So you or your client have found a home in a great area in the client's price range. Only one problem: it's in bad shape. The HVAC system is 50 years old, the roof is 40 years old and the windows may as well not even be closed. Plus the kitchen has vinyl floors in 3 different patterns and the counters are all laminate with burns and holes and scars.

Not to fear! Meet the FHA 203K Streamlined renovation loan.

Eligible Improvements Virtually any kind of improvement is eligible provided it becomes a permanent part of the real property and adds value. 

 

• Additions to the structure
• Kitchen or bath remodels
• Finished basement or attic
• Patios, decks or terraces
• Roofing and landscaping
• Safety, energy efficiency and electrical upgrades
• Handicapped accessibility improvements

 

Luxuryitems are not eligible

 

• Swimming pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, gazebos, barbecue pits, saunas or alterations to support commercial use

The maximum loan amount must be within the FHA loan amount maximum for the MSA where the home is located and must include the purchase price and the renovation amount. The maximum renovation amount is $35,000 and the minimum is $5,000. Under $5,000 we can do with an escrow of repair funds. A minimum of 10% contingency reserve is required and must also fit into the FHA loan maximums for the area where the property is located. (Any balance remaining on the contingency will be applied to the principal balance and may not be used for additional repairs.)

Yes, it takes a little longer to close an FHA203k Streamline loan than it does to close a standard FHA loan. If you are an agent and you are concerned about that extra couple of weeks just think of it this way: You may make a sale you would not have otherwise made. You may help a buyer get into a home in the area where they wanted to live instead of where they "had" to live. You can be a real hero for someone.

If you are in Georgia I can help you with the necessary paperwork and give you a short class in how to use the FHA 203K Streamline Rehab loan to purchase, sell or represent homes in today's economy. Never hesitate to call me at any time and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

 

Ken Cook - Georgia - FHA, USDA, VA and Conventional Home Loans (678) 439-8683

Many REALTORS® and even attorneys have fallen to the mistaken belief that the FAR-9 contains a contingency that permits the Buyer to unilaterally terminate the transaction in the event the Property appraises below the Purchase Price.  

The reference to the Property's appraised value appears in the Financing paragraph of the FAR-9 as provided below.

FAR-9 Residential Sale and Purchase Contract

Paragraph 3: FINANCING: .... Once Buyer provides the Commitment to Seller, the financing contingency is waived and Seller will be entitled to retain the deposits if the transaction does not close by the Closing Date unless (1) the Property appraises below the purchase price and either the parties cannot agree on a new purchase price or Buyer elects not to proceed, (2) the property related conditions of the Commitment have not been met (except when such conditions are waived by other provisions of this Contract), or (3) another provision of this Contract provides for cancellation. 

This is strictly a financing contingency, not to be confused with an appraisal contingency.  In order for the Buyer to terminate the transaction using this provision two things must occur: 1) the Buyer must have provided a Loan Commitment during the defined Loan Commitment Period; 2) the appraisal must impact the financing so as to prevent the Buyer from obtaining financing.  The simple fact that the appraised value was less than the Purchase Price is not sufficient grounds to terminate the transaction and successfully recover the Buyer's escrowed funds. 

Let me provide an example:

• Purchase Price $250,000.00
• Total Financing $50,000.00
• The Buyer provided the Seller with a Loan Commitment during the Loan Commitment Period 

In this example the Property appraises for $200,000.00 vs. the Purchase Price of $250,000.00.  The question is now: Can the Buyer obtain a denial letter from the Lender based on the appraised value not being able to support the loan with only a 25% LTV ratio? In this example, it would be highly suspect if the Lender would provide such a denial.  As such, the Buyer must proceed with the transaction or face the potential of a Buyer's default.  

Should the appraised value cause an increase in the LTV ratio that would exceed the allowable limits of the mortgage (ie. LTV increased from 78% to 81%) and the Buyer or the Property does not qualify for the higher LTV financing then the Buyer should be able to terminate upon presentation of the mortgage denial letter. 

Obviously, if the appraisal was done prior to the Loan Commitment and it prevented the mortgage approval because of the low value; the Loan Commitment would never be issued and a denial letter should be provided stating the denial was based on the insufficient collateralization of the mortgage loan.  

