Mortgage Programs
Although I specialize in the residential renovation lending, at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage we support a full menu of loan programs for both purchase and refinance transactions. Feel free to call me to discuss your loan needs.
FHA Loans
FHA home loans are mortgage loans that are insured against default by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans are available for single family and multifamily homes (2-4 unit owner occupied properties). These home loans allow banks to continuously issue loans without much risk or capital requirements. The FHA doesn’t issue loans or set interest rates, it just guarantees against default.
FHA loans allow individuals whom might not qualify for a conventional mortgage obtain a loan, specially first time home buyers. These loans offer low minimum down payments, reasonable credit expectations, and flexible income requirements.
USDA Loans
USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture. In the past, USDA Loans were considered “farm loans”, mostly used to purchase properties in agricultural areas. That is not the case with today’s USDA Loans. In fact, properties in almost every area of the country outside major metropolitan areas can be purchased with a zero-down USDA Loan today.
USDA Guaranteed Loans are the most common type of USDA loan and allow for higher income limits and 100% financing for home purchases. USDA Guaranteed Loan applicants may have an income of up to 115% of the median household income for the area. Maximum USDA Guaranteed Loan income limits for your area can be found at here. USDA mortgage guidelines are written in a way that provides the borrower the benefit of the doubt that there had been, at some point in their past, circumstances beyond their control, and as long as the borrower has recovered from those circumstances in a reasonable manner, they’re generally going to be credit-eligible for an USDA rural loan mortgage. All USDA Guaranteed Loans carry 30 year terms and are set at a fixed rate.
USDA Guaranteed Loans are not totally credit score driven, although it is required to have at least a 620 FICO score to obtain an approval through most lenders. USDA mortgage guidelines are written in a way that provides the borrower the benefit of the doubt that there had been, at some point in their past, circumstances beyond their control, and as long as the borrower has recovered from those circumstances in a reasonable manner, they’re generally going to be credit-eligible for an USDA rural loan mortgage.
VA Home Loans
The VA Loan provides veterans with a federally guaranteed home loan which requires no down payment. This program was designed to provide housing and assistance for veterans and their families, and the dream of home ownership became a reality for millions of veterans.
The Veterans Administration provides insurance to lenders in the case that you may default on a loan. Because the mortgage is guaranteed, lenders will offer a low interest and terms than a conventional home loan. VA home loans are available in all 50 states. The major advantage to a VA home loan is that there is no down payment required to purchase a home.
A VA loan may also have reduced closing costs and no prepayment penalties. Additionally there are services that may be offered to veterans in danger of defaulting on their loans. VA home loans are available to military personal that have either served 181 days during peacetime, 90 days during war, or a spouse of serviceman either killed or missing in action.
Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM)
ARM’s are loans whose interest rate can vary during the loan’s term. These loans usually have a fixed interest rate for an initial period of time and then can adjust based on current market conditions. The initial rate on an ARM is lower than on a fixed rate mortgage which allows you to afford and hence purchase a more expensive home. Adjustable rate mortgages are usually amortized over a period of 30 years with the initial rate being fixed for anywhere from 1 month to 10 years. All ARM loans have a “margin” plus an “index.” Margins on loans range from 1.75% to 3.5% depending on the index and the amount financed in relation to the property value. The index is the financial instrument that the ARM loan is tied to such as: 1-Year Treasury Security, LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate), Prime, 6-Month Certificate of Deposit (CD) and the 11th District Cost of Funds (COFI).
When the time comes for the ARM to adjust, the margin will be added to the index and typically rounded to the nearest 1/8 of one percent to arrive at the new interest rate. That rate will then be fixed for the next adjustment period. This adjustment can occur every year, but there are factors limiting how much the rates can adjust. These factors are called “caps”. Suppose you had a “3/1 ARM” with an initial cap of 2%, a lifetime cap of 6%, and initial interest rate of 6.25%. The highest rate you could have in the fourth year would be 8.25%, and the highest rate you could have during the life of the loan would be 12.25%.
