by Irene Moustakas | Mar 30, 2010 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
For FHA loans assigned on or after April 5, 2010, the upfront mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) is increasing from 1.75% to 2.25%. If you’re on the fence about refinancing into an FHA loan, or are currently still working on negotiations for a purchase, there...
by Irene Moustakas | Mar 11, 2010 | Industry News, Loan Programs and Products
Surprisingly, Interest-Only (I/O) loans are back. They carry higher interest rates than fully-amortized (principle & interest) loans, but recently, they have become quite competitive. I’m surprised that they’re available because these loans are a big reason why...
by Irene Moustakas | Feb 23, 2010 | Industry News
If you have decided to short sell your home or have gone through foreclosure, your credit score is not the only thing that gets affected. You will also not be able to get a loan for a certain time period. Keep in mind that these are current rules and can change at...
by Irene Moustakas | Feb 16, 2010 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
A 5% down payment conventional loan is available again! There are some heavy restrictions, so please read the following stipulations: Conforming loan ONLY (Maximum loan amount: $417,000) Purchase only (no refinances) Single-family home or detached PUDs only (no...
by Irene Moustakas | Feb 1, 2010 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
Down payment requirements on conventional loans are dependent on several factors: Loan Amount, Property Type, FICO score and qualifying ratio. The FICO score and qualifying ratio come into play primarily when you have less than 20% down and because we have to layer...
by Irene Moustakas | Jan 27, 2010 | 1st Time Homebuyers, Industry News
Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured loans are a great way for people to get started in the housing market. It provides an alternative to conventional loans because it allows for little down (3.5%) and the minimum credit score requirements are more flexible....