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Your house is NOT worth what YOU think it is

Your house is NOT worth what YOU think.

Minneapolis, MN:  We’ve all had to listen to someone who, regardless of what the professionals tell them, simply believe their house is worth more than everyone else’s home.

Just because you reclaimed wood from the bottom of the Amazon River, put in a $50,000 landscape job, or installed super top end granite counter-tops, and just about any other high end item installed in your house;  doesn’t mean potential buyers of your home are willing to shell out extra money for it.

Most potential buyers generally don’t care if you spent $30,000 in your kitchen, or $80,000 in the kitchen.  Most buyers are only going to offer you what they feel the home is worth compared to similar homes down the street.

Keep in mind, that if you build a custom home, or add expensive upgrades to the home, do it because you love it, not because you expect to get the money back when you sell. The more unique the home, the smaller the pool of potential buyers.

Of course because I am a mortgage lender, I need to talk a little about refinance appraisals too.  Essentially many of the same items apply to the value of your home during a refinance.  The appraiser is going to look at same or similar homes in your area to determine your value too.  The new roof and windows are maintenance that PREVENTS your home from losing value.  Not improvements to increase value.

You are always better to be the lowest value home in a high value neighborhood than the other way around.

Your home is not worth what YOU think it is, it is worth what others think it is.

Minneapolis, MN:  We’ve all had to listen to someone who, regardless of what the professionals tell them, simply belive their house is worth more than everyone else’s home.

Just because you reclaimed wood from the bottom of the Amazon River, put in a $50,000 landscape job, or installed super top end granite counter-tops, and just about any other high end item installed in your house;  doesn’t mean potential buyers of your home are willing to shell out extra money for it.

Most potential buyers generally don’t care if you spent $30,000 in your kitchen, or $80,000 in the kitchen.  Most buyers are only going to offer you what they feel the home is worth compared to similar homes down the street.

Keep in mind, that if you build a custom home, or add expensive upgrades to the home, do it because you love it, not because you expect to get the money back when you sell. The more unique the home, the smaller the pool of potential buyers.

Of course because I am a mortgage lender, I need to talk a little about refinance appraisals too.  Essentially many of the same items apply to the value of your home during a refinance.  The appraiser is going to look at same or similar homes in your area to determine your value too.  The new roof and windows are maintenance that PREVENTS your home from losing value.  Not improvements to increase value.

You are always better to be the lowest value home in a high value neighborhood than the other way around.

So what IS your home worth? It is only worth what others think it is, and what an appraiser says it is.

How higher mortgage rates effect you

Minneapolis, MN: Face it, The super low mortgage interest rates are gone. Higher mortgage rates are here already, and it is very unlikely we will see them go back down anytime soon. Rather, it is anticipated that we should see 30-yr fixed rates into the mid 5% range by the middle of 2018.

mortgage interest rates up

HIGHER RATES = LESS BUYING POWER

As interest rates creep up, your buying power, or the maximum house price you can afford, goes down. As a ballpark quick way to think about it, every rate increase of 1% will lower the maximum house price by 10%.

A $225,000 loan at 3.75% is $1042 a month on a 30-yr fixed, while the same $225,000 loan at 4.50% is $1140, or $98.00 more per month. Another way of looking at it, is you would have to get a $206,000 loan to equal the same payment as the 3.75% rate on a $225,000 loan.

While neither of these should be deal killers for anyone looking to buy a home, it clearly has an effect on buying power, especially for First Time Home Buyers. So don’t delay, buy a home now while before anymore Fed rate hikes eat into your buying power.

For loans in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, contact us today to discuss home financing options, or just get started with a quick, no obligation online loan application.

—— Fine print —
Rates samples only. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Any such offer may only be made in accordance with the requirements of MN stat. Sec 47.206 (3) and (4). Cambria Mortgage. 33 Wentworth Ave, St Paul, MN 55118. Equal Housing Lender. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates, guidelines subject to change without prior notice. All loans subject to credit and property approval. Not all products available in all states or areas. Other restrictions and limitations apply. Licensed in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD. NMLS ID #322798. 

Is Trump good for home loans?

Is President Trump good for home loans?

