of the purchase price. Unfortunately, this is only a ballpark figure, as there are many variables in each individual transaction. Many lenders will require that you apply for a loan prior to receiving a more precise estimate of closing costs; however, some lenders are more transparent with their available options and will do the necessary legwork to provide you a better idea of those costs.

The key factors in determining the closing costs you will pay include the loan program, your credit scores, the escrow and title company, the down payment, and any negotiated seller concessions. Let’s take a closer look at the typical closing costs paid by homebuyers.

What Are Closing Costs?

As mentioned previously, “closing costs” is a collective term for the various fees and charges you’ll encounter when buying a home. Some of these fees come from the lender and others come from third parties that are involved in the transaction, like home appraisers, homeowner associations (HOAs), and title companies.

The types of closing costs you pay will depend on the kind of loan you’re using, as well as other factors.

Typical closing costs include:

Fees relating to obtaining a credit report
Loan origination and processing fees
Home appraisal fees (though more often than not, they are paid in advance)
Discount points, which can be used to secure a lower mortgage rate
Title search and escrow service fees
Title insurance fees, to cover both the lender and the homebuyer
Mobile notary fees
Pre-paids: escrow deposits to cover first two months’ property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Recording fee paid to the city or county for recording the new land records.
HOA transfer fees

Again, these are just some of the typical closing costs for homebuyers. Depending on your situation, you might encounter additional costs that are not on this list – and some of these fees might not apply to your situation.

Finalizing Closing Costs

As mentioned previously, closing costs tend to average between 2% and 5% of the purchase price.

So, if you’re buying a house that costs $200,000, your closing costs might fall between $4,000 and $10,000 (on average). That’s a pretty wide range and isn’t something you can really use for planning purposes. That’s where the new Loan Estimate can give a much more detailed breakdown when you actually start the loan process.

Soon after you apply for your home loan, the lender will give you a document known as a Loan Estimate. This standardized, three-page document gives you a lot of important information about your new loan. Page 1 includes your loan amount, mortgage rate, and estimated monthly payments, as well as an estimate of your total closing costs. Page 2 provides an itemized breakdown of the various costs associated with your loan.

Discount Points and Lender Credits

There are other factors that can affect the amount paid at closing. For instance, consider the different scenarios below:

Borrower ‘1’ might decide to pay mortgage discount points in exchange for a lower interest rate.
Borrower ‘2’ might avoid paying points in order to reduce the upfront costs.
Borrower ‘3’ might forego the discount points and opt for a slightly higher rate, in order to get a lender credit to further reduce closing costs.

These choices could result in a difference of several thousand dollars in the amount these buyers pay to close their loans. That’s why it’s best to take the time to sit down with your mortgage lender so they can understand your situation and what’s most important to you, the borrower!

In closing, here’s a great tip – ask the seller to pay some of the closing costs. If you’re short on cash for the closing costs and can’t roll the closing costs into the mortgage, ask the seller if they’re willing to pay part of the closing costs. It’s not unusual for buyers to ask for this. Usually the worst that can happen is that they say no.

Disclaimer: Your closing costs could differ from the examples provided above, based on a number of factors – and the views expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of American Financial Network, Inc.

What Is A Mortgage Refinance, In Simple English

July 6, 2016 / Tom Bonetto

Simply put, refinancing gives a homeowner access to a new mortgage loan which replaces its existing one. The best part is, the details of the new mortgage loan can be customized by the homeowner, including a new mortgage rate, loan length in years, and amount borrowed.

Refinances can be used to reduce a homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment; to take cash out for home improvements; and, to cancel mortgage insurance premiums, among other uses.

Source: The Mortgage Reports – Dan Green

To refinance your home means to replace your current mortgage loan with a new one. Refinances are common whether current rates are rising or falling; and you can get one here, as you are not limited to working with your current mortgage lender!

Some of the reasons homeowners do this include a desire to get a lower mortgage rate; to pay their home off more quickly; or, to use their home equity for paying credit cards or funding home improvement.

These loans typically close more quickly than a purchase mortgage loan and can require far less paperwork.

3 Types Of Refinance Mortgages

These mortgages come in three varieties — rate-and-term, cash-out, and cash-in. The refinance type that’s best for you will depend on your individual circumstance – and mortgage rates vary between the three types.

Rate-And-Term Refinance

In a rate-and-term refinance, the only terms of the new loan which differ from the original one are either the mortgage rate, the loan term, or both. The loan term is the length of the mortgage.

For example, in a rate-and-term refinance, a homeowner may refinance from a 30-year fixed rate mortgage into a 15-year fixed rate mortgage; or, may refinance from a 30-year fixed rate mortgage at 6 percent mortgage rate to a new, 30-year mortgage rate at 4 percent.

With a rate-and-term refinance, a refinancing homeowner may walk away from closing with some cash, but not more than $2,000 in cash.

“No cash out” refinance mortgages allow for closing costs to be added to the loan balance, so that the homeowner doesn’t have to pay costs out-of-pocket.

Most refinances are rate-and-term refinances — especially in a falling mortgage rate environment.

Cash-Out Refinance

In a cash-out refinance, the refinance mortgage may optionally feature a lower mortgage rate than the original home loan; or shorter loan term, such as moving from a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage.

However, the defining characteristic of a cash-out mortgage is an increase in the amount that’s borrowed.

With a cash-out refinance, the loan balance of the new mortgage exceeds than the original mortgage balance by five percent or more.

Because the homeowners only owes the original amount to the bank, the “extra” amount is paid as cash at closing, or, in the case of a debt consolidation refinance, directed to creditors such as credit card companies and student loan administrators.

Cash-out mortgages can also be used to consolidate first and second mortgages when the second mortgage was not taken at the time of purchase.

Cash-out mortgages represent more risk to a bank than a rate-and-term refinance mortgage and, as such, carry more strict approval standards.

For example, a cash-out refinance may be limited to a lower loan size as compared to a rate-and-term refinance; or, may require higher credit scores at the time of application.

Most mortgage lenders will limit the amount of “cash out” in a cash-out refinance mortgage to $250,000.

Cash-In Refinance

Cash-in refinance mortgages are the opposite of the cash-out refinance.

With a cash-in refinance, a refinancing homeowner brings cash to closing in order to pay down the loan balance and the amount owed to the bank.

The cash-in mortgage refinance may result in a lower mortgage rate, a shorter loan term, or both.

There are several reasons why homeowners opt for cash-in refinance mortgages.

The most common reason to do a cash-in refinance to get access to lower mortgage rates which are only available at lower loan-to-values. Refinance mortgage rates are often lower at 75% LTV, for example, as compared to 80% LTV.

Another common reason to cash-in refinance is to cancel mortgage insurance premium (MIP) payments. When you pay down your loan to 80% LTV or lower on a conventional loan, your mortgage insurance premiums are no longer due.

For more, see Dan’s full article here….