In it's announcement on Friday, FHA tightened the credit standards for it's Streamline Refinancing Program. So if you currently have an FHA loan on a San Jose home and want to refinance into another FHA loan, you will be subjected to new parameters starting January 1, 2010. Below are the highlights per FHA mortgagee letter issued on 9/18/2009. A.Seasoning At the time of loan application, the borrower must have made at least 6 payments on the FHA-insured mortgage being refinanced. B.Payment History 1)For mortgages with less than a 12 months payment history, the…
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Aug 09 Home Sales Trend in Bay Area
Data Quick reported that Bay Area home sales bucked the seasonal norm and fell last month from July, though they remained higher than a year ago for the 12th consecutive month. The region overall median sale price also declined as a greater portion of sales occurred in more lower priced areas. A total of 7,518 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in the nine-county Bay Area last month. That was down 14.3 percent from 8,771 in July and up 4.0 percent from 7,232 in August 2008, according to MDA DataQuick of…
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San Jose Weekly Mortgage Market Commentary 9/20/2009
The week that was: Markets were treated to comments all through the week that the recession is over; Bernanke and Warren Buffet got the ball rolling at mid-week and added more conviction that worst is behind the economy. Even though Bernanke and many others have repeatedly said growth will be slow and likely the "new normal" will keep unemployment high for the next couple of years. Freddie Mac weekly results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® reported that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.04 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week…
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FHA implementing HVCC for San Jose loans as of January 1, 2010
FHA is implementing HVCC for San Jose & rest of the Bay Area loans. Yes, it's finally happening. When I received the mortgagee letter yesterday from HUD, I must say I was stunned. Only few weeks back FHA commissioner had mentioned that he had no intention of implementing HVCC for FHA insured mortgages. But of all the changes that were announced to tighten the credit standards I personally think that this change is most critical and far-reaching.
Here are the highlights:
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- Mortgage brokers and commission based lender staff are prohibited from ordering appraisals. FHA does not require the use of Appraisal Management Companies or other third party providers, but does require that lenders take responsibility to assure appraiser independence. Irrespective of whether they call it HVCC or not in letter, in spirit it's exactly that.
- FHA appraisers are to be compensated at a rate that is customary and reasonable for appraisal services performed in the market area of the property being appraised. AMC's can add management fees to appraiser's compensation. If I understand this correctly, this is good news for Appraisers since they will be not be compensated less. However, the borrowers will end up paying higher since they will also have to cover for AMC's management fees on top of appraiser's fees. (more…)
First HVCC, then MDIA & now DRASTIC changes to FHA Guidelines
Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which insures lenders against losses on home mortgages, announced a series of changes that will have far-reaching impact on the housing market of San Jose, the entire San Francisco Bay Area and rest of the country.
Background -
The agency confirmed that, as of Sept. 30, it would fall short of a legal requirement that it maintain supplementary reserves of 2% of the loans it insures. Those reserves supplement a fund that provides for projected claims over the next 30 years. The extra capital cushion last year was about 3%, down from 6.4% in 2007. Falling reserves are because of higher claims that the FHA has been subjected to in last couple of years. The higher claims has come because of more defaults/delinquency on FHA Insured mortgages.The FHA earlier reported that in July 7.8% of the single-family mortgages it insured were 90 days or more overdue or in the foreclosure process, up from 6.6% a year earlier. For the second quarter, about 8% of all home mortgages were 90 days or more past due or in foreclosure, according to a survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
To ensure that FHA rebuilds the cushion of 2% or higher, Commissioner David H. Stevens on Friday announced plans to implement a set of credit policy changes that will enhance the agency's risk management functions. Stevens also announced his intention to hire a Chief Risk Officer for the first time in the FHA's 75-year history.
