HOME LOANS Category
Efforts To Streamline Short Sale Process Underway
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, REAL ESTATE LEGISLATION, SHORT SALES, TIPS FOR SELLERS
Lenders, loan servicing companies and homeowners have been fighting over how to deal with mortgages that are underwater. According to a recent article in the New York Times “more than 5 million households are behind in their mortgages and risk foreclosure”. The Obama administration has targeted billions for loan modification programs that have helped very few.
A new program to be launched April 5 will attempt to help homeowners unload their homes using the short sale process. The program aims to streamline and standardize the process by establishing some ground rules for determining who gets how much. The benefits this program is intended to create include:
- More net proceeds to the investor doing a short sale than a foreclosure
- Set amount of cash for the loan servicer ($1,000)
- A predetermined amount for second lienholders, if any ($1,000)
- Less damage to the home owner’s credit rating
- Relocation money for the homeowner ($1,500)
- Assurance from lender the homeowner will not be sued for any dollar deficiency
- Fewer empty homes waiting to be foreclosed upon
Real estate agents would be used to establish the home’s current fair market value. This value estimate would not be shared with the homeowner but if an offer meets or exceeds the indicated value, the lender must accept the offer. Lenders want proof the homeowner has done everything possible to keep the home including trying to sell the home or utilized available savings to make payments.
Those of us that have handled short sales know how frustrating the process can be for homeowners, title companies, lenders and loan servicing companies. Some are easy to work with while others have made the process very difficult and time consuming. It’s not unusal to have the first couple of buyers fall by the wayside before the investor wakes up and agrees to a short sale. Any help by the federal government to regulate the process is welcomed by real estate professionals.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALES EXPERIENCE
Energy Efficient Mortgage Program Discussed
HOME LOANS, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR BUYERS
Jonathon Bell, mortgage banker with US Lending in Redding, briefed Realtors on a loan program that allows home buyers to secure a loan to buy and upgrade a home simultaneously using an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). The investor for the loan allows the borrower to add funds into the loan to complete energy efficient retrofits. Most homes built prior to 1994 will qualify.
The concept allows the home buyer to borrow slightly more than they might otherwise qualify for because the higher payment will be offset by lower utility bills. The borrower must pay for a home energy audit using a local HERS (Home Energy Rating System) auditor at a cost of about $350. A report will be produced detailing which energy efficient improvements qualify for the loan program. Monthly energy savings must exceed the additional mortgage payment costs.
Common items covered include windows, HVAC systems, insulation and weatherization of doors, windows, pipes and walls. Water heaters and energy efficient appliances may also be candidates for replacement. Once the buyer selects the items to be upgraded, the loan amount is adjusted to cover the labor and material costs, the loan is closed and funds are held to pay contractors upon completion of the work.
Other benefits to an EEM may include:
- Federal Tax Rebates
- City Utility Rebates
- P,G&E rebates
Check with your tax preparer and utility providers for specific programs and rebates. Homes to be built may qualify for an EEM if additional upgrades are desired above current building codes.
For more information, call Jonathon at 530-356-8658.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
HUD Website Allows Consumers To Report Mortgage Scams
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
The California Association of Realtors announced a new HUD website where consumers can turn in loan modification scam artists. Numerous scams have become prevalent as more and more Americans find themselves facing foreclosure. Laws have been enacted making the collection of advance fees for promised loan modification services illegal. The latest twist is companies promising to do a “forensic audit” of the homeowner’s mortgage in attempts to uncover fraud. The typical fee to conduct such an audit usually exceeds $3,000. However there is no guarantee of success and some borrowers have reported getting nothing in return for the large advance fee tendered.
To access this website, click here: http://www.preventloanscams.org/
Anyone considering a loan modification should first contact their lender at the customer service department listed on their mortgage statement. If you need assistance negotiating with your lender, contact a non-profit credit counseling agency. The HUD website has links to approved free and low-cost credit counseling agencies.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALES EXPERIENCE
Phony Foreclosure “Audit” Scheme Unmasked
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, TIPS FOR SELLERS, TIPS FOR SENIORS
State Attorney General Jerry Brown is warning California homeowners in mortgage distress about a new scam designed to skirt recently implemented loan modification regulations. If you haven’t heard, it is now illegal for real estate agents, attorneys or anyone else to charge upfront fees for loan modification services. This latest scheme gets around this law by offering owners wishing to stave off foreclosure an expensive audit to determine if any fraud took place with regard to state and federal laws during the loan origination process.