The biggest question should now be how Buyers protect themselves from low appraisal valuations, especially in light of the affects of the HVCC.  One might suggest that the Purchase Contract restate the appraisal language in the Special Clause section. Thus, such language outside of the Financing paragraph should create a true independent financing contingency. Example:

"Should the subject property appraise below the Purchase Price and either of the parties cannot agree on a new Purchase Price or the Buyer elects not to proceed this Purchase Contract shall be terminated and Buyer's Deposits will be immediately refunded."

This Special Clause would not be necessary in Purchase Contracts using FHA or VA financing.  The FHA/VA Addendums address the issue of low appraisal valuations. 

This information is not intended to be considered as legal advice. You should always consult, and suggest that the customers consult, with a competent attorney for a proper legal opinion.

WHAT IS APR, Can You Explain It?

APR Demystified and APR Predators Exposed

First, lets demystify Annual Percentage Rate (APR).

APR was designed to allow consumers to use one standardized number to compare each lender's rate for the same type of loan while rate shopping.  It is supposed to represent the borrower's cost and it works like this.

If I lend you, $10,000  and, I charge a $500 Bump-ta-Bump Fee, you will actually receive $9,500, however you must still repay me $10,000.  APR is my real yield and your real cost on this loan.

We agreed that you will repay the loan at 8% interest on $10,000, HOWEVER you only received $9,500 therefore I will earn more than the 8.0% interest rate I charge on $10,000.  In this case, my yield (APR) is 9.799% on the $9,500 you received.   

APR is the lender's yield on dollars actually lent ($10,000 minus $500 = $9,500); in this case, the lender's yield (APR) on $9,500 is 9.799%   (APR is computed as if the above example is a 30 year loan)

The $9,500 also represents the Amount Financed in the Truth In Lending (TIL) disclosure. 

For those of you who use spreadsheets the Rate Function will find APR.  Use the Amount Financed for Loan Amount and use the monthly payment on the actual loan amount.

Fees that must be subtracted from a mortgage loan to properly calculate Amount Financed for APR

Origination and Discount Points

Processing and Lender Fees

Pre-Paid Interest (Use 15 days when closing date is unknown)

Monthly Mortgage Insurance must be added to the payment of all FHA loans and Conventional loans greater than 80% loan to value. 

The inclusion of Mi or MIP accounts for the large spread between Rate and APR on loans with mortgage insurance.

NOTES:  Fees Not used in APR calculation; third party fees such as appraisal and credit.  APR can only be compared on loans of the same type and amortization period

How Do APR Predators Work?

Many sophisticated borrowers shop interest rates by searching for lowest APR which, if property stated, is a valid way to compare similar loans.  Unfortunately, APR is not always stated properly.

How is advertised APR is misstated? 

• Prepaid Interest is not included - most common deception and true on all online Rate sites   i.e.: Bankrate.com, Interest.com, Mortgage101.com, ShopRate.com, etc.
• Prepaid Interest is understated - must be 15 days when closing date is unknown.
• MI or MIP is not included in the APR on any online rate sites, Bankrate etc.
• Some lenders do not include MI or MIP on their web sites such as Amerisave.com 
• Lender fees are either understated or not included in the APR calculation.  This is a tricky one because No or Low Lender Fees does not necessarily indicate a predatory lender.  Some lenders charge a higher rate and no points or fees for their so called "Zero Cost" loan.  However, the "Zero Cost" rate will always be higher than a rate with points and/or fees. 
• Notes to the above: 
  • there is no such thing as a Zero Cost loan and some states prohibit lenders from advertising Zero Cost Loans.
  • The spread between Rate and APR on loans greater than 90% LTV should be at least 0.700%.  When it is not... you are being scammed

Rate - Points - Fees are all interdependent

The best way I can explain this is show various Rate - Point - Fee combinations where the lender is making the same gross profit on each combination. 

In the examples below, we will use a $200,000 loan amount and Lender gross profit of $1,000, on a day when the Lender's cost for a 5.000% rate is par (0 point).

Best Rate:  $1,000 Lender profit in various combinations of points and fees

Rate	Fees	Points	APR	Profit
5.000%	$1,000	0	5.044%	$1,000
5.000%	$500	0.250	5.044%	$1,000
5.000%	$0	0.500	5.044%	$1,000

Lowest Fees:
You pay $0 points and fees and Lender's investor pays the lender $1,000 for the higher rate.  