Minneapolis, MN: Its only been two weeks, but clearly the new Trump Administration is driving a different road from the past administration. Only time will tell what this all means for real estate and home mortgage loans, but here are a few observations, most relating to a reduction in regulations.

After the housing collapse, legislators and regulators came down hard on the mortgage industry under the false belief that if you could fog a mirror, you automatically got a loan.  While guidelines were looser, and third party verification of documents supplied by home buyer were lax, NO LENDER ‘knowingly‘ let the french fry guy at McDonald’s buy a million dollar home.

Were there a few bad players? Yes, But think of it more as it was easy to beat the system, as opposed to everyone in the mortgage world was a crook.

The Frank-Dodd financial reform laws, and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put the hammer down on many industries, not just mortgages. Of all the new regulations, only a few actually made a difference and make sense. The rest have cause home buyer costs to rise dramatically, added huge paperwork and delays to closing, and ultimately left many good people unable to buy homes because of unintended consequences.

It is expected that the Trump administration will go after many of the Frank-Dodd financial reform rules, and seek to reign in the CFPB, resulting in fewer rules, regulations, and paperwork. Meaning lower costs for home buyers, quicker closings, and less hassle to get a home mortgage loan.

A prime example is the CFPB designed a new ‘Loan Estimate‘, which replaced the ‘new’ Good Faith Estimate, which replaced the old Good Faith Estimate that existed since 1972. Today my clients are more confused than ever over the document and disclosures.

A second example is Loan Officers themselves. The rules put into place after the crash REQUIRE non-bank Loan Officers to go to school, pass difficult state and federal testing, and have mandatory continuing education. Sounds great, but Loan Officers at depository lenders (banks, credit unions, and lenders owned by banks or credit unions) DO NOT have to pass the same requirements of the S.A.F.E. Act. Don’t they all do the same thing? Why to bank Loan Officers not have to go to school, pass federal testing, or meet the same educational requirements?

Another example is that over the past 10-years, and especially the past 5-years, many lenders have pulled away from writing FHA loans. While not just for first time buyers, those are the people who primary use FHA loans. This was done because the Obama administration went after lenders from every angle under the False Claims Act for any minor error in FHA underwriting. Failing to cross even the most minor T, or dot the smallest I could have, and did,  leave lenders with huge multi-million dollar settlements paid to the government.

I’m all for slapping the hands of people doing blatantly wrong things. But lenders are not stupid. If the government is going to come after you for minor items, why bother.  It isn’t worth it. Those still offering FHA loans charge higher rates than needed to new buyers to offset anticipated government lawsuits. Someone has to pay those lawsuits, and it has simply been pass on to the consumer.

It is expected the Trump administration will have the CFPB and the Justice Department back off of their overzealous pursuit of lenders.

A smart balance of less unnecessary regulation, less paperwork, and a positive attitude towards business should be good for mortgage loans, the financial markets, home owners, and the country in general. It is way too early to tell, but lets all pray the county goes in a good direction.

FHA mortgage insurance lowered

FHA lowers monthly mortgage insurance

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UPDATE to this UPDATE:

The reduction in FHA mortgage Insurance has been (at least) temporarily paused before ever actually going into effect.

The FHA mortgage insurance rate reduction came as a giant unanticipated surprise to all of us in the mortgage world. I guess I should have figured something was up, as it appears the reduction was part of Washington’s political games.

The outgoing Obama administration people made the surprise reduction announcement with only days remaining in office. As soon as the Trump administration was sworn in, they immediately put the reduction on hold, stating it was irresponsible, and needed to be evaluated. This allowed the former administration to run around claiming how horrible the new administration was.  Errr….

Personally, I think it is a bunch of crap that these people play with home owners, the mortgage industry, and the real estate industry, regardless of what side of the political fence you stand.

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Minneapolis, MN: HUD/FHA has announced that the required monthly FHA mortgage insurance costs are dropping with any new FHA loan closing January 27, 2017 and after.fha loans, fha update, fha mortgage insurance

For most FHA home buyers, this will mean a drop from .85% monthly, to just .60% monthly.

On a $200,000 loan, that means a monthly savings of $41.00 a month!

