FHA Loan Limits for Los Angeles County and Orange County - Long Beach Real Estate

FHA Loan Limits for Los Angeles County and Orange County - Long Beach Real Estate

Long Beach Real Estate News

Long Beach Real Estate News

New FHA Loan Limits

 

Los Angeles County and Orange County FHA loan limits are rising January 1, 2009.  What does that mean to todays home buyers?  This means that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans remain high through the end of 2008, buyers can qualify for higher loans on homes closing prior to the end of this year.  Once the New Year rolls around buyers will have less buying power due to the lower loan limits.  This is true for all residential loans, including; homes, condos and residential investment property under 4 units. 

 

 Current FHA Loan Limits through 12/31/2008

Maximum Loan Amount
One Unit Limit
$729,750
Two Unit Limit
$934,200
Three Unit Limit
$1,129,250
Four Unit Limit
$1,403,400


Whats the big deal?  Lower maximums loan amounts means decreased buying power. 


FHA Loan Limits Effective 1/1/2009 Maximum Loan Amount
One Unit Limit
$625,500
Two Unit Limit
$800,775
Three Unit Limit
$967,950
Four Unit Limit
$1,202,925

 

Today is November 16, 2008.  It is still possible to find and close on a home or condo before the new lower loan limits take effect.  If you have been thinking about buying, were contemplating putting that purchase off until after the New Year and are in the price range that would be affected by the new lower FHA loan limits, you might want to consider getting out there right now while you can still take advantage of the higher FHA loan limits.  Remember, your escrow must close prior to 12/31/2008. 

 

Federal Housing Authority Home


Real estate is always a good purchase, now really is a very good time to consider purchasing a Long Beach Home, Condo or Income Property.  If you have been sitting on the fence call us today to discuss your needs and wants.  We are always here for you.  Call Laurie (562) 212-5420

 

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Posted on November 17, 2008 03:13:16 by Laurie.Manny
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Bank of America Announces Nationwide Homeownership Retention Program for Countrywide Customers-Long Beach Real Estate

Bank of America Announces Nationwide Homeownership Retention Program for Countrywide Customers-Long Beach Real Estate

Long Beach HomesOwners of Long Beach Homes and Long Beach Condos who are occupying their homes are finally being offered an option to save themselves from Short Sale and Foreclosure through Bank of Americas new relief program for Countrywide customers.  Restrictions do apply so be sure to read all of the details in the related links. 

 

Countrywide customers finally get some relief through the Bank of America Nationwide Homeownership Retention Program. 

 

Program will systematically modify troubled mortgages with up to $8.4 billion in interest rate and principal reductions for nearly 400,000 Countrywide Financial Corporation customers nationwide.

 

 

Beginning December 1, 2008, Countrywide will proactively contact subprime and Pay Option ARM borrowers whose loans are scheduled for an interest rate change.

 

This program is designed to try to keep homeowners in their homes by way of affordable mortgage payments for borrowers who financed their homes with subprime loans or pay option adjustable rate mortgages serviced by Countrywide and originated prior to December 31, 2007.  Countrywide will forestall the foreclosure process until a decision regarding eligibility is made for qualified recipients. 


Long Beach Mortgages and Home LoansModification options include, among others:

  • FHA refinancing under the HOPE for Homeowners Program;
  • Interest rate reductions, which may be granted automatically through streamlined processing; and
  • Principal reductions on Pay Option adjustable rate mortgages that restore lost equity for certain borrowers.


One of the requirements for eligibility is occupying the home as your primary residence. 


As part of agreements to resolve outstanding claims against Countrywide by certain states, borrowers in participating states will additionally be eligible to access their share of:

 

  • A Foreclosure Relief Program of $150 million on a nationwide basis for payment to eligible Countrywide servicing customers who suffered foreclosure or are currently at serious risk of foreclosure having made only minimal payments since the time their mortgages were originated by Countrywide; and
  • An additional program, projected to make payments up to $70 million to support customers with loans serviced by Countrywide who face imminent foreclosure, providing financial assistance with their transition from home ownership.

 

As part of the state agreements, Countrywide is further committing to eligible borrowers in participating states that it will waive late fees associated with a borrower's default in finalizing modifications under the program.


If you have a home loan through Countrywide and your home is in jeopardy this is a great opportunity for you to work out a plan to keep your Long Beach homes by re-arranging your mortgage through these new programs.  Please read the entire press release>>>>>>>>

 

 



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Posted on October 07, 2008 01:00:00 by Laurie.Manny
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Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: September 18, 2008

Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: September 18, 2008

Remember when I talked about the whipsaw effect, yesterday? Rates with no lender compensation to the broker, called "par" rates in the industry *, are 5.875% now.  That's .375% higher than the 5.5% I reported yesterday.


Will mortgage rates come back down?


Maybe.  They SHOULD since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Treasury.  They SHOULD start behaving like the 10-year treasury bond yield, which is down .06% in yield today.  They SHOULD be at the 5.5%  mark....but they're not.