Rate	Fees	Points	APR	Profit
5.125%	$0	0	5.125%	$1,000

The point here is that lenders design their loans to provide talking points for their sales staff (loan officers).  They all require a certain profit margin and it is not important the way the loan is structured as long as the closed loan delivers their required profit margin. 

This illustration also points out the value of correctly stated APR as a way of comparing mortgage loans.  For the sake of these illustrations, prepaid interest was not used.  If 15 days PP was calculated it would have increased each APR by 0.019%.

Bill Ladewig

800.664.7283 (SAVE)

Bill@YourFhaGuru.com

Website

 

 

Bill Ladewig is a Mortgage Broker Licensed by the California Department of Real Estate 00968137

San Diego FHA and VA Home Loans Escondido Mortgages Escondido Localism San Diego FHA and VA Home Loans San Diego Localism San Diego UFMIP Escondido Mortgages Escondido Localism San Diego Mortgage What is APR

A lot of real estate agents are speaking as if the door on real estate sales will be slammed shut if the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers is not extended. And while this opportunity to collect cash has had a very positive effect on sales in the lower price ranges, it really hasn't meant much to sellers with homes valued in excess of $200,000.

My preference is to let this credit just go away. The expiration of the credit could actually lead us back to a true fair market, where buyers buy because they need a house rather than just trying snag a great deal with future profit potential.

I would like to propose an alternative remedy to help sale in all price ranges. My proposal would really create interest in buyers that could really stimulate the market, and it is the only remedy that I have even seen proposed that would actually correct the mistakes of the past.

The solution I am proposing is to make all down payment monies for a personal residence up to and including a cash sale an income tax deduction. Not a refundable credit, just a deduction against income.

This also would encourage buyers with both cash and significant incomes to get back into the market. It would lead us back to the days when more down payment was better, and smaller mortgages would prevent the short position debacle that we are experiencing today.

The higher end market would see an extensive boost in sales, and prices would stabilize. And once again, homeowners will be encouraged to have equity in their homes to cushion them against negative market forces.

So what do you think? A dollar for dollar tax deduction for down payments on a house sounds like a good idea to me!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily! We Do HUD bids in Georgia! 770-827-6225

"Will I ever be able to buy a home again?"

Today I received another call from another homeowner in foreclosure. Burning questions that no one could (or would) answer were pouring out like lava, pent up emotions were finally being released in a meltdown of fear, frustration, sorrow, confusion, anger.

I just listened, acknowledged, and took notes, listening to learn if I would be able to help.

Eventually, in sharing with me, there was some relief from the pressure, and the courage to ask a question about the future arose: "Will I ever be able to buy a home again?"

Yes! As long as you can financially afford it with a steady source of income and a downpayment, YES. You will be able to buy another house in the future. Usually in about two years after a short sale, you will be eligible to purchase a home and get a loan.

If you opt for foreclosure, it will be seven years, but you will still be able to buy another home in the future, based on standards of the lending community as we know it.

A short sale will give the fastest return to loan eligibility. But even a foreclosure does not mean you will never be able to buy a home again.

The future looks better in time. Here's to your future homeownership and to your financial rescue today.

If you feel you have nowhere to turn for answers to your questions about short sales, loan modification and foreclosure, please call. I can point you in the right direction.

• $8,000 First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit, ends Dec. 1, 2009.
• Up to $14,999  3 to 1 MATCHING GRANT for First Time Home Buyers in Summit County (Not including Akron, Barberton & Cuyahoga Falls).
• Call today to learn if you qualify for many other financial programs!
  

Dawn's cell: 330-990-4236
Email: dawn@dawnsold.com

 

http://www.DawnSold.com

Any first-time home buyer in the Greater Cleveland and Akron Ohio marketplace is hopefully well aware of that time is running out on the 8K federal tax credit -- you must close on a home by November 30th, 2009.

For those buyers who are either on the fence or are in the middle of trying to negotiate a short sale, time is running out and you need to act now if you wish to take advantage of it.

I am closing a home purchase this coming week for a buyer (not a first time buyer) and this loan/purchase is closing in under 30 days, so when the right folks (agents, lender, title, escrow, inspectors) are involved, it can happen.

If you are still negotiating with a seller of a short sale property, chances are, it's not going to happen.  The bank will still have to approve it, as well as the underlying investor.