Combine the new lower FHA mortgage insurance, with the fact that FHA interest rates roughly 1/2% LOWER than conforming loans, and it is no wonder our FHA loans are so popular!

How to calculate FHA monthly mortgage insurance:

Take the loan amount times the insurance factor, then divide by 12
Example: Loan amount X .0060 / 12 = $ Monthly MI
$200,000 X .0060 / 12 = $100 a month

Visit my FHA LOAN ​page for more details, or dial 651-552-3681

FHA Loans, FHA Lender in MN, WI, SD

 

Low down payment, no down payment loan options for 2017

Minneapolis, MN:  Just 10-years ago, 30-year fixed rates were 6.125%, and the real estate market was hot. With rising interest rates, 2017 may be a bit more challenging for home buyers. But the biggest challenge for most people who wish to buy a home is down payment.

You do not need 20% down payment to buy a home! I repeat, you do not need 20%. This large down payment myth has been around forever, but it simply isn’t true for the vast majority of people buying their first primary residence. There are many program that allow for no down payment, or low down payment. Some jumbo loans buyers (loans over $424,100 in most parts of the county), as will people buying investment properties will usually need a large down payment. But for the rest of us, there are many low down payment, no down payment loan options for 2017.

First Time home buyers, Down Payment Assistance

First Time Home Buyer programs:

The term first time home buyer program covers a wide net of potential programs and options. To be a first time home buyer, you simply must not have owned a home in the past three-years. If you owned a home in the past, but it has been longer than three-years, you are a first time home buyer again. Some options allow for lower rates, cheaper mortgage insurance, and even down payment assistance. Most come with additional strings attached, like household income requirements, lower debt to income requirements, and that you must take first time home buyer education classes.

FHA Loans:

FHA backed loans are very popular, and only require a small 3.50% down payment. The down payment can be your own money (checking/savings/retirement), a gift from a family member, or can come from a down payment assistance program. FHA loans are more forgiving than other loans, for example allowing just a two-year waiting period if you have a previous bankruptcy, and a three-year waiting period after a previous foreclosure. Maximum loan limits apply based on the medium income of the county the property will be located.  Check FHA Loan Limits

Conventional 97 Loans:

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer a 3% down payment program.  The down payment can be your own money (checking/savings/retirement), or a gift from a family member. This is a great program, especially for those with higher credit scores, or homes that need a little TLC that might not pass FHA loan inspections.

Conventional HomeReady™ Loans:

Fannie Mae offers an additional 3% down loan called HomeReady for first time home buyers. You need to take a home buyer education class, but you’ll be rewarded with lower interest rates, and lower mortgage insurance than the standard 3% down conventional loan.

Conventional 95 Loans:

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer a basic 5% down payment program.  This is your everyday, plain vanilla mortgage loan available to everyone.

VA Loans (100% financing):

Available for active or retired U.S. Military personal, the VA loan is truly one of the best benefits this country offers for your service. The VA loan is a no down payment program, and also has no mortgage insurance whatsoever. This is a huge savings per month over any other low or no down payment loan. Closing costs can be rolled into the loan, making for a home purchase, that for most people, is about as close to zero money out of pocket to buy a home as you’ll ever get.

USDA Rural Housing (100% financing):

Available to those wishing to buy in more rural areas of the country, the USDA Rural Development loan does not require a down payment. While the loan does have mortgage insurance, the cost is very low compared to other loans.  You need to meet household income, and property location requirements.

Down Payment Assistance:

Down payment assistance comes in many different flavors from neighbors, city, county, and even state programs. Welcome first time home buyers. Apply onlineGenerally these are in the form of a loan that needs to eventually be paid back, but there are a very small number that are actually forgiven if you live in the home a set period (like 9-years or longer). The assistance loan can be combined with a standard loan, like an FHA loan, to be used for down payment. Household income, and property location are common requirements.

The Bottom Line:

If want to own your own home, you have OK or better credit, a stable income, and at least a little money in the bank, by all means, you should apply for a home loan. Your Loan Officer will review your loan application, then go over the various program to see what programs you qualify for, how much house you can buy, what the payments might look like, and finally, how much cash you may, or may not need to put it all together.

