FHA Loan Program Guide
Fixed Rate and 5/1 Hybrid ARM
Wholesale Lending August 17, 2015
Table of Contents
Program Overview ... 4
Credit Philosophy ... 4
Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgages ... 4
Program Parameters ... 5
Eligible Programs ... 5
Program Details ... 5
ARM Program Information ... 5
FHA ARM Adjustment Date Matrix ... 6
Eligible Section of the ACT ... 6
Loan Limits ... 6
All Eligible States ... 7
Loan to Value (LTV) Matrices ... 7
Assets ... 7
Asset Documentation... 7
Cash Deposit on Sales Contract (Earnest Money) ... 8
Cash Reserves ... 8
Cash Saved at Home ... 9
Commission from Sale ... 9
Gift Funds ... 10
Large Deposits... 11
Retirement Accounts ... 11
Sale of Personal Property ... 11
Secured/Unsecured Loans ... 12
Unacceptable Sources ... 12
Borrowers ... 12
Age of Borrower ... 12
Borrower Eligibility ... 13
Employee Loan Policy ... 13
Identity of Interest Transactions ... 13
Non-Borrowing Spouse ... 14
Non-Occupying Co-Borrowers ... 14
Non-U.S. Citizens ... 14
Case Numbers ... 15
Credit / Underwriting ... 16
Back to Work – Extenuating Circumstances due to an “Economic Event” ... 16
Bankruptcy (BK) ... 16
CAIVRS (Credit Alert Verification Reporting System)... 17
Collection Accounts ... 18
Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) ... 18
Credit Analysis... 18
Credit Report and Scores ... 19
Disputed Accounts ... 19
Foreclosure ... 20
Judgments ... 21
Manual Downgrades ... 21
Minimum Loan Decision Scores ... 22
Modified Mortgages ... 22
Mortgage/Rental History ... 22
Multiple FHA Loans ... 23
Non-Traditional Credit ... 23
Restructured Mortgages/Short Payoff ... 24
Short Sale / Pre-Foreclosure ... 25
Tax Liens ... 26
Collateral ... 26
Appraisal ... 26
Borrower Acknowledgement ... 27
Escrow Holdbacks ... 27
Flip Properties ... 27
Leaseholds ... 29
Leaseholds are allowed for all transaction types, with the exception of FHA streamline refinances. Leaseholds must meet all applicable FHA requirements. ... 29
Manufactured Homes ... 29
Mixed Use Properties ... 29
Property Listed for Sale ... 29
Property Overlays ... 30
Reminders for Minimum Property Requirements ... 30
Debt to Income Ratios / Qualifying ... 31
Debt to Income (DTI) Ratio Matrix ... 31
Compensating Factors ... 32
Qualifying Rate ... 33
Residual Income ... 34
Geographic Restrictions ... 35
Income and Employment ... 35
Borrower Employed By a Family Member ... 36
Borrower Returning to Work ... 36
Child Support, Alimony, Separate Maintenance ... 36
Commission Income ... 36
Employment Gaps ... 37
Non-Taxable Income ... 37
Rental Income ... 37
Self-Employed Income ... 39
Verification of Employment (VOE) ... 40
Liabilities ... 40
Alimony Payments ... 40
Contingent Liability ... 40
Installment Debt ... 41
Lease Payments ... 41
Revolving Debt ... 41
Tax Liens ... 41
Mortgage Insurance ... 42
Property Insurance ... 43
Secondary Financing ... 43
Government Entity ... 43
Seller/Interested Party Contributions ... 44
Transactions... 44
Cash Out Refinance ... 44
Purchase ... 45
Rate/Term Refinance ... 46
Streamline Refinance... 48
Pricing and Fees ... 52
Escrow Waivers ... 52
Fees ... 52
Product Codes ... 52
Appendix ... 53
Program Overview
This FHA Program Guide provides an overview of the FHA products and policies eligible for delivery to Pacific Union Financial for financing consideration. The details are based on the policies outlined in the HUD Handbooks and applicable Mortgagee Letters. This document also identifies overlay restrictions specific to Pacific Union Financial.
Credit Philosophy
The Pacific Union Financial philosophy is to offer the Program with minimal overlays to our clients. All loans are evaluated in accordance with the following principles:
All loans must be submitted to TOTAL Scorecard except as follows: Streamline Refinances
Loans for borrowers without a credit score Manual underwriting is required on the following:
Loans that receive a Refer recommendation through TOTAL Scorecard. Loans in which the borrower does not have a credit score.
