Category: USDA

Can you refinance a Kentucky Rural USDA Housing Loan?


You can refinance your existing USDA Rural Housing Loan. See details below:

 

 

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Can you refinance a Rural Housing Loan? The short answer is yes. See below for qualifying criteria

 

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KENTUCKY  USDA LOAN GUARANTEED RURAL HOUSING REFINANCE FEATURES

  • Loan must be secured by the same property as the original loan. The original loan must be Guaranteed Rural Housing (GRH) or USDA Section 502 Direct only. The Program may not be used to refinance FHA, VA, or other government or conventional mortgages.
  • Term of the new loan will be 30 years.
  • Interest rate of the new loan cannot exceed the interest rate of the loan being refinanced. However, the interest rate of the new loan does not have to meet the interest rate requirements established in RD Instruction 1980-D, §1980.320 Interest rate.
  • Property must be owned and occupied by the borrowers as their principal residence.
  • The guarantee fee is 1.00% of the total principal obligation of the new loan.
  • The 1.00% guarantee fee may be always financed into any GRH refinancing transaction. As usual, borrowers may finance other closing costs and fees up to 100% of the current appraised value. However, it is possible for the loan-to-value (LTV) of the new loan to reach 101% if the 1% guarantee fee is financed. Loans may exceed 100% LTV only to the extent that the excess represents a financed guarantee fee of no more than 1.00%.
  • Total household income cannot exceed the moderate level for the area as established in RD Instruction 1980-D, Exhibit C.
  • GRH refinance loans are permitted for properties in areas that have been determined to be non-rural since the existing loan was made.
  • Applicants are not eligible to receive “cash out” from the refinancing transaction. However, applicants may receive reimbursement from loan proceeds at settlement for their personal funds advanced for eligible loan purposes that are part of the refinance transaction, such as an appraisal fee or credit report fee. At loan closing, a nominal amount of “cash out” to the applicants (beyond reimbursement of these “prepaid” items) may occasionally result due to final escrow and interest calculations. This amount, if any, must be applied to a principal reduction of the new loan.
  • Subordinate financing such as home equity seconds and down payment assistance “silent” seconds cannot be included in the new loan amount. Any existing secondary financing must be subordinate to the new first lien.
  • Maximum loan amount cannot exceed the balance of the loan being refinanced, plus the guarantee fee, and reasonable and customary closing costs, including funds necessary to establish a new escrow account.
  • Unpaid fees, such as late fees due the current servicer, are not eligible to be included in the new loan amount.
  • eligible areas on USDA Rural Development’s web-site at:
  • http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.govhttp://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov

 


For commitments issues on or after October 1, 2016:

USDA charges the lender, who can pass the charge to the borrower, a one-time up-front cost, which is known as a Guarantee Fee. The Guarantee Fee can be financed in addition to the maximum base loan amount. The Guarantee Fee is calculated as follows as of October 1, 2016:
PURCHASE TRANSACTION CALCULATION:

  • 1.00% of the TOTAL loan amount for commitments issued on or after 10/1/16.
  • Calculation: Base loan amount divided by .99 = Total loan amount (round down to nearest dollar). Total loan is then multiplied by 1.00% to get the amount of the guarantee fee.
  • A Guarantee Fee & Annual Fee (monthly) Calculator can be found on the USDA training resource website.

CALCULATION FOR REFINANCE TRANSACTIONS:

  • 1.00% of the TOTAL loan amount for commitments issued on or after 10/1/16.
  • Calculation: Base loan amount divided by .99 = Total loan amount (round down to nearest dollar). Total loan is then multiplied by 1.00% to get the amount of the guarantee fee.
  • A Guarantee Fee & Annual Fee (monthly) Calculator can be found on the USDA training resource website.

ANNUAL FEE:
All loan transactions will include an annual fee of .35%

 

 

 
REPAYMENT RATIOS REFINANCE FOR BOTH GUARANTEED LOAN TO GUARANTEED LOAN AND DIRECT LOAN TO GUARANTEED LOAN:
USDA – GUS Approved
USDA – Manual Underwrite – Must meet USDA guideline maximum debt ratios of 29 & 41%–No Exceptions Allowed.
TERM OF NEW LOAN FOR BOTH GUARANTEED LOAN TO GUARANTEED LOAN AND DIRECT LOAN TO GUARANTEED LOAN:
TERM OF THE NEW LOAN WILL BE A 30 YEAR FULLY AMORTIZED FIXED RATE MORTGAGE ONLY.
INTEREST RATE
  • Interest rate of the new loan must be a fixed rate.
  • The interest rate must be lower than the existing loan to be refinanced.
  • Funded buy down accounts are not permitted.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME Total adjusted income for the household cannot exceed the moderate level for the area as established in HB-1-3555.
LOAN SECURITY
  • Loan security must include the same property as the original loan.
  • The security property must be owned and occupied by the applicants as their principal residence.
RURAL / NONRURAL AREAS SFHGLP refinance loans are permissible for properties in areas that have been determined to be non-rural since the existing loan was made.
PROPERTY VALUATION
  • The value of the new mortgage loan request must be supported by a new appraisal. The loan amount cannot exceed the present market value plus the one-time 2 percent guarantee fee. The new loan amount can include closing costs or lender fees if supported by market value.
INSPECTIONS
  • The lender must confirm the property meets or continues to meet the current requirements of HUD Handbook 4150.2 and 4905.1.
  • No further inspections or repairs required by Rural Development.
  • Lender may require inspections or repairs. Expenses related to inspections or repairs may not be financed.
NET TANGIBLE BENEFIT Every refinance
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The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only.  The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines.  This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people

Kentucky Rural Housing USDA Guarantee Upfront and Annual Fee Changes October 2016


 

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Good News for Kentucky First Time Home Buyers Using the USDA Rural Housing Loan Program!

