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Authorized User accounts back in FICO scores?

Attached is an interesting article I found while researching something today.  Evidently the credit score models DO included authorized user accounts again – they stopped for a while but then went back to the old rules… QUIETLY!

However, Underwriters are being required to either downgrade the loan to a “manual underwrite” OR ask for the borrower to be removed from those accounts as an authorized user and the reports to be rescored.

So… here, and gone, and back, but useless!

Click here for article

Call Todd Abelson and Tyler Ford at Sunstreet Mortgage in Tucson, Arizona for all your mortgage questions!

FHA Increases Mortgage Insurance Premiums

It’s official! FHA is increasing the up-front mortgage insurance premium to shore up it’s finances. Beginning with case numbers assigned on Apri 5th, 2010 the fee increases from 1.75% to 2.25%. Almost as importantly, the fee for Streamline refinances increases from 1.50% to 2.25%. This makes the FHA loan 1/2 point more expensive than before.

As I’ve said before, FHA is balancing their shortfalls from yesterday’s defaults with tomorrow’s borrower.

The Monthly Mortgage Insurance factors will be increasing “this summer” but nothing official released yet. The remain the same for the time being…

Click here to see the official Mortgagee Letter

Call Todd Abelson and Tyler Ford at Sunstreet Mortgage for all your Mortgage Needs!

Mortgage guidelines to tighten FURTHER!

Just when you though it might be getting easier to qualify for a home loan, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (aka “The Grinchs”) are implementing TIGHTER qualifying guidelines for their loans.

Beginning the weekend of December 12th, both Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) are rolling out new versions of their Automated Underwriting Systems. To give you a taste of “why?”, here’s sentence from the Fannie Mae announcement:

“We are implementing these changes to help ensure that our guidelines reflect and appropriately respond to the current market conditions, and that we continue to provide sustainable home ownership opportunities to borrowers.”

In a nutshell, choke off some “riskier buyers” buy tightening qualifying guidelines ! The single biggest change will be (again quoted from the Fannie Mae Release):

“An updated to the maximum allowable total expense (debt-to-income) ratio to 45%, with flexibilities up to 50% for certain loan case files with strong compensating factors” (accents placed above be me!).

Maybe this is a good thing, that of limiting DTI ratios to 45%, but I estimate this may choke off approx 20% of currently prospective home buyers (from here-on forth they shall be called “wanna-bes”). At best, the timing of this change is horrible since the “first time home-buyer” and “move-up home-buyer” credit programs have been extended through 6/30/2010 (with contracts ratified by 4/30/2010). Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing??? Santa’s putting a lump of coal in their stockings for sure!

To get the latest news, call Todd Abelson & Tyler Ford at Sunstreet Mortgage in Tucson, AZ

FHA UPDATE!

To quote an old movie – just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water (“Jaws”) more not-so-good news.

Effective January 1, 2010, FHA is joining the ranks of the Conventional world when it comes to appraisals. With a new pseudo-HVCC-like requirement – ‘…everyone on a commissioned-based lender staff will be PROHIBITED from selecting the FHA appraiser or having substantive conversations with the appraiser…’ (see FHA Mortgagee Letters 2009-28, 29, 30 and 31). And while lenders are not required to use Appraisal Management Companies, it leaves little option as to the intent.

Giving equal time to the new rulings, there are a few key components that will be helpful, namely:

- Existing FHA appraisals are only tied to a property for 120 days (down from 180 days)

- A second appraisal can be ordered if: a) the first appraisal is deemed “deficient”, b) the first appraiser is on another lender’s “black list”, c) the first appraisal is being “held hostage” by the first lender in order to not lose the business (this happens ALL THE TIME!).

- FHA lenders must use their HUD REGISTERED names in all advertising (no more hiding for third-party originators).

- An FHA lender may not employ anyone who is currently suspended, debarred, under indictment, UNDER INVESTIGATION, or was convicted (or pled guilty) to a Real Estate OR MORTGAGE felony within the past 7 years (no more moving around between companies, one step ahead of “the man”).

Questions? Call Todd Abelson and Tyler Ford, Sunstreet Mortgage, in Tucson Arizona or visit our website www.TucsonMortgages.com

Mortgage Disclosure Improvement ACT (MDIA)

On July 30, 2009, some of the provisions of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act of 2008 (MDIA) went into effect and lenders, mortgage brokers, title agents, real estate agents, and real estate brokers lives changed forever. Here, in review, are the details for the MDIA:

1. The 3/7/3 Rule requires seven business days once the initial disclosure is provided before a home loan can close (business days are everyday except Sundays and Holidays). This means that a borrower must receive the initial Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and Truth-in-Lending (TIL) disclosing the final Annual Percentage Rate (APR) seven days prior to closing.

2. If the final annual percentage rate (APR) is off by more than .125% from the initial APR the lender must re-disclose and wait yet another three business days before closing on the transaction.

3. The consumer has the right to cancel and not proceed with the transaction if they so choose.

4. Lenders are forbidden from collecting money, other than for a credit report, prior to the delivery of an initial TIL. If the TIL is sent by mail, additional charges can occur after the 3rd business day after the borrower receives the TIL in the mail.

5. The following language must be clearly written on the initial and final TIL: “You are not required to complete this agreement merely because you have received these disclosures or signed a loan application.”

If you are a real estate or title agent you need to manage the process very carefully by:

A. Making sure that you check the initial Good Faith Estimate and Truth In Lending form for your buyers and look for discrepancies in charges. The new rules were put in place to protect consumers from being “low balled” by a loan officer only to find out at the closing table that the final fees or rates end up much higher. The new MDIA rules will absolutely delay closings if these steps are not followed carefully.

B. Buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals should not schedule a closing until the borrower has completed the seven day waiting period as required in the initial TIL.

Here are three examples of the “3/7/3 Rule” of the MDIA:

Example A
1. August 1st the loan application is taken
2. August 2nd the initial TIL is sent in the mail
3. August 10th the closing can occur on this day or after this day if the initial TIL was received and the APR was within the .125 of the final TIL.

Example B
1. August 1st the loan application is taken
2. August 2nd the initial TIL is sent in the mail
3. August 4th the borrower’s interest rate increases causing the APR to increase by more than .125 (1/8th) percent which triggers a re-disclosure of another TIL
4. August 5th the revised initial TIL is mailed to the borrower. The borrower can close on the transaction at the earliest on August 13th (add a day to account for Sunday).

Example C
1. August 1st the loan application is taken
2. August 2nd the initial TIL is sent in the mail
3. August 20th the borrower’s interest rate increases causing the APR to increase by more than .125 (1/8th) percent which triggers a re-disclosure of another TIL
4. August 20th a revised initial TIL is mailed to the borrower
5. August 23rd the borrower receives the revised initial TIL in the mail
6. August 26th (unless it falls on a Sunday then the 27th) the borrower can close on their residential real estate transaction and sign the mortgage documents on this day or later if the final TIL doesn’t once again increase by .125 otherwise you can start the entire process all over again.

Call Todd Abelson and Tyler Ford at Sunstreet Mortgage in Tucson Arizona with all your mortgage needs!

Recent Comments

  • Tyler Ford: Great job Todd!
  • Tyler Ford: Seems as through the real estate market is picking up and home prices are stabilizing.
  • Gail Richards: Thanks Todd! More Great Information! Thanks for being on top of everything…your the best! Gail
  • admin: Hey Todd, Can’t wait to pick a winner!
  • steve kargel: Thank you Todd for sending us your updates and especially for insights like the Eller annual economic...

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