New jumbo conforming loan limits will be lower

As you may know, loan limits are now as follows: conforming loan limits are $417,000, and jumbo conforming limits are $729,750. These limits will expire soon. The last day to lock a rate at these limits is December 1; the last day a loan can fund at these rates is December 10 (thanks, Dana). The new limits have not been confirmed yet, but it looks like the jumbo conforming limit will drop to $625,000.

And more news from FHA: the minimum downpayment will rise to 3-1/2% from 3%. Right now, FHA interest rates are over 7%. Yikes! Are they trying to kill us?

Good news for buyers and sellers...

Even though there is turmoil in the financial markets, there are still loans to be had with small down payments. A buyer needs only 3% down for a conforming FHA loan and the seller can contribute up to 3% in closing costs. Other loans can be obtained with only 5% down.

And, interest rates are down a little bit. They are still fluctuating, but nobody expects much of a rise there over the next few weeks.

"Stated income" loans are also still possible. These are loans for people who don't get a regular paycheck, are self-employed, or small business owners, etc. A buyer needs 2 years' worth of tax returns and good credit to qualify.

So, if you need to buy a home now, you might find the lending possibilities to be broader than you thought.

Lenders aren't listening. What a surprise.

For your Sunday morning reading pleasure, here's an article from the New York Times' Business section. No, it's not about Fannie, Freddie or IndyMac. It's about how impossible it is to get in touch with your lender to arrange a work-out on your mortgage. The article is long, but it contains lots of anecdotes, and I've heard stories like this from several people here. I've already blogged about how long it's taking to arrange a short sale, especially with Countrywide -- same thing here. The lenders are just not equipped to deal with what's going on.

Also for your reading pleasure, here's today's NYT Ben Stein's column. It's about applying investing advice to your love life. Why didn't I get this guy before?

Did you see me on the news last night?

If you saw Fox 11 news at 10 last night, or the Channel 13 news at 11, you saw an interview with me about the Countrywide lawsuit. I received a call from a reporter yesterday afternoon regarding this, and they met me at an early evening showing. I was quoted as saying that Countrywide gave away loans like candy, and anybody who could fog a mirror could get a loan. I also said that while Countrywide is the biggest mortgage lender who engaged in dubious loan practices, they were certainly not the only ones. I said more but it was edited down to sound bites, of course.

Return of the 10% Loans

10% loans are back for conforming loans (up to $417,000) and for some jumbo-conforming (up to $729,000) and jumbo (over $729,000) loans. Most programs, however, do require full documentation and good credit scores, and very few allow "stated income" documentation. I'm told that Countrywide has a 10% program without mortgage insurance. That's the first I've ever heard of that, although I'm also told the rate is higher. While we're on the subject, here's a clarification: although in recent months many people have referred to "stated income" loans as "liar" loans, that's not necessarily the truth. Most people who are w-2'd by their employers can easily get full documentation loans. Most folks (like me) who are independent contractors, have their own businesses, and/or receive 1099s instead of w-2s are "stated income" buyers as their income can change year to year.

New Loan Restrictions on New Condo Complexes

This is a rumor, but if it's true, it's not so great news for condo developers: As of May 1, Countrywide will not fund any purchase money loans for condos in developments that aren't at least already 50% sold. For example, if you'd like to buy a condo in a new development with, say, 40 units, at least 20 units need to be already sold for you to get a loan from Countrywide. Okay, you may not want a loan from Countrywide (who would?) but this is just another restriction on your choice of lenders. And if Countrywide is going this way, expect the rest of the lending industry to follow.

Difficult Loans for 2nd Properties

Mortgage loans are still hard to get. I won't name names or give addresses here, but an escrow of mine just bombed. The buyer already owns a home and wants to downsize. He was in escrow on a smaller house and planned on renting out the house he currently owns and occupies. The underwriter didn't like that somebody who wasn't retired wanted to downsize without selling, and would only approve the purchase as investment property.

