Atlanta Mortgage Lender

All-time Low Mortgage Rates

All-time Low Mortgage Rates

I never thought I would see this day, but we are seeing rates in the high 3’s on 15 year fixed loans and in the mid 4’s for a 30 year fixed.  It’s amazing – rates are currently the lowest they have ever been since they began recording them 36 years ago.  You may have heard how difficult it is to refinance in 2010 — qualifying is harder and property values in Atlanta are down a bit.  Add to that the fact that the big banks are now working on 90 day rate locks because they are so backed up with applications, and many people are just choosing to sit this out.  But you owe it to yourself to at least take a look at the options.

If you can answer yes to all of those questions, then you most likely qualify.  If you have an FHA loan, you can refinance WITH NO APPRAISAL REQUIRED, so you can ignore the first item regarding equity.

What if my home has lost value?

There is a government program that could still allow you to refinance.  It’s called HARP – Home Affordable Refinance Program, and it was implemented in 2009 to try to assist more homeowners to be able to refinance.  In short, if your loan is held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, then this program allows you to refinance even if your home has declined in value.

For example, if you purchased with 20% down, but your home has declined in value – the program allows you to refinance anyway, WITHOUT ADDING MORTGAGE INSURANCE.

But how do you know if you are eligible?  It’s easy to check.  Visit the following websites and fill in the form and you will get a message indicating whether Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac own your mortgage.  Keep in mind that while your bill comes from Wells, Chase, Citi, BofA, etc, in most cases those loans are ultimately held by Fannie or Freddie – so do yourself a favor and check.

If you have any questions about your eligibility to refinance or if you want to see what your options look like, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss the specifics of your situation.  And take advantage of the lowest rates in history!

100% Financing on Jumbo Mortgages

Many high net worth borrowers are shocked at the lack of availability of low down payment options in the current mortgage lending landscape.  Most lenders are requiring at least a 20% down payment on any jumbo loan with even higher down payment requirements for super jumbos.    That means that many high net worth individuals are faced with the prospect of having to liquidate a large portion of their investment portfolio in order to purchase real estate.

We have a solution to this problem with our high net worth second mortgages.  And unlike the traditional “pledged asset” mortgage, you will be able to keep your securities in your name in a brokerage account.  We can do 80-20 loans at very attractive rates for borrowers who have the portfolio values to allow it – typically, you will need assets that are two times the amount of the second mortgage needed.   Another possibility is to use this 2nd mortgage to keep your first mortgage at the $417k level in order to secure the best rates available today.

You can keep your investment portfolio working for you while obtaining the funds needed to close on your home purchase.  On a refinance, if you have an issue with the appraised value, you can still get the refinance done and take advantage of the low rates available today by utilizing this 2nd mortgage product to pay down some of your first mortgage.

A quick example: Borrower is purchasing a $1M property and wants to bring no money down to the transaction.  The borrower has $400k in various securities.  We can provide a jumbo mortgage for $800k at a very attractive 30 year fixed rate of 5.50% (5.67% APR).  The 2nd mortgage amount of $200k can be made based on the securities held and that rate would be a variable rate that is currently 5.35% (5.49% APR).  This 2nd mortgage is an interest only loan and in most cases, the interest is tax deductible.

Refinance Example: Borrower had a current $500k loan balance and a rate of 6.5%.  The property appraised for only $522k, meaning that the loan to value is 96% on the new refinance – which is not possible on a jumbo mortgage.  The rate that the borrower was quoted on this new jumbo was 5.5%, however, his lender was unable to do the loan.  We stepped in and took over at that point, and broke the loan down into a $417k first mortgage (80% loan to value) and a $83k second.  The rate that we secured on the first was 4.5% (4.68% APR) – a full point lower than the jumbo rate the borrower was trying to get.  The rate on the 2nd was 5.35% (5.49% APR).  In the end, the borrower saved $358 per month over the jumbo refinance option and saved $775 over their old 6.5% loan.

Please contact us to get more details on this program.

The Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) – Guest Post by Jason Payne of Structured Energies

What is an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)?

As the single largest housing expense after a mortgage payment, utility costs can have a direct impact on how large of a mortgage a homebuyer can afford. Buyers can save money on the cost of utilities by making energy efficient improvements to the home they are purchasing. New homebuyers or current homeowners can use FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) to finance the cost of these improvements. FHA offers the Energy Efficient Mortgage Program to allow homebuyers to finance the purchase of a home—or refinance a homeowner’s current mortgage—and include the cost of the energy-saving, cost-effective improvements through a single mortgage. FHA’s EEM program recognizes the monthly utility cost savings when homebuyers make energy efficient improvements. Borrowers may use the EEM program to finance the cost of energy efficient improvements into their new mortgages, without the need to qualify for additional financing, because cost-effective energy improvements result in lower utility bills making more funds available for their mortgage payments.

