Category: 2022 Kentucky USDA Mortgage Guides Updated

Kentucky USDA Guideline Updates for


  • Annual Qualifying Income – The requirement for calculations to be included on the Income Calculation worksheet have been removed and should now be included on Attachment 9-B, the underwriter transmittal summary, FNMA form 1008/Freddie form 1077, or equivalent
  • 4506-T – The requirement for asset statements to be reviewed to ensure borrowers have no additional income sources has been removed.
  • Repayment Income – MCC income must now be included in repayment income.
  • Boarder Income – USDA now considers a boarder as a household member and a boarder’s income must now be included in annual income calculation. Rent paid by boarders that is reported on tax returns must also be included in annual income.
  • Capital Gains – USDA removed requirement from Repayment Income to provide evidence showing borrowers own additional property or assets that may be sold if additional income is needed to support the mortgage obligation
  • Commission – The borrower must now show one year history in same or similar line of work to include commission in repayment income.
  • Fellowship, Stipend, Scholarship – Scholarship award letters must now provide date of termination and USDA will no longer presume benefits with no expiration date will continue. USDA also added guidelines for GI Bill income and stated it cannot be included in annual or repayment income.
  • MCC – This income must now be included in repayment income, but no history is required. A copy of the W-4 from employer is required to verify borrower is taking tax credit on monthly basis. Note: MCC’s are ineligible with FWL as qualifying income.
  • Unreimbursed Business Income – only taxable income is allowed to be included in repayment income
  • Section 8 – USDA removed requirement for section 8 income to be deducted from the monthly PITI to determine DTI if it is paid directly to the loan servicer when included in the repayment income.
  • Self Employed Income – Federal tax returns must now be reviewed to determine gross income for annual calculations. Removed requirement to deduct business loss before entering as repayment income into GUS or on loan application. Clarified documentation requirements as most recent 2 years of federal tax returns / transcripts & YTD P&L may be audited or unaudited
  • Social Security Income – clarified documentation options and will allow social security benefit statement or form SSA-1099/1042S to source
  • Temporary Leave – The history requirements for repayment income has been changed and now income must be received by loan closing.
  • Cash on Hand – The underwriter must review the reasonableness of accumulation based upon income stream, spending habits, etc. and cash on hand can no longer be included in reserves
  • Gift Funds – Clarification provided on how gift funds must be sourced when gift funds have been deposited into borrower’s account, not deposited into borrower’s account, or if funds are being wired directly to the settlement agent.
  • Large Deposits – USDA no longer addresses lump sum additions.

click link below

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KENTUCKY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT HOME LOAN


​ HOME LOAN BASICS

  • NO DOWN PAYMENT REQUIRED
  • Closing costs can be financed into the loan
  • Minimal credit score requirements – NO minimum score
  • Low monthly mortgage insurance
  • Home must be located in an eligible area
  • Home must meet property eligibility requirements
  • Fill out worksheet to get additional information about qualifying
  • Must be a regular stick-built home
  • Single Close Construction Program available
  • USDA to USDA Streamline Refinances available

SFH Direct Loan and Grant Programs

February 7, 2022

Fee Increases for Origination Appraisals and Conditional Commitments

An Unnumbered Letter (UL) dated February 4, 2022, has been issued which increases the appraisal fee to $750 and the conditional commitment fee to $825 under the direct programs.  The fee increases are effective March 6, 2022.  The increased fees reflect market price increases for origination appraisals in rural areas and the average cost of appraisals under the programs’ nationwide contract with the Appraisal Management Companies.

Rural Development staff will follow the implementation responsibilities outlined in the UL, which has been posted to https://www.rd.usda.gov/resources/directives/unnumbered-letters under Housing Programs (or click here for a direct link). 

When qualifying for a USDA Loan and the borrower already owns another house?


The USDA Loan assumes a very conservative perspective on financing homeowners who already own a home, unless the borrower can prove that the current home is not “adequate or suitable” for the borrower’s needs. Owning a house can be defined as not only being on the mortgage loan but also being on title to the property without being on the mortgage loan for that property. Factors that can determine when a house is not “adequate or suitable” include the following:

  • Household size change in which the borrower’s family size now exceeds the room count of the current house. The assumption being made here is that there is more than 1.5 household residents per room. The room count generally includes a living room, dining room, kitchen, recreation room, and bedroom(s). Room counts do not include bathrooms, hallways, or foyers.
  • In the case of divorce where the borrower remains on the mortgage loan, but the Courts have awarded the house to the ex-spouse.
  • Job transfer in which the borrower has relocated more than 50 miles away from the current residence.
  • Manufactured houses (i.e. doublewides) not on a permanent foundation.
  • The current house is not suitable due to documentable health and safety related issue, which includes the disability or limited mobility of a household resident that cannot be accommodated without substantial retrofitting of the current house.

Under no circumstances will the borrower be able to obtain another USDA Loan if the existing home is already financed using a USDA Loan. When qualifying for a USDA Loan and the borrower already owns another house, the costs associated with the current house, including the mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner insurance, condo or Homeowner Association Fees, and lot rent in the case of a manufactured home, will be considered a liability to the borrower when calculating their debt-to-income ratio.

If the borrower has two years of rental history, as documented on their tax returns, the mortgage liability can be offset by the rental income. Also, in the case of a court ordered divorce settlement where the borrower can document 12 months of on-time mortgage payments being made by their ex-spouse, the liability can be excluded.

