Below is information provided by the California Association of Realtors. I think it answers many of the calls I have been receiving regarding assistance currently available to homeowners.
C.A.R. has created several new resources for REALTORS® and homeowners seeking information on existing mortgage workout programs. To provide members with one easy-to-use document, we’ve developed a chart outlining programs offered by the larger lenders and government entities, including a snapshot on eligibility requirements and contact information. If a lender or loan servicer is not on the chart, homeowners may wish to contact their lender or loan servicer to determine if a workout program is available.We have also developed consumer information sheets containing detailed information on specific programs that you can print or e-mail to share with clients. Please click on the appropriate link below for information on a specific program.HOPE For Homeowners (H4H)Countrywide Financial (Bank of America)Citigroup, CitiMortgageJP Morgan Chase & Co.IndyMac Federal Bank, FDICFederal Government Loan Modification (Participants include: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Federal Home Loan Banks, Hope Now participants, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, Federal Housing Administration and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Wells Fargo.)In general, the loan modification programs on the chart and consumer information sheets are intended for primary residences only.It’s important to stress to clients that mortgage loan modifications typically are handled on a case-by-case basis. Prior to calling a lender or loan servicer, homeowners should have the following information available:. Loan number. Income information and documentation. Most recent mortgage statement. Bank statements. Letter demonstrating financial hardshipFor a list of HUD-approved counselors in California, visit the HUD Web site at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=CA.
If you have any questions please contact me at (831) 809-8266
This is an excerpt from the Daily Breifing from the California Association of Realtors's president:
Key components of the Treasury’s proposal include:
The proposal also grants Treasury Secretary Paulson sweeping authority regarding the purchase of assets, the timing and sale of assets, determining financial institutions’ eligibility to participate and more. To access a fact sheet on the Treasury proposal, go to http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1150.htm.
Stay tuned....
Hi everyone,
Today's FOMC meeting has adjourned with an announcement of no change to key short-term interest rates. The post-meeting statement indicated that the Fed felt key rates were low enough to spur economic activity. The stock markets initially reacted negatively to the news since traders were expecting a rate cut, but then staged a rally that pushed the Dow up 141 points and the Nasdaq up 28 points.The bond market did not fair so well. As expected, as soon as stocks started to rise, bonds suffered. The same funds that were moved into bonds and drove prices higher yesterday, now were hurting bonds as they were shifted back into stocks. The result was the bond market closing down 26/32 and a sizable increase to mortgage rates. I suspect that there is more room for bonds to fall if stocks continue to move higher. Therefore, holding the lock recommendations seem to be the prudent stance at this time.Today's on ly relevant economic data was August's Consumer Price Index (CPI). It showed a decline in the overall reading of 0.1% and an increase of 0.2% in the core data reading. Both of these readings matched forecasts, therefore, they had little impact on the bond market or mortgage rates. August's Housing Starts report is the only relevant data being posted tomorrow morning. This report will probably not have much of an impact on the bond market or mortgage rates. It gives us a measurement of housing sector strength and mortgage credit demand, but is usually considered to be of low importance to the financial markets. Tomorrow's report is expected to show a drop in new housing starts from July's levels.If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.
Eisrael
831-809-8266
FEDERAL HOUSING BILL NOW LAW, INCLUDING FIRPTA FIXThis week, President Bush signed into law the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. This sweeping legislation primarily seeks to protect homeowners from foreclosure, stop declining home prices, and stabilize the mortgage industry. Major provisions of the new law affecting the real estate practice are as follows:- SELLER NEED NOT REVEAL SSN TO BUYER UNDER FIRPTA: Effective immediately, sellers are no longer required to provide to their buyers the Seller's Affidavit of Nonforeign Status (C.A.R. Form AS), which includes the sellers' social security numbers, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). Instead, as another option, no federal withholding is required if the seller furnishes the Seller's Affidavit with his or her social security number to escrow or other qualified substitute as defined, who in turn, furnishes a statement to the buyer stating, under penalty of perjury, that it has the Seller's Affidavit in its possession. A "qualified substitute" is a person responsible for closing the transaction, such as an escrow company, title company or the buyer's agent, but not the seller's agent. The federal withholding law is now similar to California's Franchise Tax Board (FTB) policy which allows the escrow officer to remove the seller's tax ID number from the buyer's copy of the California withholding tax statement, but not other copies.