Best case, you’ll be in your own home sooner than you thought.  Worse case, your Loan Officer will go over what you need to do to be in position to buy a home in the near future.  Either way, a win win for you.

Sharp spike in mortgage rates hurting real estate sales?

Saint Paul, MN: A sharp spike in mortgage rates since the Presidential election is showing minor signs of hurting home sales.

Mortgage interest rates have jumped from around 3.625% for the weeks leading up to the election, and now are averaging about 4.125% for the best clients on a standard 30-yr fixed rate loan.images999888

This quick jump does psycological damage for anyone currently in the market who were initially quoted the lower rates. But most buyers are not going to stop looking over this rate increase, as they generally are able to financially handle this quick jump.

The loan payment on a $200,000 home at 3.625% for 30-years is $912.10 a month, but at 4.125%, the payment is now $969.30 a month, or $57.20 per month more.

Another way of looking at it, is that with the slightly higher rate, a person would need to have a $190,000 to keep the same payment as the $200,000 loan they could have gotten a few weeks ago.

The rate jump has motivated many buyers to act now, especially as predictions are for rates to move a bit higher, before leveling off again. Of course no one knows for sure, but assuming rates will go a bit higher is the smarter assumption.

First time home buyers will generally be the ones most concerned and most effected by rate increases, but should be reminded that while rates are up slightly from just a month ago, from an historical standpoint, current mortgage rates are still some of the best ever in history!

 

 

Interest Rates Post Trump Election

Interest rates post Trump election have surprised just about everyone.

It’s been a long time since anyone lender was quoting conventional conforming 30-yr fixed mortgage rates at 4% or higher for their best customers, but as of yesterday, every mortgage lender is doing so.

images999888What a difference a week makes, last Monday, the day before the election, rates averaged 3.625%.  Over the past 3 days business day (Friday the markets were closed for Veterans Day), rates have moved higher and faster than the last big 3-day move back in 1987, where rates moved higher more quickly on an outright basis.

If you were on the fence for a refinance. You just lost, and should seriously consider locking now if it even remotely still makes sense.

If you were in the market to buy a house, rates are still great, and there is no reason not to buy a home. But consider the average $230,000 home here in Minnesota will cost you $50 more per month at a 4.00% rate versus a 3.625% rate.

Why have mortgage interest rates gone up?

There are a lot of factors, but the biggest is simply the markets are feeling good about the direction of the country with the Donald Trump election. This has sparked the stock market, which has seen very nice gains. When stocks are good, mortgage rates are bad.  When stocks are bad, mortgage rates are good.

 

3% down mortgages for first time home buyers.

Just 3% DOWN PAYMENT MORTGAGES for First Time Home Buyers.

Low down payment mortgages for first time home buyers

Minneapolis, MN: Lack of down payment money is the biggest hurdle for most first time home buyers.  We eliminate that hurdle here at Cambria Mortgage for low and moderate income buyers in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD with the HomeReady Mortgage from Fannie Mae (R).

Conventional Loan – Low Down Payment Benefits:

  • More people qualify.
  • Just 3% down payment
  • Ideal for first-time homebuyers, millennials, and low- to moderate income borrowers.
  • Flexible sources of funds for a down payment, including gifts and grants.
  • Income limits as high as 170% of area medium income – no limits in underserved areas.
  • Mortgage Insurance drops off automatically at 80%, unlike FHA loans, which stays forever.
  • Avoid minor repair issues potentially associated with FHA loans
  • Standard conventional 30-yr fixed

Not every mortgage loan is right for every person or situation.  We’ll review your application to determine if this, or some other program works best for you. There is never any obligation to review your mortgage loan options.

Learn more at: http://firsttimehomebuyer-mn.com/homeready-conventional-loan.html

 

What is the Lender Criteria for Approving Home Mortgage Loans?

What is the Lender Criteria for Approving Home Mortgage Loans?

 Buying a home is a dream for most Americans.  The process is time consuming, paperwork intensive, and can seem overwhelming to many people. The reality is that the process, like anything other unknown in your life, really isn’t as bad as the hype.
Essentially the mortgage lender is going to check you out, evaluate your risk, and decide if they they are going to give you the loan.  It is important to understand how credit institutions evaluate home loan applications and what is required to ensure easy loan approval.

