Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California

Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California
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Showing posts with label ltv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ltv. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

FHFA Allows Alternative Valuations with Higher LTV Ratios by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser Los Angeles California

mary cummins, real estate appraiser, los angeles, california, real estate appraisal, fhfa, ltv, avm, appraisal, real estate,low income, poc, great recession, foreclosure
mary cummins, real estate appraiser, los angeles, california, real estate appraisal, fhfa, ltv, avm, appraisal, real estate,low income, poc, great recession, foreclosure

The Federal Housing Finance Agency FHFA has expanded the eligibility for alternative appraisal methods on purchase loans by increasing the allowable maximum loan-to-value (LTV) requirements. The maximum LTV ratios will increase from 80% to 90% for appraisal waivers and from 80% to 97% for inspection-based appraisal waivers. 

“To be clear, the expanded eligibility of appraisal waivers does not constitute an expansion of a credit box, but rather it will allow more first-time home buyers, and particularly low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers, to recognize the benefits associated with appraisal waivers,” Naa Awaa Tagoe, deputy director of the division of housing mission and goals at the FHFA, said on stage."

More purchase loans will not utilize a regular inspection appraisal by a licensed real estate appraiser. They will be using non-licensed non-appraiser property inspectors and AVMs Automated Valuation Methods similar to Zillow. This means lenders can use their AVMs, in house approval departments to get higher values so they can approve more loans so they can make more money. These loans will be riskier to new buyers, investors and the government. The housing industry players have been directly lobbying the government to do this for years now under the guise of helping lower income "save money" and fighting nonexistent "appraiser bias."

Never forget the Great Recession. Real estate prices were booming and fewer lower to mid-income, first time buyers could afford to buy a home. The people complained it was discrimination against lower income and POC. There is a correlation between lower income and POC. The correlation is based on socioeconomic factors and not race. There are also plenty of lower income non POC. 

The government stepped in to "help" by lowering credit and loan requirements. More lower income first time buyers were then able to buy a home at the peak of the market for almost no money down. They had very little to no savings and were spending most of their income on home expenses. They were set up for failure by the government while lenders made lots of money. Lenders support relaxing requirements so more will qualify so they can make more money. Lenders lobby the government to reduce requirements while saying they just want to help poor people. This actually helps wealthy people at the expense of poor people just like payday loans. 

The real estate bubble of course burst and those people ended up underwater. Low teaser rate loans adjusted, some had financial emergencies and they couldn't pay their sky high mortgage, insurance, property taxes and property maintenance. It was cheaper to rent than own. The real estate market collapsed and people lost their homes in foreclosure. They lost more than just the cost of the home due to associated costs and fees. The psychological effect on the families was devastating. Oddly enough the people and government blamed appraisers even though it was the fault of the government and the bubble bust real estate market driven by buyer demand. Appraisers just report the market. We don't set it.

Today we're in a similar though slightly different situation. We're in another real estate upswing caused by previous lower interest rates and severely restricted supply due to rate lock. Everyone wants to buy a home that will appreciate 50% like they have in the last few years. They are again complaining to the government that it's discrimination against lower income and POC because they can't afford to buy a home today.

People are blaming the government for the wealth gap which they say is mainly caused by the home ownership gap. The wealth gap is mainly caused by the income gap. Owning a home alone is not the cause of the wealth gap. You need to be able to first afford to buy and own a home by having higher income, more savings and good credit. Higher income, savings, good credit must come first otherwise you just saddle yourself with debt and higher monthly costs you can't afford. You'll lose your home if you have one financial emergency.

Government did the same thing with student loans. "If you get a college degree, you'll make more money. Here are loans so you can afford to go to college." You'll also end up with $100,000 high interest debt which make it impossible to pay bills, have children, start a business or save to own a home. The correlation between having a degree and higher income is related to first being able to afford to pay for and go to college. It's not the degree itself as many people have realized. Same with owning a home.

The government again responds by lowering loan requirements. Now you can put almost nothing down and get stuck with hefty mortgage payments, rising insurance costs, high property maintenance costs and rising property taxes at the top of the market. Property taxes, insurance increase as property value increases. Insurance costs are through the roof today due to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. The appraisal waivers and use of value acceptance, AVMs make the loans even riskier for buyers and investors. It's even riskier today as we are at the peak of the market. Two to five years ago and it would have made a little sense. The government always reduces regulations at the peak of the market because of lack of affordability and politics.

AVMs will over value lower priced properties which are generally in inferior condition, inferior locations, smaller than average, have deferred maintenance, include buyer concessions for repairs/costs... These are the properties lower income people are buying because they can afford them because they cost less. The government is again setting these people up for failure. They always do this at the peak of the market. 

I was screaming from the rooftops about this issue before the Great Recession. I'm now screaming from the mountain tops. Nothing will change. The government is hurting the people they claim they want to help.The election year campaign promises to get votes is making it worse. You know they will again blame real estate appraisers for a downswing even though we didn't appraise the properties that are most likely to be foreclosed. It's déjà vu all over again. 

https://www.fhfa.gov/news/news-release/fhfa-announces-updates-to-enterprise-policies-on-appraisals-loan-repurchase-alternatives-and-pricing-notifications

November 1 Jeremy Bagott just wrote a good piece on this.

https://mailchi.mp/257006d81c5f/days-from-election-agencies-make-good-on-final-sop-to-housing-lobby-10896727


https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fhfa-to-allow-alternative-appraisal-methods-on-purchases-up-to-97-ltv/

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate is a certified residential licensed appraiser in Los Angeles, California. Mary Cummins is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate appraisers and has over 35 years of experience.


Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary, Cummins, #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, certified, single family, condo, condominium, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, fha, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, brea insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, 1073, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls, historical appraisal, facebook, linkedin

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Sunday, July 4, 2021

Main reasons home loans, mortgages are denied. It's not the appraiser. - by Mary Cummins

main reasons mortgage home loans denied, mary cummins, los angeles, california, real estate, home loan, 

Here are the main reasons mortgage loans are denied. It's not the appraiser or appraisal. 

1. Debt to income ratio (37.2% denial rate).

Your debt to income ratio (DTI ratio) should be no great than 43%. You can improve this by paying off debt, reducing interest rate on debt or renegotiating debt to lower the monthly debt payments. Your net assets (total assets minus liabilities) still factor into the loan so make sure the debt balance doesn't increase too much when you lower the rate or payment. 

Another thing they consider is your monthly housing cost ratio which is (monthly housing costs / monthly income). "The top ratio is calculated by dividing your new monthly mortgage payment by your monthly gross income. Typically, this ratio should not exceed 28%. The bottom ratio is equal to your new monthly mortgage payment plus your monthly debt divided by your gross income per month. Typically, this ratio should not exceed 36%." 

As a rule of thumb your monthly rent, utilities or mortgage, taxes, insurance, home maintenance, utilities should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. If your housing cost is over 30%, you are considered cost burdened and have a high risk of not being able to pay your rent or mortgage. All poor people, people making minimum wage, moderate earners are cost burdened paying over 50-70% of housing costs if they live in Los Angeles or similar areas. Median rent for an average one bedroom is $2,100/month here. Two minimum wage earners working full time can barely afford that if they don't eat much. You should not be buying a home at the moment. Work on increasing your income. I know it's a "let them eat cake" thing to say and I agree. It's not easy for most people.

2. Credit history 34.8%. 

You need a FICO score of 580 to 620 absolute minimum to get a home loan. You can improve this by always paying your bills on time. Make sure you have some little loans like a small balance on a credit card, gas card, department store card...to build credit. Start that at least two years before you try to buy a home. Start with one card only and make payments. After a year add another. Don't apply for a lot all at once. You'll be denied and end up with many inquiries on your credit report which is a big red flag for denial. And remember, the lower your FICO score, the higher the risk to the lender and the higher borrowing rate for you. Get your score as high as possible so you can save money. It's doesn't make sense that poor people pay higher interest rates but it's related to the higher risk for the lender. 

3. Collateral 19.7%. 

Generally the home is the collateral for the loan. You can also use other real estate or assets such as bonds, life insurance or investments. Your parents could cross collateralize their home for your home loan if they love you more than life itself. The total loan to value ratio should be about 80%. This would be about a 20% down payment. If you want to only put down 5%, the risk and cost goes up and you're much more likely to be denied. 

It's possible that the issue was not the appraised value but the fact it needs repairs, has broken windows, is in a flood, wildfire, landslide, hurricane, tsunami ... zone, has unpermitted additions, is over 150 years old, is next door to an oil refinery... If you are doing a low down payment loan, don't buy a fixer. You're more likely to be rejected because you'll need down payment money and the money to fix it. 

4. Other 12.9%

Everything other than what is listed here. The lender just can't discriminate against you based on race, religion, gender... The lender can deny you the loan based on credit, income, assets, liabilities and everything else in this article. That is legal. 

5. Credit application incomplete 8.9%

You'd think this would be a no brainer but it's not. People either don't want to complete the application or just don't. This is only for loan applications which were submitted and not for loan applications which were started but never submitted.

6. Unverifiable information 6.7%

Unverifiable information arises from inaccuracies in an applicant’s employment history or tax records or discrepancies between the application and credit report. This could be from unreported income that doesn't show up on taxes, tax returns which show no real income for years, bank statements which don't match stated income, a loan you paid off which isn't on your credit report, bills you paid which weren't reported or the person is just plain lying on the application or their taxes or both. 

7. Insufficient cash 4.0%

You must have sufficient funds to cover the down payment and closing costs and fees or lenders may deny their application. You generally can't borrow the down payment or fees. Research has shown if someone can't even save for a down payment, they are not credit worthy and there's a higher chance of the loan going under. If you haven't saved enough for a down payment, you're not ready to buy a home. Work on your debts, budget, income and save some money. You should have a 20% down payment and six months worth of monthly expenses saved before you buy a home. You should also meet all the other requirements I've listed here.

8. Employment history 1.8%

Lenders want to see that applicants have worked in the same job for at least two years. They want a stable, steady earner. This also means you can't just get your Uncle Benny to lie and state you worked for him for two years. They need an independent way to verify it usually with W2s, 1099's, bank statements, cashed checks, verifiable tax returns... In the 1980's to 2009 mortgage brokers actually forged tax returns, W2s, 1099's and bank statements or they did no document loans which didn't require them. Those are a few reasons we had three real estate busts during that time. Thanks to Obama and Dodd Frank we are less likely to have another bust because the borrowers are more creditworthy today due to independent verification. 

9. Mortgage insurance denied .1%

"Mortgage insurance protects the lender and allows borrowers making a down payment of less than 20% to still qualify for a home loan. Applicants who are denied mortgage insurance that need it are also likely to be declined for their loan." Mortgage insurance is insurance to pay the monthly Principle Interest Taxes Insurance (PITI) payment if the borrower can't make the payment. It's added to the monthly mortgage payment. As it is mortgage insurance is for high risk borrowers. To be denied that means you are a super crazy high risk borrower. If you're denied mortgage insurance, you are not credit worthy or ready to buy a home. Go work on yourself. Work to increase your income, reduce your budget and expenses, increase your savings and try again much later. 

https://constructioncoverage.com/research/top-reasons-mortgage-loans-are-denied-2021

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.


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