Several months back, a client of mine received a solicitation from one such firm. They wanted $3,500 to do a “forensic audit” of my clients loan in an effort to uncover evidence of fraud which could then be used to negotiate a loan modification. I called the number on the letter on behalf of my client. The man I spoke with indicated he was located in San Juan Capistrano and formerly worked as a loan officer. I asked if there was any guarantee my client would be granted a loan modification and he said there was not. In fact, if fraud was discovered, my client would have to cough up thousands more to begin the process of taking the lender to task on the alledged fraud.
I referred my client to a non-profit credit counseling agency and he just informed me he has been granted a trial loan modification on his loan. This is not the first time I have helped a client avoid getting scammed by dubious loan modification service providers. To prevent being a victim of one of these schemes, the attorney general and Department of Real Estate make the following recommendations:
- Don’t pay upfront fees. Foreclosure consultants are prohibited from collecting advance fees
- Don’t ignore letters from your lender or loan servicer
- Don’t transfer title or sell your house to a” foreclosure rescuer”. This scam convinces homeowners they can stay in their home as renters and repurchase the home later (at a lower price). It could also be part of a fraudulent bankruptcy filing. The scammer can evict you and keep your home.
- Don’t make mortgage payments to anyone except your lender or loan servicer. Fraudulent consultants keep the money and you lose your home.
- Never sign a document without reading it. Many homeowners have unknowingly transferred title to someone intent on evicting them.
I would add to this list another caution-talk to your lender first before signing anything regarding any service that you believe will help you save your home from foreclosure. Deal directly with your lender’s loss mitigation department and employ one of the many non-profit credit counseling agencies if you need additional assistance.
These scam artists think nothing of taking advantage of those facing foreclosure. Contact me if I can be of any help.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
Need A Mortgage? Better Sooner Than Later!
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR BUYERS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
The Federal Reserve propped up the housing industry last year by buying up $1.25 trillion in mortgage backed securities but has told banks that will end this spring. Investors typically buy these securities but stopped after the housing bubble burst. The Fed’s actions averted certain disaster by keeping money in the loan pipeline as well as keeping mortgage interest rates artificially low. The big concern moving forward is will investors re-enter the market after the Fed pulls out ensuring a continued supply of mortgage money.
Many economists believe interest rates will have to increase to attract investors for these mortgage-backed securities. Some optimistically predict a slight rate increase from 5% currently to near 6%. Others believe rates would have to rise above 7% before investors will jump back in.
The Fed may have to step in again and buy loans through it’s GSE’s known as Freddie Mac, Fannie and Ginnie Mae in the event mortgage rates spike due to a lack of funds available for mortgages. Other government program changes will also impact the real estate market in the near future:
- The Federal home buyers tax credit is set to expire at the end of April
- Underwriting rules for the popular FHA loan program are tightening
- Many borrowers attempting loan modifications will be denied adding to the foreclosure crisis
The end result could be fewer buyers and more inventory of distress sales ultimately causing more price erosion forcing property values downward. This is likely to be the case until jobs that pay a living wage are created due to economic recovery. Some speculate that the government will extend a helping hand if their actions derail the housing sector recovery.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
Get Paid To Pay Your Mortgage?
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
That’s right! An experimental program has been launched to entice homeowners not to walk away from their mortgages that are underwater by offering a cash reward if they keep their payments current. According to a Wall Street Journal blog, Loan Value Group LLC is launching a pilot program to determine if rewarding borrowers with cash is enough to keep them from abandoning their home loan(s).
The mortgage investor will base the size of the incentive on factors such as the amount the borrower is upside down on their loan, their income, and other risk factors. The “responsible homeowner reward” will grow over a period up to five years as long as the homeowner makes scheduled mortgage payments. The general idea is to change the psychology from the buyer’s perspective from focusing on how much they owe to how much they could gain by staying the course. The reward is not large enough to offset negative equity but allows the borrower to keep their home until prices stabilize and possibly recover value and avoid negative impacts to credit scores caused by foreclosure.
I believe the problem is too big for this program to help. Banks will do anything to keep these overpriced assets on the books which makes them look stronger on paper. Once the properties are foreclosed and resold at a loss, the true value of these properties will be reflected on their balance sheets which will not make shareholders happy. Likewise, top exec’s will have a hard time justifying obscene bonuses if their financial statements are bleeding red ink.