So what's the problem? Investment property requires a down payment of more than 20%. My buyer had 20%, but not more. And the interest rate was higher. Bye bye escrow. While my buyer is pretty philosophical, the people who are really hurt here are the sellers. They are not in good health and were counting on the sale proceeds for help.

Raising Conforming Limits, Part 2

What's taking the new, lower interest rates so long to arrive? In part, the details have still not been worked out from last month's passage of the economic stimulus bill. Apparently, the first step will be determining median home prices. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has been given 30 days to publish median-home-price data from the date of the bill signing, so we should see those numbers in the next week. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac still need to determine their criteria for guaranteeing the loans, too. In other words, these agencies will need to decide about minimum downpayments, borrower's credit histories, and fees. Sigh. Hang in there, borrowers.

Where are all the great new interest rates?

Okay, the economic stimulus package has passed. Where are all the great new interest rates for home loans? Lender Dana tells me we probably won't see reduced rates for 30+ days. Rats.

Good news on interest rates and loan limits

This just in, and it's good news. What it means: conforming loan limits are currently at $417,000. Home buyers who can get those loans can also get really low interest rates -- 5.15%! A rise in the loan limits really helps us here in CA, where most houses cost more than $417,000, by lowering monthly payments considerably.
Note: not a signed law yet!
Bush, Lawmakers Say Accord Reached on Stimulus Plan (Update2)
2008-01-24 14:15 (New York)
By Roger Runningen and Laura Litvan
Jan. 24 (Bloomberg) -- The Bush administration and House
lawmakers announced agreement on an economic stimulus package
that would distribute rebate checks to 117 million families and
give businesses incentives to invest in equipment...The accord includes a provision allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the largest U.S. mortgage finance companies, to temporarily buy mortgages of up to $625,000, exceeding a $417,000
federal limit...

Mortgage Rate Freeze - Don't Get Excited Yet

Okay, the major financial institutions may be freezing the interest rate on some adjustable rate mortgages. If you have one of these, don't get excited yet -- the freezes will be only for certain "eligible" borrowers who have demonstrated that they can't pay the reset interest rate. If you're already in trouble, you don't qualify. The estimate is that only 12% of all ARM borrowers will be eligible. This is good news, however, for the few families who will now not be homeless within the next six months.

Fannie Mae to increase limits?

This article from September 21's L.A. Times Business section is great. This could be HUGE for the local lending markets, as most Southern California loans are "jumbo" loans. Right now, the conforming loan limit is $417,000.
Regulators cautious on housing fix
They acknowledge potential benefits of letting Fannie and Freddie buy bigger loans but also urge restraint.
From Reuters
September 21, 2007
WASHINGTON -- -- The top two U.S. economic policymakers told a House panel on Thursday that allowing the biggest home finance companies to buy larger loans could ease mortgage market strains but the move should be coupled with tighter regulation of the firms.Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. dropped some of their resistance to expanding the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and said the companies could help restore funding for the largest home loans, which has dried up.Paulson told the House Financial Services Committee that he could support letting the two government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs, temporarily invest in so-called jumbo loans, or those above their current $417,000 limit, as part of a broader regulatory overhaul."There is little question that allowing the GSEs to securitize jumbo mortgages would give a short-term lift, which would be helpful to a segment of the housing market," he said.Rising defaults on sub-prime mortgages that had been extended to risky U.S. borrowers have set off a global chain reaction of tightening credit, and jumbo mortgages, even to prime borrowers, have been among the casualties....The chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have the support of numerous congressional allies, also appeared before the committee and repeated their calls for more freedom to invest in jumbo loans. Rates on new jumbo mortgages have risen sharply in recent weeks as lenders have found few investors willing to take them off their hands...Fannie and Freddie's regulator, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, on Wednesday loosened some limits on the companies' investment holdings in the hope they could do more to provide liquidity in the sub-prime market...Frank and the companies' other supporters on Capitol Hill have suggested that lifting the cap on GSE investment holdings and raising the loan limit size could ease market strains.