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Commissioner Stevens said "To be clear, the fund's reserves are sufficient to cover our future losses, so the FHA will not require taxpayer assistance or new Congressional action. That said, given the size and scope of the FHA and its importance to today's market, these risk management and credit policy changes are important steps in strengthening the FHA fund, by ensuring that lenders have proper and sufficient protections."[rate-quote-middle-cta] Good News for First Time Buyers - Mr. Stevens said tighter credit standards would suffice to rebuild the cushion to 2% or more, and that the FHA wouldn't need to raise the premiums borrowers pay or seek an increase in its minimum down-payment requirement of 3.5%. (more…)
San Jose Weekly Mortgage Market Commentary 9/13/2009
The week that was
This week didn't have much in the way of economic data; weekly claims declined 26K. U. of Michigan consumer sentiment index jumped to a stronger read than expected but somewhat ignored as recently it has become more volatile. In my view the most significant data this week was the July consumer credit data on Tuesday; credit was expected to have shrunk by $4.1B, it crashed $21.6B and June consumer credit was revised lower, from -$10.3B to -$15.5B. Consumer credit has been declining now for five months and we expect it to continue; markets however, took a look and ignored the potential impact for economic growth. Mortgage markets as reported by the MBA had a very good week last week; the overall applications index jumped 17.0% as mortgage rates worked lower.
Freddie Mac weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey® for 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.07 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending September 10, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.08 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.93 percent.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.51 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.59 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.87 percent.
Note that these rates are for loan amounts under $417,000. Higher loan amounts typically have higher interest rates.
(more…)
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San Jose Weekly Mortgage Market Commentary 9/7/2009
The week that was
This week markets were bolstered by generally better economic data; the manufacturing sector based on the August ISM report on Tuesday showed much more strength that was expected, July factory orders were up, and the minutes of the 8/12 FOMC meeting continued to see a small light at the end of what would be defined as a very long tunnel.
Seven of the top eight most affordable months occurred during this year, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Housing Affordability Index, which dates back to 1971. As a result, pending sales of existing homes rose for the sixth straight month in July, a trend not seen since the NAR began reporting data in 2001. Moreover, July sales were the strongest since June 2007.
However, in August unemployment rate jumped 0.3% to 9.7%. Also, for the month of August the government insured share of purchase mortgage application was 40.4% - up from 38.3% in Jul & 31.7% in Aug 08. Share was the highest since Feb 91, further documenting growing clout of FHA loans.
Mortgage rates for the week ended marginally better than last week.
(more…)
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Weekly Mortgage Market Commentary 8/30/2009
The week that was
A little better in the rate markets; the 10 yr note yield fell 12 BPs and mortgages down about 8 BPs. Choppy trade once again characterized the action last week. Treasury had little trouble selling $109B of notes while new home sales increased 9.6 % in July. July durable goods orders increased 4.9%, the biggest monthly increase since July 2007, consumer confidence increased, and weekly jobless claims declined. Nice week but the stock market barley held on.
Freddie Mac weekly results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® reported 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.14 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending August 27, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 5.12 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.40 percent.
Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.67 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.57 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 6.03 percent.
(more…)
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3% CHDAP DownPayment Assistance for San Jose First Time HomeBuyers
This post will help you find all the details on 3% down payment assistance program (CHDAP) for San Jose and rest of the Bay Area First Time Home Buyers. I have earlier blogged about CalHFA 5% downpayment program & $8000 First Time Home Buyer Credit in my earlier posts. The California Homebuyers Downpayment Assistance Program (CHDAP) is a deferred payment, simple interest rate junior loan not to exceed 3% of the sales price or appraised value, whichever is less. The junior loan may be combined with a CalHFA first mortgage loan that is…
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China to buy US Mortgages and what it means for you
CNN Money reported that China's $200 billion sovereign wealth fund, which suffered big paper losses on stakes in Morgan Stanley and Blackstone, is set to invest up to $2 billion in U.S. mortgages as it eyes a property market recovery. Under the Public-Private Investment Plan (PPIP) launched earlier this year, the U.S. government plans to seed a number of public-private investment funds that would combine taxpayer money with private capital to buy as much as $40 billion in toxic securities from banks. Compared with TALF, the new and smaller PPIP program focuses on…
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