- $300 BILLION IN FHA REFINANCING: Under the HOPE for Homeowners Program, 400,000 distressed homeowners can pay off their troubled mortgages and replace them with more affordable, FHA-insured loans. To qualify, a borrower's monthly payment on existing mortgage loans must be over 31% of his or her income as of March 1, 2008 (hence demonstrating the borrower's inability to afford the original loans). The original loans must have been originated before 2008, and secured by the borrower's principal residence (as well as only residence). Also to qualify, the borrower must satisfy FHA underwriting requirements for the new FHA-insured refinance loan. The FHA refinance will be a fixed rate loan up to $550,400 for at least 30 years, and will include charges for FHA insurance premiums. The maximum loan-to-value ratio of the FHA refinance is 90% of the appraised value. If the refinance proceeds are insufficient to pay off the existing liens, the refinance will not go through unless the original lenders voluntarily agree to accept a short payoff as payment in full. Rules will be established to allow, among other things, equity sharing for the original junior lienholders. Upon obtaining the FHA refinance, the borrower must share with the FHA at least 50% of any equity realized through a subsequent sale or refinance. The FHA's share in equity will be based on a sliding scale of 100% of any equity realized within the first year of the FHA loan, 90% the second year, and so on, but not less than 50%. The HOPE for Homeowners Program shall be in effect from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011.- $7,500 TAX CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS: With certain exceptions, a first-time homebuyer will receive a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price up to $7,500 maximum, for the tax year in which the buyer purchases a principal residence. The tax credit, however, must be repaid like an interest-free loan in equal installments over the next 15 years or in full if the homebuyer sells the property for a gain. A buyer qualifies as a "first-time" homebuyer as long as the buyer (and spouse if any) has not owned a principal residence in the U.S. for the last three years. The tax credit phases out for a taxpayer with a modified adjusted gross income over $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint returns). This tax credit is available for qualifying homes purchased from April 9, 2008 through June 30, 2009.- FANNIE MAE, FREDDIE MAC, AND FHA REFORM: The new law permanently sets the conforming loan limit for FHA and government-sponsored enterprises (GSE) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at 115% of an area's median home price, not to exceed $625,500. The new loan limits take effect after the current $729,750 loan limit expires on December 31, 2008. The new law also authorizes the Treasury Department to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if necessary by increasing their lines or credit or purchasing their stock. A new governmental agency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will be created to oversee GSE operations. Other FHA reform includes an increase in the minimum down payment requirement from 3% to 3.5%, and effective October 1, 2008, the elimination of seller-funded down payment assistance programs.Some of the other provisions of the new Housing Act are, without limitation, $4 billion in assistance to stabilize neighborhoods hurt by the foreclosure crisis, $180 million for pre-foreclosure counseling, Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) reverse mortgage reform, assistance for veterans, and the creation of a nationwide loan originator licensing and registration system. The appropriate governmental agencies will establish new regulations as needed to carry out and enforce the new Housing Act.
More info
If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me at
Eisrael Gomez
(831) 809-8266
The New York Times
As housing bill evolves, crisis grows deeper
The mortgage rescue plan currently before Congress, which was designed to help only about 400,000 of the 2.6
million homeowners needing assistance at the time it was created, may fall far short of bailing out the thousands of
additional Americans each month who join the ranks of mortgage borrowers in need thanks to an increasingly
troubled economy, analysts say.
KEEP THIS IN MIND...
•
borrowers to refinance troubled adjustable-rate mortgages into 30-year fixed-rate loans backed by the
government. Lenders would lower each loan amount to 85 percent of its current value while borrowers would
pay a 1.5 percent annual mortgage insurance premium, and any gain in value would be shared when a home is
sold.
borrowers would have to demonstrate that they can’t afford their current mortgage payment but have the
financial wherewithal to make payments on a new loan with new terms.
and that a weak economy, rising unemployment and higher mortgage interest rates could derail the usefulness
of the program, which would be managed by the Federal Housing Administration and funded by the mortgage
insurance fees, a 3 percent lender fee, and a tax on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
To read the full story, please click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/washington/29housing.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&emc=th&adxnnlx=1214794471-1wPUSlKP4CUyMb8ECvTjAg&oref=slogin
CENTURY21 A Property Shoppe
If you or someone you know are behind on your mortgage and facing foreclosure, you may feel desperate. The threat of losing your home is one of the most traumatic things that you may face in life. There are options!!
In an effort to avoid accumulating real estate and bad loans on their books, banks have become more and more eager to negotiate down on their payoff, taking what is now better known as a Short Sale (Selling the home for "short" of the balance due to the bank(s).
Short Sales provide an excellent, win-win solution for the distressed homeowner and their bank.
The tragedy is that so few real estate professionals are educated about the Short Sale process, and homeowners remain unaware that such an option is available to them.
· IS A SHORT SALE RIGHT FOR YOU?
· NEW DECEMBER 2007 LAW HR3648 MAY BE OF HELP TO YOU! CALL ME ANY TIME…
East Salinas 93905
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65
171
110
18
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North Salinas 93906
467
81
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South Salinas 93901
92
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