The FHA loan product is becoming less appealing. This is due to FHA continuing to raise their mortgage insurance rates, and their recent changes to make the annual MI permanent. There is an alternative! …You can always go with a conventional mortgage using private mortgage insurance. Here are some benefits of using a conventional mortgage with private MI……
Did you realize that a borrower using a conventional mortgage, and putting down less than 20% – can use a gift for the entire down payment? Many realtors and even loan officers believe that on a conventional loan the borrower can get a gift, but they must still have at least 5% of their own…
If you would like to purchase a house, but your main obstacle is a down payment – here is an idea for you… It’s possible to sell a personal asset (car, boat, jewelry, baseball card collection, etc.) to raise the money for your down payment. Here is what you would need to provide the mortgage company…
Quick Credit Tip: When it comes to getting a mortgage the difference between a credit collection account and a judgment is significant. The biggest difference is that a collection account generally won’t have to be paid off as a condition of mortgage approval. …However, a court ordered judgment MUST be paid off before a mortgage…
If you are considering a USDA loan there are two things you should be aware of… 1) There are geographic restrictions. Not every area is eligible for USDA financing. The best thing to do is enter the address of the home or area you are interested in and see if it’s eligible for USDA financing.…
I wanted to take a minute and make sure you understand three important recent changes to FHA loans… 1) As of April 1, 2013 annual mortgage insurance premiums have gone up. a) For 30 year loans over 95% LTV = 1.35%. b) For 30 year loans under 95% LTV = 1.30%. c) For 15 year…
Freddie Mac is introducing a streamline refinance for conventional loans starting July 1st, 2013. The difference between this new streamline refinance program, and Freddie’s standard modification program is that it would require less documentation. Facts about Freddie Mac’s conventional streamline program… 1) The Streamlined Modification will target borrowers who are at least 90 days delinquent…
If you originated your FHA loan after April of 2009, and you want to refinance I would recommend you consider using a conventional loan. Here’s why… Even if your rate is 4.5% or higher it just doesn’t make sense to use an FHA streamline to refinance in cases where loans were originated after April of 2009. The…
When I look back on my blog posts over the years the most widely read posts consistently have to do with credit. People want to know the minimum credit scores they need to get the loan program they are interested in. Today I wanted to address the minimum credit scores needed to get a conventional…
Did you realize you can purchase houses directly from HUD for $100 down? HUD designates some of the homes they own as being eligible for their $100 down program. You would just need to ask your realtor for a list of these homes in your area. Here are some of the requirements for this $100…