Archive for the 'Mortgage rule changes' Category

Great news for FHA lenders from Congress

June 29th, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) lenders will be exempted from new “risk retention” rules, which is great news for companies who issue loans insured by the government.

National Mortgage News reports that

[t]he legislation finalized by the conference committee late last week would require originators to retain at least 5% of the credit risk in loans they securitize unless the assets meet a “qualified mortgage” test. All loans backed by the FHA, the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Rural Housing Service will automatically meet that test.

This is a complex time to be in the FHA-backed mortgage business, but the opportunities are huge for those who are eager to learn to succeed as branch partners or loan officers.

Frost Mortgage has been a leader in FHA lending since 1991. If you’re looking to step up, take a look at our mortgage partner offering–we think you’ll find it’s the best in the business.

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FHA loans: Net worth timeline, new monthly scorecard

June 22nd, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has been busy recently.

We’ve written before about a move to raise the minimum net worth worth requirements for loan originators. The FHA recently set out a timeline for implementation (MortgageDaily.com; subscription required). Among the requirements is a $1 million net worth for all new FHA applicants, with at least 20 percent being liquid. The timeline was announced in a mortgagee letter.

The new requirements are likely to shake up portions of the mortgage industry, making it all the more important to look for evidence of stability in your potential lending partner (such as Frost Mortgage’s “Full Eagle” status). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our loan officers today–we’ll be happy to talk with you about our qualifications and the depth of our resources.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Treasury Department have announced that they’ll be distributing a monthly “scorecard” on the national housing market, including updates on FHA programs. This should be a good resource for those of us who follow the industry closely and should help  us and our branch partners continue to provide you better service and useful products.

If you’re in the market for a loan, now is a great time thanks to low interest rates, and if you’re considering making a move up in the business, it’s a great time for that as well–Frost Mortgage has one of the best programs in the mortgage industry, and we’ve got the resources to thrive even in an environment like this one.

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Final days for ’seller concessions’

June 1st, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

The writing is on the wall for funds for homebuyers from sellers that can pay for some services and taxes in the transaction. As the Washington Post explains,

Say you’re buying a $200,000 house. If you are using FHA [Federal Housing Administration] financing under current rules, you can structure the contract so that the seller agrees to pay at settlement all closing costs and even the cost of some needed repairs, up to 6 percent of the price, or $12,000. On a $400,000 house, allowable concessions go to $24,000. That’s huge, especially if you have to struggle to come up with a 3.5 percent down payment and you’re not sure where you’ll find the closing and repair money.

Contrast that with using Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac conventional financing, in which seller concessions generally are limited to 3 percent. For many buyers, the extra negotiating flexibility built into the FHA program makes the choice of programs a no-brainer.

Sometime this summer, though, seller concessions will be cut to a maximum 3 percent. The precise timing is unknown because the announcement had not been made in the Federal Register, but the message is clear: Act now if the concession affects your deal.

We can help. Frost Mortgage is a “Full Eagle” FHA expert. Please contact one of our experienced loan officers today and we’ll quickly help you work through any questions. Because at Frost Mortgage, we don’t just close loans–we open doors.

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‘Qualified mortgages’ to be exempt from new risk requirement

June 1st, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

The recent “Wall Street Reform” bill required that 5 percent of a mortgage be retained as a buffer against risk. Fortunately, as National Mortgage Newsreports, a measure passed in May amended that requirement to exempt “qualified mortgages” (subscription required)–those that are generally fully documented and include 20 percent down and mortgage insurance. We agree with Sen. Johnny Isakson, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, who said, “Risk retention is not the cure-all for good lending–underwriting is.”

If you’d like to join a mortgage group that values smart thinking and solid principles like these, please look into our Branch Partner Opportunities. We’re always looking for qualified new partners for this industry-leading offering.

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Appraisals must now be electronic, Fannie says

May 11th, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Fannie Mae has begun mandating that appraisals be delivered by lenders electronically, according to National Mortgage News.

Lenders will have several options for providing the information according to MISMO standards (”the leading technology standards development body for the residential and commercial real estate finance industries, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mortgage Bankers Association”). Smaller lenders may upload PDFs or use the XML format using a Web portal, while larger lenders may work
directly with Fannie’s chosen technology provider, Veros Real Estate Solutions.

According to one analyst, “the migration to the newly adopted valuation standards will largely be invisible to the lending community on the origination side” but is expected to have significant impacts on secondary markets.

Are you a top producer who follows news like this? If so, visit our site and find out why our Branch Partner Opportunities are among the best in the business. Come see why we don’t just close loans, we open doors.

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HUD close to higher minimum net worth for lenders

May 10th, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

A new letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) outlines plans to raise minimum net worth requirements for prospective FHA mortgagees (MortgageDaily.com; subscription required).

The minimum net worth requirement had been $250,000 since 1993. Within the next few days, the amount will change to $1 million, though existing lenders will have one year to meet the new requirements.

Frost Mortgage has some of the best Branch Partner and Loan Officer offerings in the business. If the new requirements have you looking at platforms that can help you continue to be a top producer, give us a call–we don’t just close loans, we open doors.

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FHA: Reverse mortgage support is crucial

May 4th, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Reverse mortgage programs operated by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) require help to continue, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) told a House subcommittee recently, Reverse Mortgage Daily reports.

In testimony, an FHA assistant secretary said that, without support, HUD will be forced to more drastically cut principal limit factors (PLFs), which “would significantly reduce the amount of funds that would be available to seniors (more than 30%), which is on average a $23,000 to $27,000 impact.”

We know what a reverse mortgage can mean to older members of our community. As a full eagle licensed FHA lender, Frost Mortgage is a great choice for your reverse mortgage questions. Please, contact us today and find out why we don’t just close mortgages–we open doors.

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Positive news for insured loans

May 3rd, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Private mortgage insurers are coming back to the market, the Los Angeles Times reports, even as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is pulling back.

Private insurers had almost completely left the sector. Last year, the Times reported, the FHA insured roughly 30 percent of low-down-payment (less than 20 percent down) single-family loans; 10 percent would be considered appropriate. The FHA has also raised down-payment requirements on insured loans.

The move by the private insurers, though, signals increased confidence about the economy, the Times notes.

Changes are happening fast, and it remains a great time to consider a Net Branch Partner opportunity. Please contact us today and learn why our offering is among the best in the business.

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Single loans will be open for securitization

April 28th, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Smaller lenders will get a boost in July when Ginnie Mae begins insuring the securitization of single loans, as opposed to only the bundles it will insure now. Current rules favor the largest lenders, according to the Washington Post.

The FHA will also issue loans on a daily rather than a weekly basis.

Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan made the announcements at a conference hosted by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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Owners get help in choosing short sale over foreclosure

April 23rd, 2010

Written by Frost Mortgage

Homeowners will now have
incentives to agree to a short sale (the process of selling for less than is
owed on a home) thanks to new federal rules instituted earlier this month. A
foreclosure hurts an owner’s credit rating for longer than a short sale will,
and the new rules make the choice easier by quickly setting bounds on the
minimum the home will be sold for. Lenders win because they lose only about 19
percent on a short sale as opposed to 40 percent on a foreclosure. Owners also
receive more in moving expenses and potentially in closing costs through the
FHA.

As experts in the field of FHA loans, we pay close attention to these
developments. Are you a Broker/Owner or Producing Branch Manager who is as
interested as we are in these issues? If so, take a look at Frost Mortgage for
net branch opportunities. We think you’ll find that
our Branch Partner
opportunities are the best in the business. We look forward to talking with
you.

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