Any borrower considering a program that modifies their original loan should proceed with caution. California law dictates that purchase-money loans do not allow the lender to seek a deficiency judgement. In other words, a bank cannot come after you for a loss after foreclosure if the loan was used to purchase the home. However, if the loan was modified or refinanced after the original purchase, the lender can typically pursue the debt through collections after a foreclosure for years to come. Borrowers should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals before agreeing to a refinance or loan modification to determine if any protections are being lost in the process.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
Is Fed Poised To Kick Crutch Holding Up Housing Market?
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, TIPS FOR BUYERS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
Low interest rates enjoyed in 2009 by home buyers and homeowners refinancing may be history come March. The Federal Reserve propped up the ailing housing market by quietly buying up mortgage-backed securities and lowering key interest rates which influence costs for consumer borrowing. Lenders loaned money only because they knew government sponsored enterprises (GSE’s) were willing to buy them. The investor pool that normally buys these securities seized up during the housing meltdown forcing the government to step in before lending came to a grinding halt.
Now the Feds have decided it’s time the lending industry stand on its own. Investors will need to step up and buy mortgage-backed securities or home loans will become extremely difficult to find. Banks rely on investors to buy these loans to back-fill their balance sheets with money to loan to future mortgage seekers.
Some believe there is a pent up demand in the private sector to buy these investments. The big question is will they be willing to buy at the artificially low mortgage rates or will they demand higher returns? Some predict rates will rise to 6% or possibly 7% or higher for the popular 30-year fixed rate mortgage in order to satisfy the rate of return demanded by private investors nervous about the health of the housing sector.
The Feds may have to once again support the financial markets if they don’t buy these securities at auction. Fannie and Freddie GSE’s are ready, willing and able to buy up to $300 billion in mortgage securities during 2010 if called upon to do so. Private industry does not want government in the loan, banking or car manufacturing business so this is the next logical next step-assuming the private sector loosens their purse strings and gets back to churning money through the economy.
Other factors that could derail a housing sector recovery include:
- Tightening of FHA loan rules regarding credit and downpayment requirements
- Investors buying stocks and bonds with capital previously used to buy mortgage securities
- Expiration of federal tax credits for home buyers
- Banks destabilizing home prices by clearing their books of foreclosed properties
Lending industry insiders predict the volume of loans funded in 2010 will be half that of 2009. This could lead to the double dip recession experts have been warning about, especially in areas like ours with a fragile economy.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
Local Housing Agencies Launch Foreclosure Assistance Program
HOME LOANS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR BUYERS
Shasta County, along with the cities of Redding, Anderson and Shasta Lake have landed a grant of $1 million to assist home buyers wishing to purchase a foreclosed home in designated neighborhoods. Most of Shasta Lake is eligible for the program as well as Anderson Heights and Ravenwood subdivisions in Anderson. The program has been dubbed C4-HAP. Interested home buyers should contact the Shasta County Department of Housing and Community Action at 1450 Court Street Suite 108 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. to add your name to the waiting list for loan applications.
Here are some important points:
- The program is only available until June 2010
- Purchase price is limited to $190,000 or less
- The assistance is a forgivable 0% interest silent second loan
- The loan is forgiven after 5 years
- Household income limits apply depending on household size
- Do not need to be a first-time home buyer, but you can’t presently own a home
- Property must be located in specific census tracts to qualify
- Buyer must occupy home as primary residence after purchase
- The average loan amount is expected to be $45,000
- Once the money is used up, there will be no additional funding
A single homebuyer can’t make more than $3,910/month. A family of 8 can make up to $7,370/month. The money allocated to this program will help roughly two dozen home buyers.
For more details, contact the following:
- Jodi White at City of Redding-225-4173
- Jessaca Lugo or Loree Byzick at City of Shasta Lake-275-7464 or 275-7463
- Torri Glasgow at City of Anderson-245-6431
The goal of the program is to help homebuyers purchase distressed properties which in turn helps prevent neighborhoods from blight caused by neglected vacant homes.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS REAL LIVING
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALES EXPERIENCE
Inventory Of Bank Repo’s On The Rise
FHA LOANS, HOME LOANS, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR BUYERS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
Shasta County has thus far absorbed the onslaught of bank foreclosed homes until just recently. I’ve tracked the number of REO’s (real estate owned), as they are called in real estate jargon, for the past year and the number of these avaiable homes has been relatively stable until Halloween. November marked the beginnining of a steady rise in the number of properties classified as REO’s. Today, 156 properties are listed as active (available) compared to most of the year when that number ranged from 110-120. That represents an increase of about 1/3rd!
