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Lesson 12:. VA-Guaranteed Loans. Introduction. In this lesson we will cover: characteristics of VA loans, eligibility requirements, VA guaranty, VA loan amounts, and underwriting guidelines for VA loans. Introduction.
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Lesson 12: VA-Guaranteed Loans
Introduction • In this lesson we will cover: • characteristics of VA loans, • eligibility requirements, • VA guaranty, • VA loan amounts, and • underwriting guidelines for VA loans.
Introduction • VA loan program was established to help veterans finance the purchase of their homes. • Offers many advantages over conventional financing.
Characteristics of VA Loans • VA-guaranteed loan is made by institutional lender, but a portion of loan is guaranteed by Department of Veterans Affairs. • Protects lender against losses from default.
Characteristics of VA Loans • VA loans may be used to finance purchase or construction of a one- to four-unit residence. • Can’t be used for investor loans. • Veteran must occupy home.
Characteristics of VA Loans • No downpayment required (100% financing). • No maximum loan amount set by VA. • No maximum income limits. • Less stringent qualifying standards. • Can be fixed-rate loan or ARM. • No mortgage insurance required. • No reserves after closing required.
Characteristics of VA Loans • Lender may charge flat fee of no more than 1% of amount financed to cover cost of making loan. • No prepayment penalties. • Can be assumed by creditworthy buyer, veteran or non-veteran. • Forbearance extended to veterans in financial difficulties.
Characteristics of VA Loans Funding fee • Instead of mortgage insurance premiums, VA borrowers must pay VA a funding fee to defray administrative costs of loan program. • Funding fee is percentage of loan amount. • Can be paid at closing or financed.
Characteristics of VA Loans Funding fee • Regular military veteran: funding fee is 2.15% of loan amount, unless veteran makes downpayment of 5% of more. • Reserves or National Guard: funding fee is 2.4% of loan amount, unless vet makes downpayment of 5% of more.
Characteristics of VA Loans Funding fee • Exempt from funding fee requirement: • Veterans entitled to receive VA compensation for service-related disabilities. • Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from service-related disabilities.
Eligibility for VA Loans • Eligibility for VA loans is based on length of active duty service in U.S. armed forces. • Minimum requirement ranges from 90 days to 24 months, depending on whether service was during wartime or peacetime period. • Veterans should check with the VA to determine their eligibility.
Eligibility for VA Loans Certificate of Eligibility • VA determines eligibility. • Issues Certificate of Eligibility, which veteran uses to apply for a VA loan. • Veteran must submit most recent discharge/separation papers. • Lender can usually obtain certificate online.
Eligibility for VA Loans Eligibility of spouse • Surviving spouse may be eligible if veteran was killed in action or died of service-related injuries and spouse has not remarried. • May also be eligible if veteran missing in action or is a prisoner of war.
VA Loan Characteristics and Eligibility VA-guaranteed loan Owner-occupancy requirement No-downpayment loan (100% financing) Forbearance Funding fee Minimum active duty service requirement Certificate of Eligibility
VA Guaranty • Essential feature of VA loans is that they are guaranteed by U.S. government. • Significantly reduces lender’s risk of lossin the event that borrower defaults.
VA Guaranty Guaranty amount • Guaranty covers only a portion of loan amount. • Amount of coverage for a loan is called the guaranty amount.
VA Guaranty Guaranty amount • Guaranty covers only a portion of loan amount. • Amount of coverage for a loan is called the guaranty amount. • Guaranty amount for a loan depends on: • loan amount, and • maximum guaranty amount in county where home is located.
Maximum Guaranty Amount Tied to conforming loan limits • Now VA maximum guaranty amount is tied to conforming loan limits for conventional loans. • Increases automatically when conforming loan limits increased. • Amount may change each year—check with VA for most current figures.
Maximum Guaranty Amount Maximum in most areas • Maximum VA guaranty in most areas: • 25% of Freddie Mac conforming loan limit for one-unit residence. • For 2009, Freddie Mac’s conforming loan limit for a one-unit residence is $417,000. • So 2009 maximum VA guaranty amount in most areas is 25% of $417,000, or $104,250. • $417,000 x .25 = $104,250
Maximum Guaranty Amount Maximum in high-cost areas • Higher maximum guaranty amounts apply in high-cost counties. • High-cost county: County where median house price is higher than national median.