 

Kentucky RHS USDA Mortgage Insurance  Changes Below and Important Dates to Keep in Mind that could affect your loan closing and approval!

On October 1, 2016, both the upfront guarantee fee and annual fee for purchase and refinance loans will decrease. We are reducing the upfront guarantee fee from 2.75% to 1%, and the annual fee from .5% to .35%. The Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS) will be updated on August 31, 2016, to allow lenders to select and underwrite using either the FY16 or FY17 fee schedule.

Due to the large volume of loan applications received daily, as well as current turn times, Kentucky will begin accepting applications using the new FY17 fee schedule on September 27, 2016

Applications using the new FY17 fee schedule submitted before September 27, 2016 will not be processed before October 1, 2016.

 September 27, 2016 will be the last day Kentucky will accept applications using the existing FY16 fee schedule. This will ensure all of these submissions are reviewed by the Agency prior to October 1.

 

 Most are familiar with USDA Rural Housing Loan Program  being a great no money down program available and it is not just for Kentucky first time buyers. 

But starting with commitments on October 1, the funding fee that is financed is going from 2.75% to only 1%!  On a $100,000 loan, a buyer saves about $1750!  In addition, the annual fee (like PMI) reduces from .5% to .35% which lowers the monthly payment by $15 a month on an $100,000 loan amount.

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Joel Lobb
Senior Loan Officer
(NMLS#57916
text or call my phone: (502) 905-3708
email me at kentuckyloan@gmail.com

The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people. NMLS ID# 57916, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). USDA Mortgage loans only offered in Kentucky.

All loans and lines are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation and are originated by lender. Products and interest rates are subject to change without notice. Manufactured and mobile homes are not eligible as collateral.

 

KENTUCKY USDA RURAL HOUSING PROPERTY STANDARDS FOR THE GUARANTEED HOME LOAN PROGRAM


Kentucky based USDA Mortgage Lender
Kentucky based USDA Mortgage Lender

 

Sites must be modest and developed in accordance with any standards imposed by a State or local government. Therefore, the lender must verify that the following requirements are met at the time of application.

  •  Site size The site size must be typical for the area.  (Some acreage is fine as long as it is normal and the appraisal has comparable sales with similar acreage)

 

  • Income-Producing Buildings. The property must not include buildings designed and to be used principally for income-producing purposes. For example barns, silos, greenhouses, or livestock facilities used primarily for income producing agricultural, farming or commercial enterprise are ineligible. However, barn, silos, livestock facilities or greenhouses no longer in use for a commercial operation, used for storage, and outbuildings such as storage sheds are permitted if they are not used primarily for income producing agricultural, farming or commercial enterprise. A minimal income-producing activity, such as maintaining a garden that generates a small amount of additional income, does not violate this requirement. Home-based operations such as childcare, product sales, or craft production that do not require specific features are not restricted.  A qualified property must be predominantly residential in use, character and appearance.

 

  • Income-Producing Land. The site must not have income-producing land that will be used principally for income producing purposes. Vacant land or properties used primarily for agricultural, farming or commercial enterprise are ineligible. Sites that have income-producing characteristics (e.g. large tracts of arable land ready for planting) are considered income-producing property.  However maintaining a garden for personal use is not in violation of this requirement. A minimal income-producing activity, such as a garden that could generate a small amount of additional income does not violate this requirement. A qualified property must be predominantly residential in use, character and appearance.
  • Site Specifications. The site must be contiguous to and have direct access from a street, road, or driveway. Streets and roads must be hard surfaced or all weather surfaced and legally enforceable arrangements must be in place to ensure that needed maintenance will be provided.
  • Utilities. The site must be supported by adequate utilities and water and wastewater disposal systems.

 

 

Kentucky based USDA Mortgage Lender
Kentucky based USDA Mortgage Lender

 

Kentucky USDA Rural Development Fee Reduction


Kentucky USDA Rural Development  Fee Reduction
USDA has just announced that they are planning to lower both the Guarantee Fee and the Annual Fee for RHS loans in Fiscal Year 2017. Effective for loans receiving commitments from RHS on or after October 1, 2016, the following fee changes will be in effect
  • The Upfront Guarantee Fee will be lowered from 2.75% to 1.00% of the loan amount
  • The Annual Fee will be lowered from 0.50% to 0.35% of the average scheduled unpaid principal balance for the life of the loan

 

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KENTUCKY USDA UP-FRONT GUARANTEE FEE INCREASE


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KENTUCKY USDA UP-FRONT GUARANTEE FEE INCREASE
 
As announced by Rural Development, the upfront Guarantee Fee for purchase and refinance loans will increase as follows for Rural Housing USDA loans in Kentucky:
UPFRONT GUARANTEE FEE
THROUGH 9/30/2015
EFFECTIVE 10/1/15
All Transactions
2.0%
2.75%
The new fee structure is applicable to all Conditional Commitments issued by Rural Development on or after October 1, 2015. Loan guarantee requests submitted to Rural Development (RD) on which a conditional commitment has not been issued by September 30, 2015, will be subject to the new, higher guarantee fee structure.
Kentucky USDA Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans are one of the only “no money down” options available to home buyers today. Kentucky USDA loans aren’t just in the country. Many other areas fall within the USDA Kentucky Rural Housing designated areas, so opportunities may be closer than you think. To view eligible rural areas near you, CLICK HERE to access the USDA lookup tool on their website.
This program is very attractive to low-to-moderate income buyers:
  • Zero percent down
  • CLTV up to 102.04%
  • 6% seller contributions allowed
  • Credit scores as low as 640
  • No reserves required

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Joel Lobb
Senior  Loan Officer
(NMLS#57916)
 
 Fax:     (502) 327-9119