First-time buyers and investors have been snapping up these properties soon after they hit the market. In some cases, bidding wars pushed the final selling price above the asking price! Buyers are attracted to these properties like flies to you know what believing they are capitalizing on someone’s loss. Low down or no down payment loans such as FHA and USDA have been used to leverage buyer’s limited cash resources to facilitate a purchase. Out-of-area buyers that largely fueled the run-up in real estate prices during the boom are all but gone. Today’s market is dominated by local Shasta County residents taking advantage of low prices and interest rates.
I wonder though if we have hit a saturation point looking at this significant uptick in available REO inventory. Speculation that banks are sitting on more than a million foreclosed homes could explain this increase. Perhaps banks are lowering the flood gates allowing more foreclosed inventory to hit the market. Banks must closely monitor the impact of listing REO’s for sale as a flood of distressed priced homes in one geographic area will only undermine values of other homes which these same banks hold loans on in these neighborhoods.
Shasta County’s higher than average unemployment rate only exacerbates the problem. Lenders aren’t approving loans for all but the most creditworthy borrowers. Additionally, prospective buyers must have stable and verifiable income to be granted loan approval. There’s talk of upping down payment requirements for the very popular FHA loan program from 3.5% to 5%. Credit score thresholds have been raised a couple of times this year by Fannie Mae to the point those with credit scores below 650 may not qualify for any loan. A local mortgage broker told me this will have a major impact locally where, according to him, the avearge credit scores of borrowers he sees is just over 600.
Indications are 2010 will be another challenging year for all who work in the housing sector. Real estate agents, lenders, appraisers, escrow officers, home inspectors and contractors need to plan for another rough year as our nation nurses the hangover caused by lax oversight of the lending industry.
Many parts of California and the nation are reporting increases in home prices. Don’t expect that to happen here in the Redding/ Shasta County area until foreclosure activity subsides and REO listing inventory decreases to double-digit levels. I predict this will not happen here until 2011-at the earliest!
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
RELTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS REAL LIVING
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL SALES EXPERIENCE
Fannie Mae Offers Foreclosure, Lease-Back Option
HOME LOANS, INDUSTRY NEWS, TIPS FOR SELLERS
Last week, Fannie Mae announced a new program targeting borrowers that can no longer afford their home. In exchange for expediting the foreclosure process the borrower is offered the right to lease back the home for up to a year. This allows the lender to avoid the more costly and time consuming traditional foreclosure process while the borrower gets to stay put and pay fair market rent while creating opportunity for the borrower to regroup financially.
Dubbed the “Deed for Lease” program, after going through a qualifying process and being approved, the borrower would transfer title to Fannie Mae using a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. The advantage to the borrower is this process results in a smaller credit ding than a straight foreclosure, which can damage credit so severely securing a rental is difficult. This option could also be helpful if the borrower works at a job nearby or has children attending area schools.
Some particulars include:
- Must be at least one payment (but not more than 12) behind
- Must have applied for and been denied a loan modification
- Must prove your ability to pay fair market rent (rent can’t exceed 31% of monthly gross income)
Don’t bother applying if you can afford your current mortgage payment but would rather walk away because your property is upside down. Don’t do this because you want to buy the house back when Fannie Mae offers it for sale- your credit is unlikely to be strong enough a year after the deed-in-lieu.
If interested, click below for Fannie Mae’s loan look-up feature to see if your loan is held or insured by them. FHA, VA and other government backed loans are ineligible.
Click here to see if Fannie holds your loan:http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/
The program will not work if:
- Fannie Mae is only a second lienholder
- Borrower can’t get a second loan released
- Borrower has filed for bankruptcy
- Borrower is involved with litigation concerning the property
- Zoning or Homeowner Association rules prohibit renting
Some would argue this program will only prolong the agony of finding the bottom of this current housing market meltdown. I doubt many qualify for this program so the impact, in my opinion, will be negligible. If lenders were to aggressively foreclose and dump distressed properties on the market simultaneously, it could lead to a death spiral of home value erosion creating wave after wave of foreclosures. This program, along with other efforts underway may eventually bring price stability to a battered, but vital, segment of our economy.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS REAL LIVING
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
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