Loan Documentation

The first thing the lender needs is your basic application.  images98725You can provide that in person, over the phone, or with a secure online mortgage application.  Next will be a review of your basic documentation to verify and back up what you supplied on your application.  If you said you make $60,000 a year, great,  prove it with the last 30-days of pay stubs, the last two-years W2’s, and your federal Tax Returns.  If you said you have $20,000 in the bank for down payment, great.  Prove it by supplying your last two months bank statements.

Pretty straight-forward so far.  But each person is different, so you may need other documentation.  Recently divorced?  Provide your divorce decree.  Receiving alimony, child support, social security, pensions, disability, or other sources of income.  No problem, but again, prove it with the appropriate supporting documentation.  Have an old bankruptcy?  We’ll need a full copy of your bankruptcy papers, including the discharge notice.  Have an old foreclosure or short sale?  We’ll need the paperwork to verify the date.

Once all this is established, we can determine loan eligibility.

Income to Debt Ratio’s

Debt-to-income ratio’s, or DTI, is simply a calculation of how much money do you make, and how much would the new home itself cost as a percentage of your income. We also look at any other existing debt, then determine what the new house and existing debt would equal as a percentage of income.  If these numbers are too high, you’ll be denied because you are stretching yourself too thin.

DTI is one of the major deciding factors for your loan application. To understand how a loan application gets reviewed, here is a sample:.

Two individuals, Bob and Mary apply for home loan of $200,000.  Bob makes $40,000 a year salary, and Mary makes $30/yr, full time. This equals about $60,000 a year. So adding those two, their combined qualifying income is $100,000 yr, or $8333 a month before taxes.

Bob has a car loan of $300 a month, and one credit car, with a minimum monthly payment of $50 a month.  Mary also has a car payment of $275 a month, a $50 a month student loan, and credit card with minimum payment of $75.  All this debt equals $750 a month.  For most loans, mortgage lenders do NOT look at utilities, car insurance, day care, etc.  Just the items that show on your credit report.
The house they want to buy is $300,000.  They plan on putting a large down payment of 20% ($60,000).  Factoring in paying back $240,000 at 3.50% interest, homeowners insurance of $1320 a year, and property taxes of $3600 a year.  Their monthly payment would be $1497.
The house payment works out to be 17.9% of their monthly income (housing ratio), and with there $750 in other debt, their total debt ratio is $27%. Both of these numbers are below maximum debt-to-income ratio’s, so Bob and Mary are in good shape.  They are buying a home they can safely afford.
Credit Report and Score
The credit score works as a first impression for the lender, the higher the score, the better is your chance of the loan being  approved.  Credit scores are not perfect, but generally are a pretty good indicator of your risk.
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Poor credit scores, essentially anything below 640, and you should probably not bother applying, and work on improving credit first.

Down payment and Cash to Close

Buying a home is going to require money.  Even no down payment loans require some money, especially once you start factoring in closing costs.  Mortgage lenders care greatly about you proving the money needed to buy the house.  We will look at your last two months bank statements.  Did you have the money, did you transfer it from a different account, is it a gift?  If you show large non-payroll deposits, expect to be asked, and to prove where the money came from.
The reasoning behind this goes to many items, from fraud, to undisclosed debt.  Is that large deposit a gift, or really a loan that you’ll need to make payments on, for example.

The Bottom Line

To sum up, while a high credit score, strong credit history, big down payment, and good income will help in loan approval, they, by no means, guarantee one. Having manageable debt levels also plays an important role. Lenders make money by lending money. We want to give you a home loan. On the other hand, the whole purpose of underwriting is to minimize risk. A home buyer unable to safely afford the home is not good for them or the lender.

Mortgage Interest Rates are AWESOME

mortgage interest ratesIn terms of standard conventional 30-yr fixed mortgage rates, the BEST we’ve ever seen was for just a few days in 2012, when the best clients could get 3.125% – 3.25%.

Mortgage interest rates dipped back to 3.25% for a brief time back in July 2016, but since then have been hovering in the 3.375% to 3.50% range.

