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Why do I need mortgage insurance??

Why do I need mortgage insurance?

When buying a home, and getting a home loan, being approved or not all comes down to risk. If the mortgage company thinks you are a good risk, you get the loan. If you are too risky, you get denied. Pretty simple concept.

A good example of this concept is down payment size.  If you put at least 20% down, you are considered a good risk. Put less than 20% down, you are high risk. Needless to say, not everyone can put 20% or more down payment.

To minimize the lenders risk on small down payment loans, but yet allow for these same small and more affordable down payments, a tool called mortgage insurance, commonly referred to as PMI, or private mortgage insurance is available.

The insurance policy you are required to obtain and pay for as part of your monthly mortgage payment essentially provides protection to the lender in case you default on the loan, and covers the lender for the amount between 20% down and what you actually put down.

The cost of the mortgage insurance depends on multiple factors, but primarily down payment size, credit scores, and loan type.

The smaller your down payment, the higher the mortgage insurance costs. The lower your credit score, the higher the costs.  For example, A client with 10% down and an 800 credit score on a 30-yr fixed loan might pay about $30 a month per $100,000 loan amount for mortgage insurance. The same 10% down, but a client with just a 640 credit score might pay as much as $105 per month per $100,000 loan.

Contact your loan officer for exact monthly costs for your individual situation and down payment size, as this article covers basic and most common situations, but does not encompass every possible situation.

Typicaly standard PMI will automatically fall off your loan once you reach 78% of the original loan amount with no interaction from the homeowner. It is simply automatic.

You can request to have mortgage insurance removed from your loan once you believe you are at 80% of the original loan. The 80% mark can be based on a combination of paying down the loan, and today’s appraised value.  For example, you put 5% down when you bought the house, you’ve paid down through payments another 5%, and the home has appreciated 14% since you bought it.  That would put you ate 76% loan-to-value. So contact your lender on their proceedure to have mortgage insurance dropped.

Must Deal With Mortgage Insurance

If you are putting down less than 20%, you MUST deal with mortgage insurance somehow. Other than monthly mortgage insurance, lenders can also offer more creative options. The most popular is known as ‘lender paid mortgage insurance’, where the lender increases your interest rate, and uses the extra money to buy mortgage insurance. You still have it, but it doesn’t show as a monthly cost.

The next is known as ‘single premium’ insurance. Under this option, you pay a one time lump sum amount up-front at closing equal to 3-years of monthly mortgage insurance.

The last option, is getting two loans. An 80% first mortgage, and a second mortgage to cover the difference from what you have for down payment. This is a viable option primarily for high credit, low risk clients, and for jumbo loans over $424,100.

While these options may sound enticing, for most people, balancing up-front costs, long-term versus short-term costs, and overall benefits based on individual situations can become a mind numbing challenge.  Suffice to say the vast majority of people go with standard monthly mortgage insurance for a reason.

FHA Loan Mortgage Insurance

FHA loans also have mortgage insurance, but this insurance is significantly different from conventional loan mortgage insurance.

Most people using FHA loans put the minimum down payment of 3.50%, and take a 30-yr fixed loan. Most FHA mortgage insurance is the same for everyone regardless of down payment size or credit score.  For small down payments, this is roughly $85 per month per $100,000 loan amount.Next, FHA mortgage insurance for small down payments is called ‘Life of Loan’ insurance, which means regardless of future loan-to-value, appreciation, or what you’ve paid down, FHA mortgage insurance never goes away. The only way to remove it is to refinace the loan.

Another item with FHA loans, is that regardless of down payment size, ALL FHA loans will have insurance. So contact your loan officer for exact monthly costs for your individual FHA insurance, especially if you are putting more than 10% down or picking a 15-year loan.

PMI is Not Homeowners Insurance

Mortgage insurance often times gets confused with home owners insurance.  PMI protects the lender from default, while home owners insurance protects the owner for items like fire, storm damage, theft, etc.

VA Loans Have NO Mortgage Insurance

If you are active or former U.S. military, you have a great benefit in a VA Home Loan. Most people know VA loans generally do NOT require a down payment, they also have NO monthly mortgage insurance.  This can be a huge monthly savings over other loans.

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Author Joe Metzler is a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer for Minnesota based Cambria Mortgage. He was named the 2014 Minnesota Loan Officer of the Year, and Top 300 Loan Officers in the Nation for 2010, 2015, 2016.  He provides Home Mortgage Loans in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD. He can be reached at (651) 552-3681. NMLS 274132.

Buy a MN Home for as little as $1,000

YES, you CAN buy a home with as little as $1,000homeowners

First Time Home buyer? Down payment and closing cost assistance is available in Minnesota

Lack of down payment money is the biggest problem for most people wanting to buy a house.  Cambria Mortgage has an amazing program to help most modest income families achieve the dream.

1) Be a first time home buyer (or not owned a home in the past three years)
2) Have a 640 or higher credit score
3) For a family of one or two, make less than $82,900 a year in the metro area
For a family of three or more, make less than $95,335 a year in the metro area
4) Buy a home under $310,000 in the metro area
5) Put “at least” $1,000 of your own money into the transaction.

Of course you still have to meet basic conventional, FHA, or VA loan guidelines.

Loans available for up to 5% of purchase price for down payment and closing costs.

Learn more at http://mnhomesandloans.com/mhfa-startup-program.html

 

20% down NOT needed to buy a home in Minnesota

Minnesota Down Payment mortgage loansSt Paul, MN:   Question.  How much money do you think you need to put down to buy a home?

If you answered anything higher than ZERO, your answer is wrong!