How the Loan Works

Buyers can take out an EEM loan as a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage or as an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) from an FHA-approved lender. FHA requires that a 3.5% cash investment be made on the property, based on the sale price. The total amount of the mortgage is based on the value of the home plus the projected cost of energy efficient improvements.

Because the home will be more energy efficient, owners will save on utility costs and, therefore, be able to devote more income to the monthly mortgage payment. The final loan amount can exceed the maximum FHA mortgage limit by the amount of the energy efficient improvements. Buyers may finance into the mortgage the cost of the energy efficient improvements determined to be cost-effective.

A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) provider will complete a measurement of the home’s energy efficiency and provide a report listing recommended cost effective energy improvements, an estimated cost of the energy improvements, and estimated energy savings to the buyers and their lender. Buyers may finance the cost of the energy inspection report as part of the mortgage if the entire package, including these fees, is cost-effective. The amount of the energy efficient improvements is placed in an escrow account and released after an inspection verifies that the improvements are installed and the energy savings will be achieved. Buyers can begin making energy improvements after the loan’s closing, and the work must be completed within 90 days.

Eligibility

Almost anyone who has satisfactory credit, enough cash to close the loan, and sufficient steady income to make monthly mortgage payments can be approved for a FHA-insured EEM loan. There is no upper age limit and no certain income level required. The following types of properties are eligible under the EEM program, including new construction or existing one- to four-unit single-family residences:

• Single Family Detached Homes
• Townhomes
• Condominiums (certain restrictions apply)

Examples of improvements that are made under an EEM loan

• Air sealing
• Duct sealing
• Replacing a heating/cooling system
• Replacing a water heater
• Lighting retro-fits
• Fixing or replacing a chimney
• Insulating an attic, crawl space, exterior walls, and/or pipes and air ducts
• Replacing doors or windows
• Installing active and passive solar technologies
• Installing a programmable thermostat

Combining EEMs with other programs

EEMs can be combined with other FHA products including 203(k) and Streamlined(k) purchase or refinance. The energy efficient improvements completed under an EEM will qualify for the $1,500 Federal Tax Credit. Also, Georgia Power customers can receive up to an additional $1,900 in rebates, including $200 for the initial energy assessment, through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program that is being offered in the metro Atlanta area. Homeowners across the area who have already taken advantage of this program are seeing documented savings of 20%-50% on their energy bills. Many other state and federal programs also offer up to 65% in rebates and tax incentives for renewable energy installations such as solar and geothermal.

A Recent EEM Case Study

Charles, a new resident of Atlanta, recently purchased a beautiful home in the heart of the city that was built in 1955 and was very inefficient. By using the FHA EEM Program, he added $8,000 for energy efficient improvements to his loan with no additional qualifying. With this money he was able to install a high-efficiency furnace, a new duct system, foam insulation in the floor over the crawlspace, an ENERGY STAR programmable thermostat, and attic air sealing and insulation. His house is now much more comfortable and is $85 per month less expensive to operate. Though his mortgage payment increased by $55 per month, the $85 per month of savings in energy costs have offset that and actually put $30 back in his pocket every month. Charles also took advantage of Georgia Power’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program and received $1,300 in rebates for the initial assessment fees and completed improvement work. In addition, he was able to get the full $1,500 Federal Tax Credit for energy efficient improvements. If that’s not enough, as a first time buyer, Charles will receive the $8,000 tax credit as well. After combining all of the savings, rebates, and tax credits, Charles is now enjoying over $11,000 he received through his EEM. Not to mention, he now owns a more valuable, durable, and comfortable home that is less expensive to own and operate.

Why Now?

If you are considering purchasing a new home or refinancing your current home, now is the time to act. Interest rates are low, and many programs offering rebates and tax incentives have limited funding and will likely be discontinued or replaced by lesser incentives as this funding dwindles. First time buyers and move up buyers have until April 30^th to be approved before the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credits expire. Electric and natural gas rates are also expected to rise in the next few months making this the perfect time to make your home energy efficient through an FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage.

About Jason Payne

Jason Payne is the owner and President of Structured Energies, LLC. Structured Energies, LLC is committed to providing comfort, quality, efficiency, and value for all of our customers throughout the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area.  We help facilitate many federal, state, and local energy efficiency programs that offer rebates and tax incentives associated with energy efficient improvements made to new and existing single family and multi-family homes. Programs such as ENERGY STAR® for new homes,  Home Performance with ENERGY STAR for existing homes, Energy Efficient Mortgages, and Energy Improvement Mortgages