So what does all this mean for home owners?

It means if YOU ACT NOW, congratulations, because other than one week this past July, and one week back in 2012, you are getting the most awesome interest rates of all time right now TODAY!

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I provide Home Mortgage Loans in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD and I can be reached at (651) 552-3681.

Of course rates effective at this time of this post and subject to change.  Not everyone qualifies, etc. Not an offer to enter into an interest rate lock agreement

Why free credit report scores are not accurate

Why free credit report scores are not accurate

Minneapolis, MN:  As a mortgage loan officer, every single day, someone tells me their credit score they received from Credit Karma, some “free credit report” web site, their Discover Card statement, or even directly from the actual credit reporting agency.

Everyday, I tell them that is NOT their correct mortgage credit score.

We jokingly call those score your “Fake ‘O’ Score”  – (joke for FICO score)

Why isn’t my credit score my credit score?

It is actually rather simple. There are multiple credit score models, and the models vary by what you are doing.

Your Credit Score

When you apply for a credit card, the credit card company cares most about how you handle credit cards, and the likelihood of you defaulting on a credit card. Like wise, when you apply for a car loan, the scores are based on the likelihood of you defaulting on an auto loan. The same holds true for mortgages loans.

When you obtain your credit score from ANY SITE that YOU as the consumer are able to get your credit report, you are getting a GENERIC score.  That is, a score NOT based on any one industry risk factor.

It is very common for mortgage lenders to pull scores that are 20 points, even 30-points lower that you just saw on one of those other sites…. and NO, it isn’t because we pulled your credit!!  That truth about inquiries NOT lowering your score is for another article

 

USDA to lower mortgage insurance costs

USDA to cut loan mortgage insurance costs

The USDA Rural Housing home loans will soon get  cheaper for homeowners with lower mortgage insurance costs.

USDA Rural Development LoansUSDA announced last month that it was lowering its upfront mortgage insurance premium fee to 1 percent of the total mortgaged amount, down from the current from 2.75 percent. This amount is added to the borrowers loan.  So someone today borrower needing a $100,000 loan would actually have a $102,750 loan. Under the new guidelines, the same borrower would have a $101,000 loan.

The monthly mortgage insurance on a USDA loan will also be reduced from the current .50% to just .35%.  On that same sample $100,000 loan, this means a monthly mortgage insurance drop from $42.84 a month to $29.99 a month.

The change becomes effective Oct. 1, 2016, and will bring the fees and insurance premiums down to pre-recession levels.

The agency said that the cuts were possible because of the bulk of the mortgage and housing crisis is over, and foreclosure rates have fallen to back to more traditional numbers.

Learn more about USDA rural housing home loans in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD.

Consumers disqualify themselves for home loans

Consumers Misjudge Max Debt-to-Income ratios… and Disqualify Themselves from home loans

According to a survey by Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, many consumers think it’s difficult to get a mortgage in today’s market.images98735

And forty five percent of those respondents cite too much existing debt as a top reason. Yet, in that same group, more than half don’t actually know the maximum debt-to-income ratio (DTI) required by lenders.

The result — potential buyers may be wrongly disqualifying themselves before they even apply for a mortgage.

That’s why it’s key to provide information, resources, and tools to educate consumers on the mortgage process, and any perceived barriers, including Debt-to-Income guidelines.

This is also why it is key for the consumer to work with a fully licensed and experienced Loan Officer, versus the more common unlicensed mortgage loan application clerk, who can help you determine the best home loan program, and explain the various program rules and guidelines. On a regular basis, I come across clients who think they can’t be approved for a home loan, yet they can. On the other hand, I also run across plenty of people who have no chance of getting a home loan today, yet they apply.

The bottom line is that it never hurts to apply. You may be given a pre-approval for your dream home, and if not, you’ll be given details on how to improve your situation to be able to qualify later.

Learn more about how to choose a mortgage loan officer here.

Download more insight on DTI and learn about the overall study here.

5 low down payment home loans

5 Low Down Payment Home Loans

Minneapolis, Minnesota:  Face it, for most people, the biggest obstacle to buying a home is a lack of down payment.  Here are 5 low down payment home loan options to help you get into your own home.

Zero Down Payment

  1. VA Loans: Available for U.S. Military personal, both current and former is a no down payment loan with no mortgage insurance. By far the most amazing home loan available.  Get VA Loan information
  2. USDA Rural Development Loans: Available for those wishing to buy in rural areas. This program is no down payment required. Income limits apply. Get USDA loan information.

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Low Down Payment

  1. Conventional 3% down. This low down payment loan for first time home buyers just recently came back into the market from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Good credit or better required, and must take first time home buyer education classes. Get 3% down HomeReady loan information
  2. FHA Loans: This program only requires 3.50% down payment, and is probably the most popular loan. Very flexible underwriting guidelines compared to other programs for everything from weak credit, to higher debt-to-income ratios, and shorter waiting periods than other loans for past bankruptcy and foreclosure.  Get more FHA LOAN information
  3. Down payment assistance programs: Combine one of the standard loans with a down payment assistance program to ease your out-of-pocket expenses to get into a home. Most of these programs are loans that need to be paid back, require you to be a first time home buyer, and to take home buyer education classes. Program vary greatly by city, county, state, or community programs. Talk to a Loan Officer in your area for local program information.  Learn more about down payment assistance programs in MN.

 

Six Steps to a getting a home loan

Six Steps to a getting a home loan

Minneapolis / St Paul, MN: Buying a first home is one of the biggest, most exciting decisions you’ll ever make. Let Cambria Mortgage guide you toward your future home.

Step 1: Manage your Money and Credit

images124Be realistic. Have some down payment money and your overall finances in order before applying for a home loan. Know your credit score too, as you need a minimum credit score of 620.

 Step 2: Apply for your loan

Contact our loan experts at (651) 552-3681, or click here to APPLY ONLINE. Your Loan Officer will look at your monthly income, credit history and debt level to qualify you for whatever loan that best fits your needs.

Step 3: Choose your Loan

FHA, VA, USDA, standard conventional, and down payment assistance loans are all available, and tailored to your individual needs, whether you are purchasing, refinancing, a first-time, or repeat buyer. Your Loan Officer will go over what programs you qualify for, how much house you can buy, and what payments will look like.

 Step 4: Home Buyer Education

Most first-time home buyers DO NOT need to take any classes, but if you are getting down payment assistance, you will. These classes teach the buying process, financing options, and being a responsible homeowner. Your Cambria Mortgage Loan Officer will let you know if you need to take a first time home buyers class, and help you get scheduled for your class.

 Step 5: Shop for your Home

With a pre-approval letter in hand, sellers will take your offer seriously, as they know you’ve gone through the initial process of a lender reviewing an application and supporting documents, and said it “Looks Good” Finding out how much house you can afford narrows your search saving you time. After preapproval, you can work with a qualified real estate professional to find a home in your target neighborhood and price range.

Step 6: Become a Homeowner

Congratulations! You’ve gotten pre-approved, found a home, made a successful offer, and gotten through the final underwriting process. You are now officially a homeowner!

How To Apply for First Time Home Buyer Loans

It’s easy!  Simply fill out the online mortgage loan application, or call us at (651) 552-3681. We can take your application over the phone, or schedule an appointment at our St Paul, MN office.

 

Spring real estate has sprung

Spring brings renewed real estate activity to Minneapolis / St Paul

Spring 2016 has seen a welcome2_FTHB_1nice increase in real estate activity in the Twin Cities, MN area, with pending sales rising 12.6% compared to March 2015, and with the median sales price rising to $222,000, a nice 5.7% increase. Buyers signed 5,861 new purchase agreements.

Supply on the market remains a concern, area Realtor associations reported Thursday, with new listings rising only 0.5 percent, keeping supply levels at a 13-year low. Compared with last March, inventory levels fell 20.6 percent to 11,893 active properties.

Low inventory levels, at about a 10-year low is causing increased values, and multiple offers over asking price just days on the market for many homes for homes under $250,000.  As the home price goes up, it typically take longer for the homes to sell.

Mortgage lenders saw a large jump in mortgage loan pre-approval activity in February, which brings anecdotal evidence that there would be a surge of buyers this spring.