Manual underwriting is required when the loan decision score is <620 and
the borrower’s DTI is >43%.
Loans that received an Accept recommendation, but were downgraded to
a Refer by the underwriter.
Streamline Refinance transactions. Each loan is evaluated in accordance with:
FHA policies (collectively defined in the 4155.1, Mortgage Credit Analysis
for Mortgage Insurance Handbook and subsequent Mortgagee Letters) and all applicable HUD Handbooks.
Desktop Underwriter (DU) or Loan Prospector (LP) recommendations. Loans that do not receive a TOTAL Scorecard approval via DU or LP may
not be resubmitted to the other automated underwriting system.
Policies as outlined within this Program Guide.
Each loan applicant is underwritten individually, and all credit standards are
applied consistently to each borrower.
All factors are weighed in when evaluating a loan file. The underwriting
decision is not based on any single item or factor. Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgages
Pacific Union is committed to complying with Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage rules (ATR/QM) by making a reasonable, good-faith determination that borrowers have a reasonable ability to repay the loan in accordance with the polices set forth within The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/Federal Housing Administration (FHA) guidelines. Factors considered in making this determination include the borrower’s income, assets and employment status (if relied on) against the mortgage loan payment, ongoing expenses related to the mortgage loan or the
subject property, payments on simultaneous loans secured by the subject property, other debt obligations, and alimony and child-support payments as required by the
HUD/FHA. A borrower’s credit history is also considered in the evaluation and must comply with HUD/FHA policies. Pacific Union will utilize reasonably reliable third party sources of information.
Program Parameters
Eligible Programs
Standard
15 year Fixed Rate – Conforming Balance only
20, 25 and 30 year Fixed Rate – Conforming and High Balance 5/1 fully amortizing 30 year Hybrid ARM with 1/1/5 caps
Specialty
15 Fixed Rate – Conforming balance
20, 25 and 30 year Fixed Rate – Conforming and High Balance ARMs are not allowed
Program Details
All programs are fully amortizing loans.
Loans are assumable by a qualified borrower during the life of the loan. Temporary Buydowns are not permitted.
ARM Program Information 5/1 Hybrid ARM loans:
Index used to calculate interest rate adjustments is the weekly average
yield of U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year, commonly referred to as the 1-Year Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) index.
2% margin – see daily rate sheet.
Interest rate cannot increase or decrease more than 1% per year or more
than 5% over the life of the loan.
The interest rate is fixed for the first 60 months and will adjust on the
following Jan 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1. Adjustments will occur annually thereafter.
Payment adjustments will occur one month after the interest rate
adjustment.
FHA ARM Adjustment Date Matrix
The first interest rate adjustment and payment adjustments for the 5/1 CMT ARM will be as follows:
Closing First Pymt Date 5/1 ARM First Interest Rate Change Date
Number of Months Until 1st change
09/02 - 10/01 11/01 01/01 63
10/02 - 11/01 12/01 01/01 62
11/02 - 12/01 01/01 01/01 61
12/02 – 01/01 02/01 04/01 63
01/02/2015 – 01/09/2015 03/01 07/01 65
01/10/2015 – 02/01/2015 03/01 07/01 64
02/02 – 03/01 04/01 04/01 61
03/02 – 04/01 05/01 07/01 63
04/02 – 05/01 06/01 07/01 62
05/02 – 06/01 07/01 07/01 61
06/02 – 07/01 08/01 10/01 63
07/02 - 08/01 09/01 10/01 62
08/02 - 09/01 10/01 10/01 61
Eligible Section of the ACT
Eligible Section of the Act DE ADP Code Brief Description
203(b) 703 Fixed Rate
203(b) 729 Adjustable Rate Mortgage
203(b) 734 Fixed Rate Site Condominium
203(b) 731 Adjustable Rate Mortgage Condominium
203 (b) 821 Refinance of Borrower in Negative Equity Position (Non-condo)
234(c) 734 Fixed Rate Attached Condos
234(c) 831 Refinance of Borrower in Negative Equity Position (Condo)
Loan Limits
The maximum base loan amount (excluding UFMIP) cannot exceed the FHA
Statutory Mortgage Limits for the applicable county.
Conforming Balance and High Balance loan amounts are available.