If you feel you have waited to long, you haven't.  If you start the process now, provided you can get pre-approved for a loan, it's not too late and you can still start and complete the process.

The right agent with the right resources will make or break your home purchase so choose your buyer's agent wisely.

If you need an exceptional lender, Tim Bradford with American Midwest Mortgage has more experience and options than any other lender I know for first time home buyers in the Greater Cleveland and Akron Ohio real estate market.

 

ADVERTISING – Those ads that seem too good to be true.

 

 

I have been in the mortgage business for 17 + years.  I have seen so much advertising when it came to mortgage companies and how many of the ads were misleading or just flat out lies.  Those companies advertising low rates that didn't happen.  This easily went on from 1992 to 2002. I always wondered why this wasn't regulated as strongly as it should have been.  I found out that some of these companies had 100's of complaints, yet they still operated for those 10 years. I think this is misleading and I call it Shark Advertising.  It's dangerously misleading, yet it worked for many companies, at the expense of the borrower.

 

 

 

If anyone has noticed, we haven't see as much advertising from mortgage companies or large banks in the last 18 months or so. I am now seeing a few mortgage companies advertise on the radio and as of lately, a few advertise on TV, especially ESPN. The ads are misleading because they appear to make you believe that it's being backed by the government. Has anyone seen a few ads on tv that look like a news update, a spokesperson telling you about government funded programs or that the government is helping in sponsoring these programs. Yet if you read the fine print, it's a mortgage company, disguising this ad very carefully, spinning it as thought the government is putting this out to the public??

I am even seeing this more and more in such places as Facebook. Below are a few that I am seeing on Facebook now.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some ads found on facebook and comcast.net. As you can see, these mortgage companies and or companies that are lead generators, make you think that the government is behind this.  Obama hasn't asked homeowners to refinance. The first one on the left, upper left, is from a company called Lower My Bills.  They sell leads to other mortgage companies, after they have gathered your information online. Then you have like 4 to 10 lenders call you, sometimes daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People on Facebook that give basic information – eye catchers to pull you in.

 

Here is a loan officer on Facebook that placed this on his Wall, to capture the attention of others. You just need to be aware of what you read. Sure, this can happen, but there are some unknowns not mentioned. And sometimes the loan officer will raise that unknown, so you can't obtain that great rate and get the next best thing.  Keeping in mind, it's not always about the Best Rate.  How service?  Integrity?  Educating the borrower? And so much more....  Please read : I want the same deal that my friend receivd...  &  Mortgage payment vs Interest Rate

 

 

 

 

Web Sites that are deceiving !!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I explained in this blog post, deceptive web sites, here is a great example above. Doesn't this look like it could come from the USDA themselves?  But it isn't. It acts as a lead catcher, catching your info to call you and or sell you about USDA loans or any other type of mortgage loan. No Cost Obligation is mentioned on the site. - We always love to hear about free things, but are they free overall?

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a FAVORITE of mine !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am sure many of you have seen this one on tv, FreeCreditReport.com. The commercial announces a free credit report. But at the very end, it says that you need to enroll in their Triple Advantage program.

A free credit report?  They have tons of commercials &  commercials cost money to display on TV. They also have like 3 to 4 different kinds of commercials and.  producing commercials cost money.

 

Well, I feel like an investigative reporter for the news. I filled out my info online, trying to see what I get. It says that it takes 3 to 5 days for me to obtain these credit reports from the 3 credit agencies. (giving my credit card #) And then there is a button that says, to obtain your 3 reports now, click here. Imagine that, it's asking for $24.95 now. See the 2nd paragraph on the left, highlighted in yellow?  It talks about the new Federal Law and I am wondering if that is what they are sending me now, because that is free. But from what I know, you have to go to annual credit report to get the free reports.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion :   Just be very careful of what you read and what says free, when it might not be free.  I always have said, someone has to pay for it from some where. Is it you?  Is it me who pays for it?

 

 

 

Shopping for mortgages - The Public Image of Advertising that is misleading !!!! - Part 1 of 2

Shopping for mortgages - The Lending Trees of the World (lead generators) - Part 2 of 2

 

 

Advertisements - Is the grass greener on the other side?

 

 

 

                    

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Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For more information about the 2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2009 Tax Credit

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags!

 

 

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger of Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc