Lenders are sometimes asked by a mortgage borrower to allow an escrow account to be created for some items to be completed. Repairs cannot be addressed by putting money in escrow. Repairs are usually required to be completed prior to closing. However, lenders may allow an escrow account to be created for items unable to be completed due to weather. Weather related delays are most common in new construction homes.
In my 3.5 decades in the mortgage business, I don’t recall a lender I have worked for ever allowing repair escrows. That is because they are typically messy, and many times end up not being resolved in a timely fashion. There are contractor problems and other situations where the cost exceeds the escrow account reserve. Weather related escrows are a different story, but repair related escrows may be impossible to get approved by a lender. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: mortgage escrows, new construction homes, new construction mortgage, weather related escrows
Posted in Appraisal, Loan Process, mortgage, Underwriting Rules | No Comments »
Well and septic inspections may indeed be required to get mortgage approval. But it depends on the type of mortgage you are seeking.
A conventional mortgage through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac typically do not require well and septic inspections. I say “typically” not required because there may be an instance where they are required. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: home inspection, home inspections, mortgage guidelines, well and septic, well and septic inspections
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When a mortgage lender analyzes your finances to qualify you for a mortgage, they’re looking at all of your debt along with the new proposed mortgage payment. The other debts that they consider outside of your new mortgage payment are debts like minimum credit card payments, car loans, student loans, and any losses from other rental property. They do not look at debts like utility bill payments, car insurance or cell phone bills.
A mortgage lender will approve your loan allowing you to spend a certain percentage of your gross monthly income on your new mortgage payment and your debts.
Let’s see how much more mortgage you could qualify for if you did not have a car loan. Then you can see if paying off a car loan off leaves you with the cash needed to make a down payment and pay the closing costs to purchase a new property. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: car loans, debt ratios, housing affordability, mortgages
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If you own a business and have a loan for it, and you are planning on buying a home, you might be wondering if the business loan will affect whether or not you can get a mortgage. A business loan can impact your credit score if you are the sole proprietor of the business and take out the business loan in your name instead of the business’ name, or if you personally guarantee the loan. A lender will be looking to see if you and your credit are stable when they decide to give someone a mortgage loan.
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Tags: mortgage rules for self employed, underwriting
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In some urban markets a multifamily home is converted to condominiums. For example, a duplex is turned into two condominium units. Or a triplex is turned into three condominium units. Or a fourplex is turned into four condominium units.
The required condominium project review that needs to be done on most condominiums is waived on condos that don’t consist of more than four units. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: condo loans, condo mortgage, condominium financing
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There are some mortgage agencies, like Fannie Mae, that will not do a loan for an investment property buyer that already has what they consider to be excessive financed properties.
If you are buying a new primary residence, there is no limit to the number of financed properties that you already have.
However, if you are buying a second home/vacation home or rental property, you cannot have more than 10 financed properties already. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: investment property, investment property financing, Real estate investor
Posted in Home Buying Process, Loan Process, Loan Types, mortgage, Underwriting Rules | No Comments »
If a condominium has litigation against it, to get a loan approved there are certain things a mortgage lender has to document or the loan may be denied.
A mortgage lender has to prove that the litigation has no impact on the safety and structural soundness of the condo.
And the insurance carrier that insures the condominium building has to have agreed to provide the defense, and the amount of the litigation must be covered by the HOA’s insurance.
There are other reasons why litigation against a condominium may not be an issue, such as:
- It is non-monetary litigation including, but not limited to neighbor disputes or rights of quiet enjoyment;
- the HOA is the plaintiff in the litigation and not the defendant;
- the reasonably anticipated or known damages and legal expenses are not expected to exceed 10% of the project’s funded reserves.Financing a condominium can be tricky for other reasons. Mortgage guidelines have the ability to change at any time, so always talk to a well-reviewed mortgage loan officer to make sure you understand the current guidelines and how they might apply to you.
Tags: condo litigation, condo loan, mortgage underwriting
Posted in Condo, Home Buying Process, Loan Process, mortgage, Underwriting Rules | No Comments »
With the popularity of electric cars and solar panels increasing, it’s important to point out that having solar panels on your house may impact your ability to get a mortgage. Many times, buying solar panels will be financed, and that is what they have an impact on your ability to purchase or refinance a mortgage. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: mortgage, solar panels, underwriting
Posted in Loan Process, mortgage, Underwriting Rules | No Comments »
I sometimes have people ask me what the requirements are to count alimony or child support income towards qualifying for a mortgage.
First we need a copy of a divorce decree or separation agreement (if the divorce is not final) that explains all the terms of any alimony and child support, and any other financial arrangements that may have a positive or negative impact on your mortgage application.
In general, we have to review the payment history to determine if it’s been stable income for the borrower. We have to document no less than six months of the borrower’s most recent regular receipt of the full payment. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: alimony, child support, loan approval, mortgages, qualifying
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When you qualify for a mortgage loan, it may not be for the amount you want. Outstanding debts can affect how much you are able to borrow. But in some instances, you may be able to pay off the debt in order to qualify for a larger loan.
If you reduce the number of installment payments to 10 or fewer, the loan may not be included in your debt-to-income ratios. However, if the debt requires a large monthly payment, an underwriter may consider it a risk in your debt-to-income ratio. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: debt paydown, debt payoff, debts, mortgage approval
Posted in credit, Home Buying Process, Loan Process, mortgage, Underwriting Rules | No Comments »
