Category: 2022 Kentucky USDA Mortgage Guides Updated

Kentucky USDA Guideline Updates for

Kentucky USDA Homes for Sale

  • 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.

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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). 

Kentucky USDA Rural Housing Appraisal Requirements

As with all loan programs, the USDA Loan requires that an independent appraiser inspect the subject property in order to determine the property value. Specific to a USDA Loan, the appraisal report will be conducted by an FHA approved appraiser. The appraisal report must include verbiage or similar verbiage:

“The subject meets minimum standards as set under guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and indicated in Handbooks 4000.1”

No different from a FHA or VA appraisal inspection, the appraiser is required to document all property deficiencies that preclude the appraiser from signing off on their report. A property deficiency is any defect to the house that the appraiser deems necessary to have repaired to ensure compliance to the loan program guidelines. Typical examples of property deficiencies include:

  • Chipped and peeling paint
  • Missing handrails on stairs and railing on decks
  • Lights not working properly and wires hanging out of the electrical box
  • Non-working heating and cooling systems and plumbing
  • Houses that do not have utilities turned on

If a property has deficiencies, the appraiser will determine the value of the property, but state that their report is subject to the property defects listed being corrected. After the property defects are repaired, the appraiser will re-inspect the property, and signoff if the required repairs have been completed.

Bottom line, the USDA Loan program is designed to finance homes that are in move-in condition, not fixer-uppers. However, on a subsequent email I will review an option to establish a repair escrow account to address certain property deficiencies. The repair escrow account is only available through one of my many USDA lenders, so it is imperative to inform me when making an offer a house if this option will be required.

Kentucky Rural Housing USDA Loan Student Loan Debt Calculations

How to Qualify for a Rural Housing Loan in Kentucky with Student Loans.

For potential home buyers with student loans that are either in a deferred payment status or being paid back through an income based or graduated repayment program, the treatment of this liability needs to be considered.

When student loan debts are not currently being paid upon, due to the loan applicant still being in school or recently graduating from school, the monthly liability will be calculated based on the lower of 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding loan balance or the monthly payment listed on the credit report.

Example if you owe $100,000 in student loan debt the monthly payment will be $500. Also, if the student loan is being paid upon, but at a lesser amount than originally agreed, such as the payment being determined based on repayment ability (i.e. Income Based Repayment Plan), the monthly payment will be calculated the same as above (monthly liability = 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding loan balance).

This offers a significant improvement compared to the FHA Loan guidelines, in which student loans that are in deferment or under an income based repayment plan will have the monthly payment calculated at 1% of the outstanding loan balance.

If the student loan is being paid upon as originally agreed upon when the loan was first obtained, the monthly liability will be the amount specified on the credit report.

Or if the student loans have been consolidated into a new loan, so long as the monthly payment is based on a fixed repayment schedule, that payment will be used when calculating the borrower’s debt to income ratio.

If you have yet to apply for your Kentucky USDA Loan pre-qualification request, you can do so online

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

 

Posted by Joel Lobb, Mortgage Broker FHA, VA, KHC, USDA 

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

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.

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
 
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