 

The mortgage default crisis spread to the world's largest insurance company, prompting yet another government bailout.  Mortgage bond traders are starting to think that the US Treasury is going to have to start offering classes of debt, to deal with the crisis.


Stratification of debt, like the old Resolution Trust Corporation bonds, will most likely take us back to where mortgage-backed securities trade at a wide premium to Treasury debt.  This isn't happening but mortgage bond traders are speculating that it might. If it does, then the demand for a 30 year mortgage, loaned to you, the American borrower, is not as high as a direct obligation of the US government.

 

What we seek to discover is how IRRATIONAL this fear, conjecture, and speculation is.  While it doesn't seem rational, it isn't quite irrational at these price levels.  If the 10-year treasury bond stays under 3.5% yield, and the mortgage bonds sell-off pushes mortgage rates up over 6.0%, then I think the fear isirrational and will change my recommendation- I'm still suggesting that you lock your mortgage rate at application.


* A par rate is where the originating mortgage broker does not receive any yield spread premium from the lender.  Borrowers can negotiate a fee for the mortgage broker to give you access to "par rates", which are typically lower than the "retail" rates banks offer.


Long Beach mortgage rates report is offered courtesy of Brian Brady.  Contact Brian for more information about a home loan



Brian J. Brady
World Wide Credit Corp
(858) 777-9751

PS- Please check out my references on LinkedIn

 

 

 



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Posted on September 18, 2008 21:58:27 by Laurie.Manny
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Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: September 17, 2008

Long Beach Mortgage Rates Report: September 17, 2008

 

Holy Heat Miser, Batman...it's a meltdown!


Had you taken my advice this weekend, and immediately locked your mortgage rate yesterday, you would have lost out.  The par rate for a 30-year fixed rate conforming loan was 5.625% yesterday- today that par rate is 5.5%.  My advice would have cost you .125% in rate.  Alas, my mortgage rates report is not about "catching the bottom" as much as it is about "avoiding the top"; it's about mitigating market risk.  From my explanation on the Zillow Mortgage Blog:

 

My approach is with an aversion to risk so I'm biased towards locking rather than floating a rate.  What I do try to find is overreactions in the MBS market so that you won't lock your mortgage rate at the top nor float your mortgage rate when higher rates are imminent.  My customers RARELY catch the "bottom" but they miss out on many "tops" when locking their rate.

I look for irrational exuberance or irrational fear.  If I think markets are being too optimistic, like this week, I advise customers to lock.  The whipsaw reaction to irrational exuberance is irrational fear; a steep rise in mortgage rates.  THAT is what I want to avoid.

 

Long-term, I feel that the government bailouts of financial institutions will result in a hefty price tag to the taxpayer, which is inflationary in nature.  I look for markets to start reacting to this sooner rather than later.


If you have a definitive closing date for the purchase of your home, lock-in your mortgage rate today.  If you're shopping for a new home. locking your mortgage rate at contract acceptance is advisable.  If you are one of the fortunate few with equity, good income, and good credit, and want to refinance your home loan, today looks better than next year.  I'd love to discuss your options with you.


PS:  In my last report, a Florida mortgage broker suggested that my risk mitigation strategy is inferior to a "lock and pray "approach:

 

Bottomline, none of us knows what is going to happen, so the smartest course is to lock with a lender that will renegotiate your rate when we experience one of these rapid drops that occur with little advance notice.

 

I'll agree that prescience is a virtue best reserved for the Divine.  My faith in the predictability of mortgage lenders' actions has been shaken over the last year.  I've seen lenders flip programs to make an extra buck and back off approvals.  While this gentleman's strategy has proved superior to mine, this month, I still rely on my charts and research to execute low rates for my customers.


Long Beach mortgage rates report is offered courtesy of Brian Brady.  

 

 

 



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Posted on September 16, 2008 23:01:02 by Laurie.Manny
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Long Beach California Mortgage Rates Report: July 10, 2008

July is offers good chance to refinance

Mortgage rates in Long Beach, California for July 10, 2008.  Loan amounts up to $417,000:

(Be sure to watch the video commentary, directly below)

3/1 ARM              5.125%

5/1 ARM              5.375%

7/1 ARM              5.625%

10/1 ARM            6.000%

30 Yr Fixed          6.125%

All rates offered to the borrower with 1 point cost.  Rate quotes assume a purchase transaction with a 20% down payment, 720 credit score, and full income qualification.  Rates are subject to fluctuation.  Custom rate quotes and rate lock advice are available by calling at the number below..

LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA  MORTGAGE RATE TREND:

Next 7 days:        Lower

Next 30 days:      Slightly Lower 

Next 3 months:    Higher

 

 



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Posted on July 10, 2008 18:34:33 by Brian.Brady
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To begin your search for the perfect home or to sell your home in the Long Beach area, begin your journey by calling Laurie Manny at (562) 212-5420.