Would it surprise you to learn that most people can get a mortgage with a great rate with just 3.5% down, and in some cases, zero down?  For most people, it is about the same amount of money you would spend on the first month, last month, and damage deposit on a rental property… but now, it is your home.

For some strange reason, the myth you need a huge down payment persists.  It simply isn’t true, yet I hear it all the time. I think it is because we hear it on TV.  I know I have. This is mostly from the talking heads on either coast. Many of those areas are what is known as “high cost” locations.  Anytime you go over $417,000 – you are now a jumbo loan, and jumbo loans are typically 20% down.  But for the rest of us…  Heck no, just 3.5% down!

  • FHA Loans are very popular, and only require 3.5% down
  • Good credit conventional loans only require 5% down
  • VA loans are zero down
  • USDA rural housing loans, for rural parts of the country, are zero down
  • Community programs can many times be used for your down payment to effectively get you zero down

Don’t let misinformation derail your dream of home ownership. Contact a local licensed mortgage professional to get pre-approved today.  Once approved, contact a great Real Estate Agent to find your dream home!

 

Average Home Buyer Numbers

fico_graphMinneapolis, MN:  According to a recent information from EllieMae, the average mortgage customer today has the following status:

  • Average credit score: 743
  • Average down payment: 19%
  • Average housing debt ratio: 25% of income
  • Average overall debt ratio: 35% of income
  • Average score of a denied client: 702

Where do you fit?

Do NOT let this fool you.  I was rather shocked to read this information. That doesn’t sound like my average customer!

Best advice? Contact a local licensed mortgage professional.  Provide them with a full application, and let them determine if you qualify for a mortgage loan with your credit score, your income, and your down payment size.

Low down payment mortgage loans on the rise

hammer_bankMore mortgage lenders are offering conventional loans with down payments well below the 20% or higher levels of recent years.

In another sign of the housing market’s brightening outlook, more home buyers are discovering conventional loans with down payments well below the 20% or higher levels of recent years.

Until recently, many borrowers had to go through a government guaranteed loan program, such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA Loans) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA Loans), to get a mortgage with less than a 10% down payment.

READ THE FULL STORY ON USA TODAY

Stop Renting – First Time Home buyer myths

STOP RENTING. No more excuses. Go buy a home!

The housing market has changed dramatically, and everyone should be taking advantage of some of the most affordable home prices, and lowest mortgage rates in history. You may be hearing a lot in the news today that in some markets it is cheaper to own than it is do rent. It’s true!

Stop listening to the doom and gloom drum beat the media plays. Bad news sell newspapers, so that is the spin they like to portray.

Common myths and misconceptions may be holding you back but shouldn’t.

  • My credit is not the best at this present moment: OK then stop delaying and start on the path to improve your credit scores. The vast majority of people can turn bad credit to good credit in less than a year – IF YOU WORK ON IT.
  • I do not have money for a down payment. Did you know you can buy a home worth $100,000 with just $3500 down payment?   There are many acceptable sources of down payment. Savings, 401k retirement plan, sale something, tax refund, or even a gift from a relative.
  • I do not feel comfortable with the economy:  WHO DOES?  But you have to live somewhere, so make that somewhere a place of your own?
  • I don’t think I will qualify for a mortgage: It takes just a few minutes for a licensed mortgage Loan Officer to review your basic information. There are no obligations, and you are committing yourself to nothing by talking to a Minneapolis, St Paul, or Duluth MN area mortgage lender. It really isn’t  as scary as some people think being a first time home buyer.

You DON’T need 20% down to buy a home!

Do I need 20% down payment to buy a home?

I saw it again on the news this morning.  Some talking head “Real Estate Expert” was telling the national audience that lenders require 20% down payment.

Generally speaking, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and needing 20% down is a huge misconception in the marketplace today. For the average home buyer, there are numerous options for obtaining financing with less than 20% down.

DON”T ASSUME! Contact a local licensed mortgage loan officer and let them professionally review your individual situation. Click here to learn how to shop for a lender.

NO DOWN PAYMENT OPTIONS:

VA Financing – Here is a big thank you from the government. As a Vet, you are eligible for zero down payment, 100% financing on a home purchase. You either need to be an active or honorably discharged member of the armed forces or national guard. The seller can pay your closing costs and there is no mortgage insurance, saving you a lot of money monthly on your home. Click here for more information on VA home loans.

USDA/Rural Development – The Guaranteed USDA program offers zero down payment 100% financing for qualified borrowers purchasing a home in a rural area.  There are many locations just outside of major metropolitan areas that are eligible for this program.  The program has household income restrictions for their program, so Click here to see if the area you’re looking is USDA Rural Development eligible and if you income qualify.

LOW DOWN PAYMENT OPTIONS:

FHA Financing – FHA offers home loans with as little as 3.5% down.  FHA has no income limits for the household, but does have loan limits, based on the county in which you are purchasing the home.  Click here to check on the limits for your area.  FHA is one of the more lenient programs in regards to qualifying, and the down payment can be received as a gift from an eligible source (parents, state or local program, etc).

Local and State Bond Money Programs – Many states and even some larges cities have down payment assistance programs that can be used in conjunction primarily with an FHA loan. These programs vary widely, but if available in your area, are a great tool for those who qualify. Contact a local lender to inquire what programs may be available in the area you want to buy a home.

Conventional Financing – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both still offer programs with as little as 3% down.  For example, FannieMae offers HomePath financing on eligible FannieMae foreclosures.  For those with acceptable credit, many conventional loans are available with just 5% down.

WHO NEEDS 20% DOWN?

  • Investment properties typically require at least 20% down
  • JUMBO loans, which are loans generally over $417,000, generally require at least 20% down