 

Joel Lobb
Mortgage Loan Officer
Individual NMLS ID #57916
 
American Mortgage Solutions, Inc.
 
Text/call:      502-905-3708
fax:            502-327-9119
email:          kentuckyloan@gmail.com
 

Kentucky USDA Rural Development Loan Program:


The following is a list of the “nuts and bolts” of the Kentucky USDA Rural Development Loan Program:

  • The house has to be located in a Kentucky USDA Rural Development Loan Program: area designated as an USDA eligible area.
  • To determine the USDA approved designated areas, reference the following USDA map instructions:
    • Go the USDA Rural Development Website
    • On the top left hand side, click “Single Family Housing Guaranteed”
    • Click “Accept”
    • Enter the property address to determine if a specific house or general area is located in an USDA eligible area
  • The household income must be moderate as determined by USDA. The USDA Loan evaluates household income, which includes the combined income of all adults living in the household; even if they are not on the mortgage loan. Click here to determine your household income eligibility.
  • If it appears that the household income exceeds the moderate income thresholds established by USDA, do not throw in the towel just yet. USDA allows for deductions for child care and medical expenses as well as for children, students, and elderly members of the household that will be living in the USDA financed property.
  • This is not a farmer’s loan. As a matter of fact, the property cannot have any income producing capabilities, and when the land value of the property exceeds 30% of the appraised value additional requirements must be met.
  • The house has to be in fairly good condition. The appraisal type being utilized is an FHA appraisal, so make sure that there are not any safety related challenges(i.e. missing banisters, peeling paint, exposed electric).
  • This is a true no money down loan program. Or stated differently, you do not need a down payment.
  • While there is a monthly mortgage insurance premium (or prorated portion of an Annual Fee), the cost of the monthly mortgage insurance is 59% less than a comparable FHA Loan. This makes the USDA loan more affordable than an FHA Loan when analyzing down payment requirements and monthly mortgage payments.
  • The seller can pay all closing costs and pre-paids (i.e. escrows). Often the home buyer’s only out-of-pocket cost as part of the purchase transaction is approximately $550 for the appraisal report.
  • If the house appraises for more than the purchase price, the difference can be used to pay for closing costs and pre-paids (i.e. escrows). Only the USDA Loan program allows for closing costs to be rolled on top of the purchase price.
  • USDA has no restriction on whether you are a first time home buyer or move-up home buyer.
  • This loan program is only for primary residence (i.e. no second home or investment properties).
  • You should not own any other functional property; although there are some circumstances under which USDA may waive this requirement.
  • The preferred minimum credit score is 640. However, if you have a documented rent history, no late payments on your credit cards, and no new collections within the last 12 months, a credit score as low as 620 may be considered.
  • All property types including single family homes, town homes, modular, and even condominiums qualify for this loan program. Manufacture homes such as single and doublewides constructed prior to January 1, 2006 do not qualify.
  • There is no maximum mortgage amount, but the house does have to be considered moderate in a size

Income Requirements for a Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Loan.


Key reminders for income calculations:


• Look at the date of employment, date the recent pay stub pays through, and the VOE.
• Look for overtime, bonus, commission, or any additional income that should be counted and count it.
• Make sure you are calculating your days correctly when averaging the income.
• If there has been a recent increase in salary or hourly rate, use the higher salary or hourly rate when calculating the Annual Household Income.
• #1 Reminder: Document your process. USDA reviewers look for Underwriter notes and any sort of explanation. It helps them to review a file faster if they don’t have to recreate what has already been done. 

Q. The applicant has a history of overtime, with a substantial amount received year to date; however, the VOE states the overtime is unlikely to continue. Do I need to include overtime in the annual income calculation?

A. Annual income is calculated based on what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months. If there is a history of overtime, it would need to be considered by the underwriter when calculating annual
income. Ultimately it is the approved lender’s responsibility to review the complete income history to determine what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months and to document the permanent loan file
to support their lending decisions.

Q. Does the IRS child tax credit need to be included in the annual income calculation?

A. No, tax credits, including the Child Tax Credit are not included in the Annual income calculation.

Q. Is per diem considered in annual income calculations?

A. If the per diem is taxable income, then it must be included in annual income. If the per diem is non-taxable income, it is considered reimbursement and therefore not included in annual income.

Q. The VOE states the applicant is expected to receive a 3% pay raise within the next 3 months. Do we have to count this expected increase in annual income?

A. Annual income is calculated based on what is expected to be received in the ensuing 12 months, including bonus income, projected pay raises, etc. If a pay raise is expected within the next 12 months, it would need to be included in the annual income calculation.

Q. We have a borrower that is divorced and has joint custody of a child that is only claimed on the tax returns as a dependent every other tax year. Can we consider this child a household member for the calculation of family size and income eligibility?

A. Applicants with shared custody may include their children as household members and receive the $480 per
child deduction.
 Annual household income for Kentucky USDA Loans

All files must include an income calculation worksheet.
Lenders may document their income calculations on their own in-house income worksheet

Defines Annual Income as: Income from all household members who live or propose to live in the dwelling as their primary residence for all or part of the ensuing 12 months. Adjusted annual income is used to determine whether an applicant is income-eligible for a guaranteed loan, or interest assistance, if applicable.

Adjusted annual income provides for deductions to account for varying household circumstances and expenses.