FHA lifts 90-Day waiting period

Starting Feb. 1 housing regulators will suspend for one year a 90-Day waiting period on property resales that it says has put FHA borrowers at a disadvantage in bidding on foreclosed properties.

The waiting period on FHA financing of resales was implemented in 2003 to protect the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program from the impacts of home flipping.

The policy did not apply to properties repossessed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or state and federally chartered financial institutions. In 2008, FHA lifted the 90-Day waiting period on resales of all bank-owned (REO) properties.

Now, although many other conditions still apply, the waiting period is being lifted on all resales including properties purchased and rehabbed by private investors.

Research shows that acquiring, rehabilitating and reselling properties to prospective homeowners often takes less than 90 days, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said in announcing the change.

Some sellers of foreclosed properties have been reluctant to enter into contracts from potential FHA buyers because of the cost of holding a property for 90 days, and the risks that a vacant property would be vandalized, HUD said.

Lifting the waiting period "will allow homes to resell as quickly as possible, helping to stabilize real estate prices and to revitalize neighborhoods and communities," HUD said.

Lenders must have supporting documentation or a second appraisal if the sales price of a property increases by more than 20% from the seller's acquisition cost, HUD said in publishing the waiver requirements. The waiver does not apply t the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for purchase program

Inman News, 1/19/10

Energy-Efficient Rebate, by CAR

Energy-Efficient Rebates

The government is expected to unveil a new program in the next couple of months that, if approved, may reimburse homeowners for up to half the cost of making their homes more efficient. Through the program, homeowners will receive the largest return from simple upgrades like caulking windows, adding insulation, and changing incandescent light bulbs to those that are more energy-efficient.

To determine which energy-efficiency upgrades are best for their house, homeowners should obtain a home energy audit. Homeowners are advised to hire a contractor licensed by the Building Performance Institute or the Residential Energy Services Network. These contractors have been trained to first test a home to determine the amount of energy it is losing, then make suggestions on renovations.

"Beyond The Headlines" by CAR

What’s ahead for home prices?

California remains ahead of the nation in market recovery with many first-time home buyers entering the market due to affordable home prices, low mortgage rates, and first-time home buyer tax credits from the state and federal governments. However, credit still is tight and unemployment remains high, which could hinder a full market recovery until 2011.

KEEP THIS IN MIND
• Home sales in California hit bottom more than two years, and the median home price of an existing, single-family home reached its trough in February, according to data collected by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). In November, the state’s median home price rose in year to-year comparisons for the first time since August 2007.

• C.A.R.’s closely watched "2010 California Housing Market Forecast,” projects that the median home price in California will rise 3.3 percent to $280,000 in 2010 compared with a projected median of $271,000 in 2009.

• Some economists are forecasting another surge of foreclosures in 2010. However, C.A.R.’s
economists expect that foreclosures will remain flat this year compared with 2009. In 2008, many lenders flooded the market with foreclosures, and as a result, the state’s median price declined by historic levels. By comparison, in 2009, lenders listed properties for sale at a more measured pace, which helped moderate another home price decline.

• Government efforts to maintain a low interest rate environment have stabilized the market. However, a mortgage analyst at a financial publishing company predicts that rates likely will rise to 5.5 percent by mid-2010 and close the year at 5.75 percent to 6 percent.

Uncle Sam's New Guide to Mortgage Shopping
Federal rules that take effect Friday, Jan. 1, mandate a standard, three-page Good Faith Estimate that urges consumers to shop around for the best loan and helps them compare lenders offerings. The rules are an update of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, a 1974 law known as RESPA.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

• Although Good Faith Estimates have been in use for many years, there never has been a standard form required of all lenders. Under the new rules, lenders and mortgage brokers are required to give consumers the standard estimate forms within 3 days of receiving a loan application.
• The Good Faith Estimate form requires lenders to combine all of the bank's fees into one "origination charge," enabling consumers to compare one lenders fees with others. Lenders are prohibited from increasing the origination fee from the estimate. Some additional charges, including title services and recording charges, can increase by as much as a combined 10 percent. Estimates for other charges, such as homeowners insurance and other services provided by third parties selected by the borrower, are not subject to such limits.
• A finance professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School recommends that borrowers focus on two items as they shop: The interest and the "adjusted origination charge," which includes any points paid to lower the rate.
• Another change includes the HUD1 form used by settlement firms in closings. The new HUD1 includes a comparison of the estimated and final costs, as well as a summary of the loan terms.

The Wall Street Journal

News brought to you by California Association of Realtors

LENDERS TO HALT FORECLOSURE EVICTIONS OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will suspend foreclosure evictions from December 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010. To help struggling families over the holidays, both owner-occupants and tenants living in properties foreclosed upon by Fannie Mae will not be evicted. Freddie Mac's suspension of evictions will be limited to properties up to four units.

In a similar move, Citigroup Inc. will suspend foreclosure sales and evictions for 30 days through January 17, 2010 for loans it owns. Citigroup's foreclosure moratorium, however, does not extend to loans it services on behalf of other investors. Given these developments, other lenders may follow suit, so check with the lender if appropriate.

For release:Friday, Oct. 23, 2009C.A.R. calls for swift adoption of Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment to extend home buyer tax credit LOS ANGELES (Oct. 23) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) today called for the U.S. Senate to swiftly adopt the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment, which would extend and amplify the hugely successful first-time home buyer tax credit until June 30, 2010. “The success of the home buyer tax credit and its positive impact on the real estate market is clear,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “According to our research, nearly 40 percent of first-time buyers said they would not have purchased a home if the federal tax credit for first-time home buyers was not offered. This underscores the significance of the federal tax credit to the housing market’s recovery in California.“The Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment would expand the credit by removing the first-time buyer requirement and instead would apply to all home buyers,” he said. “The amendment also would increase the qualifying income limits to $150,000 for single buyers and $300,000 for those filing joint income tax returns.“We urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer to demonstrate their support for home buyers in California and quickly adopt the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment,” Liptak said.Under additional provisions in the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment, taxpayers would be able to claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The amendment maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order.Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 163,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

For release:Friday, Oct. 30, 2009Extension of conforming loan limits through 2010 earns praise from C.A.R.LOS ANGELES (Oct. 30) –The U.S. Congress late yesterday passed a congressional resolution extending through 2010 the current conforming loan limits of $417,000 for most areas in the U.S. and $729,750 for high-cost areas, including many in California. President Obama is expected to sign the resolution today or tomorrow as part of a broader piece of budgetary legislation that will prevent a government shutdown.The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) have long advocated making permanent higher conforming loan limits. As a result of C.A.R.’s and NAR’s efforts, a provision of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 included temporarily raising the conforming loan limits from $625,500 in high-cost areas to $729,750 and extending the limits through 2009. Yesterday’s actions effectively extend the higher conforming loan limits for Fannie, Freddie, and FHA loans through 2010.“There is no doubt that higher loan limits and the federal tax credit for first-time home buyers have helped stabilize California’s housing market over the last year,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “C.A.R. applauds our congressional representatives for their actions to extend the higher loan limits through 2010. They now should focus on making higher loan limits permanent.”The conforming loan limit determines the maximum size of a mortgage that Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy or “guarantee.” Non-conforming or “jumbo loans” typically carry higher mortgage interest rates than conforming loans, increasing monthly payments and hampering the ability of families in California to purchase homes by making them less affordable.Leading the way...® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with nearly 163,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.