Loan Basics

Mortgage Basics for Real Estate Professionals & Home Buyers

 

Loan Programs: Traditional – Minimum 5% of borrower(s) own funds

 

Ø      Fixed Rate Mortgage: A mortgage where the interest rate remains the same for the entire term of the loan.

o       30 year, 20 year, 15 year and 10 year options

 

Ø      Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a certain financial market index such as LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offered Rate).

o       3/1, 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 rates are fixed for these periods (3, 5, 7, or 10 years) respectively and will adjust every 1 year afterwards

o       Interest rate after fixed period is known as the fully indexed rate and is calculated by adding the market index + a margin (e.g. 2.25%)

 

Ø      Balloon Mortgage: Usually a five, seven or ten year term where at the end of the term, the remaining outstanding principal on the loan is due. This final payment is known as a balloon payment.

 

Ø      Home Equity Loan (fixed rate) or Home Equity Line of Credit (adjustable rate): a fixed or adjustable rate loan secured by borrowing against the existing equity in your home. Interest paid is usually tax-deductible. Often used for home improvement, debt consolidation, or a down payment on a 2nd home.

 

Loan Programs: Non-Traditional – up to 100% loans

 

Ø      Interest Only: A loan in which simple interest is calculated and due at regular intervals until maturity, when the full principal on the loan is due

 

Some mortgage products do not use income as a qualifier in determining an applicant's loan eligibility. There are many types of loans in which a borrower needs to provide limited or no income documentation including:

 

Ø      No Income Verification: No income information needs to be stated on the application or verified. Only borrower’s credit, assets, employment and the property value are verified.

 

Ø      No Income No Asset (NINA): No income or asset information needs to be verified. Only borrower’s credit, employment and the property value are verified.

 

Ø      No Documentation: No income, assets or employment need to be verified. Only borrower’s credit and the property value are verified.

 

Qualifying Factors for a Mortgage

 

Credit Score: Mathematical summary assigned by weighing various pieces of consumer credit history information. Known as FICO score, the standard measure of credit risk, as created by Fair Issac Corporation.

 

Weighting

Ø      Scores are weighted by payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), credit history (15%), types of credit (10%) and new credit (10%)

Scoring

Ø      Data from all three credit bureaus viewed (Equifax, Trans Union and Experian) with middle score used to determine client credit risk

Ø      Scores range from 400 to 850, with minimum average credit being about 640, and A+ credit starting at 700.

 

Credit Reports & associated scores are the foundation for all mortgage lending, and critically vital in the evaluation of Jumbo Mortgages, High Loan to Value loans, Low Documentation loan programs, 2nd Mortgages and Non-Traditional loan programs

 

Debt to Income Ratio (DTI): Borrower’s payment obligation on long term debts is divided by borrower(s) gross income, before taxes. Two ratios known as “Front” and “Back” ratios are calculated.

 

Front DTI Ratio = Monthly Principal + Interest+ Taxes + Insurance (PITI) ÷ Gross Monthly Income

 

Back DTI Ratio = Monthly PITI + All other Monthly Revolving Debt ÷ Gross Monthly Income

 

Ø      Ideal DTI ratios are 33% (Front) & 38% (Back)

Ø      Back ratio can reach 45%, and 50% in a few specific Loan Program situations

Ø      With certain non-traditional loan programs, Back DTI can reach 50%, or higher

 

Equity: Typically, a buyer must put 20% down for the purchase of a home. This would leave the borrower with a loan to value ratio (LTV) of 80%.

 

LTV: Loan to Value - How does is work?

 

Loan to Value ratio or LTV is the relationship between the amount of the mortgage loan and the appraised value of the property expressed as a percentage. (Loan Amount ÷ Value of Property)

 

Ø      If LTV > 80%, lenders are usually required to carry Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI

Ø      Some programs allow LTV of 95% and greater, without demanding PMI (non-traditional)

Ø      A 2nd mortgage can also be created to avoid > 80% LTV(80% First, 10% Second)