Houston Mortgage Blog

FHA loans increases its costs 75% overnight!

Posted by Daniel Jara on Tue, Apr, 10, 2012 @ 07:04 AM

That’s right. No exaggeration here. Starting this past Monday April 9th all FHA loan files will reflect a slew of new changes NONE of which are here to favor the home buyer. Through these changes FHA has tighten the purse strings on financing and some pundits, including yours truly, believe it’s because FHA just cannot handle the current risk of continuing to absorb close to 8x the volume they used to handle prior to the sub-prime crisis. As some in the industry now call it, “FHA IS the new subprime” or at least it used to be. Starting in early 2009 FHA started making major changes to their underwriting requirements and steadily increased its mortgage insurance costs but nothing as financially drastically as these changes.

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Topics: Avoid Mortgage Insurance, mortgage, Purchase

Refinance with NO appraisal, income verification or minimum FICO!

Posted by Daniel Jara on Thu, Mar, 29, 2012 @ 07:03 AM

Welcome back sub-prime? Well not necessarily. But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has revamped a 2yr old refinance program created under HARP (Home Affordability Refinance Program) and has re-launched it as HARP2 or DU Refi Plus. HARP2/DU REFI PLUS’ new features will increase the availability of refinancing to millions of Americans currently left on the sideline due to falling home values. Estimates put this number as high as 2 million new eligible loans.

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Topics: mortgage, Mortgages, Refinance, Mortgage Refinance

Tax Filing Blunders When Getting a Mortgage (part 5): Under-declaring

Posted by Daniel Jara on Thu, Mar, 15, 2012 @ 07:03 AM

In the past 4 blogs of this tax blunder series we have discussed the self-employed (part1); business or rental property owners (part 2); retirees (part 3) and W2 employees (part4) tax filing blunders when trying to establish a mortgage. Most of these tax blunders share in common over declaring or misidentifying expenses. But what about under declaring income? Can that really happen, do people really do that? Well yes, and this Houston mortgage broker has seen it happen more than once. Remember, if you don't pay (your taxes) you can't play.

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Topics: mortgage, Tax Filing Blunders, Mortgage Companies Houston

Common Tax Filing Blunders When Getting a Mortgage (part 4)

Posted by Daniel Jara on Tue, Mar, 13, 2012 @ 07:03 AM

In the past three installments we have explored the common tax filing blunders that can plague self-employed borrowers (part 1); business or rental property owners (part 2); and retirees (part 3) when trying to establish a mortgage. But what if you are neither of the aforementioned? If not self-employed, not a business owner and not retired, your taxes are what they are, right? Not so fast there partner. This Houston mortgage broker has seen many a clever W2 employees commit one or one-too many tax somersaults to save handsomely on their tax return just to be disillusioned at time of application for that mortgage.
  
Expensing a car loan could hurt you twice (and wheels come flying off)

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Topics: mortgage, Tax Filing Blunders, Mortgages, Mortgage Companies Houston, Mortgage Refinance

Common Tax Filing Blunders When Getting a Mortgage (part 3)

Posted by Daniel Jara on Fri, Mar, 02, 2012 @ 07:03 AM

Tax filings mistakes can wreck your chances at establishing that mortgage you need for your dream or retirement home. In the previous two blogs I wrote about the pitfalls surrounding self-employed tax filing blunders however there are common tax blunders that this Houston mortgage broker finds often among retirees. Retirees listen up, just because you have a lot of savings does not mean you will get that mortgage. Read on and make sure you do not fall victim to one of the biggest pitfalls I see riterees commit.

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Topics: mortgage, Tax Filing Blunders, Retirees, Mortgage Companies Houston