News Break! News Break! Yes it is easy to refinance if you've played by the rules!
News Break! News Break! Yes it is easy to refinance if you've played by the rules! Check out this post brought to us by Doug Bullwinkel on the facts of refinancing your home. Please leave your comments on Doug's page.
If I can assist you with any Albuquerque, Rio Rancho or Central NM real estate need please contact me. John McCormack with Albuquerque Homes Realty.
GOOD NEWS! IT’S EASY TO REFINANCE IF YOU’VE PLAYED BY THE RULES
I keep reading articles about how difficult it is to refinance a home mortgage in today’s
lending environment and I ask myself, “Why aren’t more people getting the word about the availability of the current loan programs”.
More opportunities exist today than ever before if you’re looking to refinance your home. For those who have played by the rules, made their payments on time and kept their credit clear, there are several great options available for refinancing at today’s low rates.
VETERANS
EXISTING VA LOANS are eligible for a Streamline Rate Reduction Refinance Loan Program. If you have an existing VA loan on your home, you are probably eligible for a limited documentation refinance with NO appraisal required in many cases. For most loans, we just verify assets and get a credit report and a mortgage rating for the past 12 months to confirm there are no 30 day mortgage lates. If you have a current second loan, that will have to stay in second place as this is NOT a cash out loan.
NEW VA LOANS FOR CASH OUT If you do need cash out, a New VA loan for up to 90% of appraised value will work fine, provided you have 10% equity left after an independent appraisal is done. Just remember a pest control clearance is required for new VA loans, including cash out refinances. Full income, asset and credit verification is required for this program. Closing costs may be included in the new loan amount up to 90% of appraised value.
EXISTING FHA LOANS (3 choices)
STREAMLINE FHA refinance loans do not require a new appraisal but you cannot have
more than one 30 day late on your current FHA Home Mortgage in the past 12 months. Minimum credit scores apply and some income and asset documentation may be required. Just like the VA loan, this can only be used to refinance your existing FHA loan and if you have a second loan, that would have to stay in second place.
REGULAR FHA refinances, including paying off an existing second loan can go up to 95% of the new appraised value, subject to credit and income qualification. This will be a full documentation loan, just like when you purchased your home. Your existing loan does not have to be an FHA loan for the full documentation program.
CASH OUT FHA REFINANCE loans can go up to 85% of the new appraised value and your existing loan does not have to be an FHA loan. Full documentation on this with credit, income and appraisal requirements.
PLEASE NOTE THAT AFTER June 11, 2012, there will be a substantial reduction in the upfront AND Monthly FHA Mortgage Insurance on most FHA Streamline Refinance loans. The upfront Mortgage Insurance will drop to .10% from the current 1.0% and the monthly Mortgage Insurance will drop from 1.25% to .55%. This will offer substantial savings to those loans that were originated prior to May 31, 2009. Please call for details.
HARP 2.0
FOR LOANS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OWNED BY FANNIE MAE OR FREDDIE MAC that were originated prior to May 31, 2009. This just released refinance program is
targeted towards homeowners that are “upside down” on their property values, but have maintained their credit and their mortgage payments on time. The guidelines will not allow any 30 day mortgage lates in the last 6 months and not more than one 30 day mortgage late in the past 12 months. In most cases (estimated at around 70% of applications) an appraisal will not be required. There is no ceiling on the loan percentage to value of the property on this program. If your existing loan did not have PMI or Mortgage Insurance, your new loan, regardless of loan to value, will NOT be required to have PMI. Conforming loan limits and Temporary HIGH LIMIT loans will be eligible, with those maximum loan amounts being determined by current county limits. This can be used for your primary residence, a second home or an investment (rental) property, however there will be a higher pricing for rental homes. To determine if your loan is currently owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, go to: www.LenderSolutions.com, click the HARP 2 LINK, and then go to the lookup links to check your property address for eligibility. Call me for pricing as interest rates will be changing daily.
EXISTING USDA LOANS
USDA STREAMLINE REFINANCE program is available but only if you currently have a USDA loan. No appraisal required and limited income documentation and credit requirements. No more than one 30 day mortgage late payment is allowed over the past 12 months. This streamline refinance is only for your USDA first mortgage loan and will not allow cash out.
CONVENTIONAL LOANS
RATE AND TERM REFINANCE standard loan program goes up to 80% of new appraised
value with NO PMI. For loans over 80%, HARP 1 and HARP 2 programs are available for those loans and may not require PMI or Mortgage Insurance.
CASH OUT REFINANCE standard loan program can go up to 80% of new appraised value with NO PMI or up to 85% with PMI. All conventional loans require full credit, income, asset and appraisal verification, with the exception of HARP 2.0
CREDIT ISSUES AREN'T FOREVER
For those that have been late on their payments, but are recovering their credit stability, you may be able to qualify for a new loan much more quickly than you think. Time heals many things, especially your credit score. When those late payments are behind you and things are back to normal, you may be surprised how quickly you may be eligible for several of these programs. Even purchasing a home with a minimum down payment can be possible much sooner than you think. It's time to get working on this NOW so that you don't miss the boat. Mortgage Interest Rates will not stay this low for much longer.
As you can see, there is a virtual buffet of loan programs targeted at homeowners that have
been current on their payments. Why do I keep hearing “There is NO PROGRAM for those of us that have done everything by the rules and made our payments on time.” Well now you know that there are options and most of these may NOT REQUIRE A NEW APPRAISAL or equity in your home. You may be required to bring in a bit of cash to start your new impound or escrow account, but a refund from your existing loan may be coming back to you soon after closing.
There's NO EXCUSE to not take action on this immediately. If you currently have one of the above loan programs, you can start saving money NOW! Call your favorite mortgage bank or mortgage broker and get your application completed and your interest rate locked. Put a smile on your face when you find out just how much money you will be saving each month. Think of all the wonderful things you can do with the savings.
Doug Bullwinkel is a licensed California Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS
#281609 for Vitek Mortgage with over 30 years in the Real Estate and Mortgage Industry. He specializes in Niche loan programs including the CalPERM-CalPERS Member Program, VA and CalVet for Veterans, FHA, USDA, FNMA Homepath, CalHFA and down payment assistance programs. His website is LenderSolutions.com. Doug can be reached at (800) 636-8910 for more information.
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John McCormack Owner/Managing Broker, e-PRO
505-980-4576 / John@AlbuquerqueHomes.com
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