Help for those whose house is worth less than their mortgage
FHA LAUNCHES SHORT REFI OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERWATER HOMEOWNERS
Effort designed to encourage principal write-downs for responsible borrowers
WASHINGTON – In an effort to help responsible homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than the value of their property, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today provided details on the adjustment to its refinance program which was announced earlier this year that will enable lenders to provide additional refinancing options to homeowners who owe more than their home is worth. Starting September 7, 2010, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will offer certain ‘underwater’ non-FHA borrowers who are current on their existing mortgage and whose lenders agree to write off at least ten percent of the unpaid principal balance of the first mortgage, the opportunity to qualify for a new FHA-insured mortgage.
The FHA Short Refinance option is targeted to help people who owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth – or ‘underwater’ – because their local markets saw large declines in home values. Originally announced in March, these changes and other programs that have been put in place will help the Administration meet its goal of stabilizing housing markets by offering a second chance to up to 3 to 4 million struggling homeowners through the end of 2012.
“We’re throwing a life line out to those families who are current on their mortgage and are experiencing financial hardships because property values in their community have declined,” said FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens. “This is another tool to help overcome the negative equity problem facing many responsible homeowners who are looking to refinance into a safer, more secure mortgage product.”
Today, FHA published a mortgagee letter to provide guidance to lenders on how to implement this new enhancement. Participation in FHA’s refinance program is voluntary and requires the consent of all lien holders. To be eligible for a new loan, the homeowner must owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth and be current on their existing mortgage. The homeowner must qualify for the new loan under standard FHA underwriting requirements and have a credit score equal to or greater than 500. The property must be the homeowner’s primary residence. And the borrower’s existing first lien holder must agree to write off at least 10% of their unpaid principal balance, bringing that borrower’s combined loan-to-value ratio to no greater than 115%.
In addition, the existing loan to be refinanced must not be an FHA-insured loan, and the refinanced FHA-insured first mortgage must have a loan-to-value ratio of no more than 97.75 percent. Interested homeowners should contact their lenders to determine if they are eligible and whether the lender agrees the write down a portion of the unpaid principal.
To facilitate the refinancing of new FHA-insured loans under this program, the U.S. Department of Treasury will provide incentives to existing second lien holders who agree to full or partial extinguishment of the liens. To be eligible, servicers must execute a Servicer Participation Agreement (SPA) with Fannie Mae, in its capacity as financial agent for the United States, on or before October 3, 2010.
For more information, you may contact me at 651.247.1718 or by email at nancyup@kw.com. http://www.nancyup.com
Written by nannersu
August 11, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Posted in contracts for deed, credit rating to own a home, home ownership, home ownership in the Twin Cities, homes for rent in Mahtomedi School Distrct, Homes for rent in St Paul area, Homes for rent in the Twin Cities, Homes for rent in Washington County, homes for rent in White Bear Lake, homes for sale in Dellwood, homes for sale in Grant, homes for sale in Lake Elmo, homes for sale in Mahtomedi, homes for sale in Pine Springs, homes for sale in St. Paul, homes for sale in the Twin Cities, Homes for sale in Washington County, homes for sale in White Bear Lake, Homes in Dellwood, homes in Mahtomedi school district, homes in Mahtomedi school district, homes in St. Paul MN, homes in the Twin Cities, houses for sale in Dellwood, houses for sale in Grant, houses for sale in Lake Elmo, houses for sale in Mahtomedi, houses for sale in Pine Springs, houses for sale in White Bear Lake, how to own a home, mahtomedi school district, MN, Real Estate, real estate for sale in Dellwood, real estate for sale in Grant, real estate for sale in Mahtomedi School District, real estate for sale in North Oaks, short sales in Mahtomedi, Uncategorized
Tagged with dellwood, grant, homes, mahtomedi, north oaks, real estate, white bear lake
Leave a comment