Maximum Guaranty Amount Maximum in high-cost areas • In high-cost county, maximum guaranty is based on median house price in that county. • The higher the median house price, the higher the county’s maximum guaranty. • But no matter how high prices are in the county, maximum guaranty can’t exceed ceiling. • 2009 ceiling: $319,265
VA Guaranty Guaranty based on loan amount • Loan amountGuaranty amount • Up to $45,000:50% of loan amount • $45,001–$56,250: $22,500 • $56,251–$144,000: 40% of loan amount, up to $36,000 • $144,001–$417,000: 25% of loan amount • Over $417,000: 25% of loan amount, up to county max.
VA Guaranty Guaranty entitlement • Guaranty amount available for a particular veteran to use is called the veteran’s entitlement. • Veteran’s entitlement doesn’t expire. • Available until used by veteran or unremarried surviving spouse. • Entitlement is used, and no longer available, when veteran obtains VA loan and buys house.
Veteran’s Liability Liability after default • Liability to VA • If veteran defaults and foreclosure sale results in a loss, VA must reimburse lender. • As a general rule, veteran not required to repay VA for amount paid to lender. • Loan closed on or after January 1, 1990: veteran required to repay VA only if guilty of fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith.
Veteran’s Liability Liability after assumption • VA loan can be assumed by any creditworthy buyer. • May be veteran or non-veteran. • If loan closed on or after March 1, 1988, parties must obtain approval from VA or lender. • Otherwise original borrower remains liable.
Veteran’s Liability Liability after assumption • Assumption will be approved and original borrower released if these conditions are met: • Buyer meets VA underwriting standards. • Loan is current. • Buyer assumes all of original borrower’sloan obligations.
VA Guaranty Refinancing with a VA loan • VA loan can be used to refinance any type of loan. • VA, conventional, FHA, seller financing • Can also be used to pay off other liens, such as tax or judgment liens. • If refinancing non-VA loan, guaranty entitlement must be used.
VA Guaranty Refinancing with a VA loan • Refinancing amount can exceed old loan’s balance, so that veteran also gets cash from loan proceeds. • But refinancing can’t exceed: 100% of appraised value, plus funding fee, plus cost of energy-efficient improvements. • Normal VA underwriting standards apply.
VA Guaranty Guaranty amount Maximum guaranty amount Entitlement Restoration of entitlement Remaining entitlement Substitution of entitlement Refinancing Streamline refinancing
VA Loan Amounts Lender’s 25% rule • Only other restrictions on loan amount come from lender, not VA. • Lenders generally want guaranty amount to equal at least 25% of loan amount. • Otherwise hard to sell loan on secondary market.
VA Loan Amounts Lender’s 25% rule • So most lenders won’t make no-downpayment VA loan for more than 4 times guaranty amount. • For larger loan, downpayment required. • Guaranty + downpayment must equal at least 25% of price.
VA Loan Amounts Making a downpayment • Example • Sales price: $435,000 • Maximum VA guaranty in county: $104,250. • Lender won’t make loan for more than $417,000 without downpayment. • $435,000 Sales price • x .25 • $108,750 25% of price - 104,250 Guaranty $4,500 Downpayment required
VA Loan Amounts Making a downpayment • Example, cont. • $435,000 Sales price - 4,500 Downpayment $430,500 Loan amount
Underwriting Guidelines • Lenders use standards established by VA to analyze veteran’s creditworthiness. • Two methods of income analysis for VA loans: • income ratio method, and • residual income method.
Underwriting Guidelines Income ratio analysis • VA uses debt to income ratio to analyze income of loan applicant. • Ratio generally shouldn’t exceed 41% unless there are compensating factors. • Debts with more than 10 payments left are counted as recurring obligations.
Underwriting Guidelines Residual income analysis • Residual income analysis (also called cash flow analysis) is second method used to qualify loan applicant. • Gross monthly income • − Taxes, recurring obligations, housing expense • Residual income
Underwriting Guidelines Residual income analysis • Vet’s residual income should be at least one dollar more than VA’s minimum requirement. • Minimum requirement varies according to: • region of the country, • family size, and • size of proposed loan.
VA Loan Amounts and Underwriting Notice of Value Downpayment Secondary financing Income ratio analysis Residual income analysis Compensating factors