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CalHFA Allocates $700 Million to Assist Homeowners

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) today announced that it will develop innovative initiatives to use nearly $700 million in new federal funding to help California's neediest homeowners struggling with mortgages payments remain in their homes. In addition to California, the funds will support efforts in Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Nevada. All five states have seen average home prices decline by 20 percent or more. In the early 2007, California's median home price was $484,000 before dropping to a low of $221,000 in April 2009 - a drop of more than 50%. Since…
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San Jose Real Estate & Mortgage Rates Report 2/21/10

Your weekly dose of San Jose Mortgage Rates, Real Estate Trends and top Economy news. The week that was: Freddie Mac in its Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.93 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 18, 2010. The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.12 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that existing home sales rose in 48 states and the District of Columbia between the third and fourth quarters of 2009; 32…
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San Jose Mortgages Rates & Market Commentary 02/08/10

Your weekly dose of San Jose Mortgage Rates and Market Commentary. The Week That Was: Freddie Mac in its Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.01 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending February 4, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.98 percent. The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.27 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.25 percent. Pending existing home sales rebounded by 1 percent in December from a record drop in November…
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Bay Area mortgage rates for 5 Year ARM sinks below 4%

The Mortgage Rates for a 5 Year adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) sank to 4% (and lower in some cases)* yesterday for Bay Area homes. Freddie Mac average rates released on yesterday reported 5 Year ARM at 4.27% at 0.6 points. But the rate improvements later in the day has opened up great opportunities for home owners and First Time Home Buyers. This could be great news if: You already own a home but plan to move out by 2016. You are a First-Time Home buyer and would like to move up in next…
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New FHA Loan guidelines for San Jose Condominiums

Some major changes went into effect today for FHA loans on San Jose & rest of the Bay Area Condominiums. I. Elimination of Spot Loan Approval Process If a condo project was not approved by FHA, a "spot approval" was allowed just for financing one unit. This process has been eliminated as of today. Now the entire project has to be approved either directly by HUD (process called HRAP) or by a Direct Endorsed Lender (process called DELRAP). With all the liabilities involved around the process most of the direct endorsed lenders would…
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San Jose Mortgage Rate & Market Commentary 02/01/10

Your weekly dose of San Jose Mortgage Rates and Market commentary. The Week that was: Freddie Mac reported in its Primary Mortgage Market Survey that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.98 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending January 28, 2010, down slightly from last week when it averaged 4.99 percent. The 5 year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.25 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.27 percent. Q4 advance GDP was stronger than expected at +5.7% but will likely be revised…
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Bay Area Mortgage Rates set to go up because of Fed actions

The Fed's statement today does not augur well for Bay Area Mortgage Rates. The Fed's policy-setting committee stuck to a plan to end its purchases of mortgage securities by the end of March. Background - The program to purchase agency mortgage-backed securities (agency MBS) was announced by the Federal Reserve on November 25, 2008. On Wednesday, March 18, the FOMC announced the expansion of the Federal Reserve's program to purchase agency MBS up to $1.25 trillion by the end of the year. On September 23, 2009, the FOMC announced that the Federal Reserve…
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San Jose Mortgage Rates & Market Commentary 1/24/10

Your weekly dose of San Jose Mortgage Rates and Market commentary.

The week that was:

  • Freddie Mac reported in its Primary Mortgage Market Survey that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.99 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 21, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.06 percent. The 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 4.27 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.32 percent. Note that these averages are for conforming loan amounts $417,000 and lower.
  • Wall Street Journal reported that California's inventory of unsold, previously owned homes shrank to a five-year low in December, in another sign that the state may be coming out of its worst housing slump in decades. The supply of unsold single-family homes dropped to 3.8 months from 5.6 months a year ago and 16.6 months in January 2008. The inventory levels are now at their lowest level since 2005, resulting in frenzied sales with multiple offers in some cities. In Santa Clara County, inventory has dropped to 50 days from 243 a year ago.
  • One of the most surprising developments last week was the way the Senate is back-peddling the confirmation of Ben Bernanke for his second term. Greenspan, Paul Volker, Warren Buffett, most former Fed officials; and last but not least, investors want Bernanke confirmed but now its populist movement for weak minded politicians that are increasingly worried they too may be tossed on the unemployed rolls in Nov that has weakened Bernanke support.

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Changes to FHA Down Payment, Credit Score and Seller Contribution requirements

FHA announced a series of changes to their Down Payment, Credit Score, Seller Contribution and Mortgage Insurance guidelines. Credit Score/DownPayment Guideline Change : New borrowers will now be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA's 3.5% down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10%. This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February and, after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer. Effect of this change…
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Increase in FHA Mortgage Insurance for Bay Area Home Loans

FHA today increased it's upfront mortgage insurance premium requirements for Bay Area FHA Home Loans. Upfront Mortgage Insurance is the money that FHA collects at the time of closing a mortgage to insure the loan against default. Currently, this premium is 1.75% for most purchase and refinance transactions. However, effective April 5, 2010, FHA will collect an upfront mortgage insurance premium of 2.25 percent for purchase money and refinance transactions, including FHA-to-FHA‚ streamlined refinance transactions. Below is the breakdown of FHA upfront mortgage insurance for different loan programs: Purchase Money Mortgages and Full-Credit…
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