A complete schedule of FHA mortgage limits by county is available at: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm
All Eligible States
Units Conforming Balance (Maximum)
High Balance (Minimum to Maximum)
1 $417,000 $417,001 to FHA county limit
2 $533,850 $533,851 to FHA county limit
3 $645,300 $645,301 to FHA county limit
4 $801,950 $801,951 to FHA county limit
Loan to Value (LTV) Matrices
The loan to value is the base loan amount divided by the lesser of the appraised value or the purchase price.
Occupancy
Purpose Units Base LTV CLTV
Primary Residence
Purchase 1-4 96.5%5,6 96.5%1,5,6
Rate/Term 1-4 97.75% 97.75%
Cash Out 1-4 85%2 85%2
Streamline with Appraisal 1-4 97.75%3 125%
All7 Streamline without Appraisal 1-4 100%3,4 125%4
1. In some circumstances (subordinate financing provided by a family member, private individuals, other organizations/non-government agencies, a borrower >60 years of age, etc.) subordinate financing may be as high as 100%. Subordinate financing provided by a government entity may exceed 100% CLTV by the “cost to acquire the property”, see Government Entity for additional details.
2. Maximum LTV/CLTV is 80% if Conforming Balance Specialty or 75% if High Balance Specialty 3. Non-credit qualifying streamlines: New base loan amount may not exceed the current outstanding
principal balance.
4. Streamline without appraisal: The original appraised value must be used to calculate the maximum LTV/CLTV.
5. Maximum 110% LTV/CLTV for HUD REO with escrow repair transactions.
6. Maximum 100% LTV/CLTV for HUD REO $100 Down Payment program transactions. 7. ARMs not allowed for Second Homes and Investment properties.
Assets
Borrowers must have sufficient cash to cover the required 3.5% minimum down
payment from their own funds. The seller, any entity that may financially benefit from the transaction or any person who is reimbursed by a prohibited source may not
provide funds for the required minimum down payment. However, under certain conditions, the minimum down payment may be provided by a Government Entity. See Government Entity topic below for more details.
Refer to Chapter 5 of the HUD 4155.1 for guidelines not addressed in this section. Asset Documentation
For TOTAL Scorecard Approve/Eligible or Accept/Eligible recommendations,
are manually underwritten or downgraded to a manual underwrite must be documented as follows:
Written VOD and the borrower’s most recent asset statements; or
Original asset statements covering the most recent three-month period. If
the asset statement shows the previous month’s balance, this requirement is met by obtaining the two most recent, consecutive statements.
Verification of Deposit (VOD)
VODs must be on a standard verification form and must be sent directly from
the loan originator to the financial institution and returned directly from that entity.
Faxed verification forms are acceptable if it is clear from the document that
the information was sent by fax transmission directly from the source to the originator.
The original documents must not contain any alterations, erasures, correction
fluid or correction tape.
The loan file must include legible copies of the originals.
The VOD form must identify all of the following, when applicable: The name of the financial institution
Account number
Account owner(s) Type of account Account open date Current account balance
Average balance for the previous two months Outstanding loans
If a securities account, the specific stocks/securities
The title, signature, and phone number of the individual completing the
VOD.
Funds must be properly sourced when an account is opened within 90 days
of the VOD and/or when the current account balance is significantly greater than the average balance.
If a portion of the borrower’s funds were to be saved by the borrower
between the date of the loan application and the date of the loan closing, the loan file documents must show that funds were accumulated and deposited prior to closing.
Cash Deposit on Sales Contract (Earnest Money)
Must be verified if the earnest money deposit exceeds 2% of the sales price OR appears excessive based on the borrower’s income and savings history. Cash Reserves
Excess gift funds may be used as cash reserves on loans that receive an
Accept recommendation through TOTAL Scorecard.
For manually underwritten loans, reserves are defined as:
The sum the borrower is required to pay at closing (down payment,
closing cost, prepaid expenses, any payoffs that are a condition of loan approval, and any other expense required to close the loans); but may not include the following:
The amount of cash taken at settlement in cash-out transactions; or Incidental cash reserved at settlement in other loan transactions, or Gift funds in excess of the amount required for the cash investment
and other expenses; or
Equity in another property; or Borrowed funds from any source.
Credit qualifying manually underwritten loans must meet the following
reserve requirements, with the exception of transaction for borrowers with 2-4 unit properties located in New Jersey:
1-2 unit properties – 1 month PITI required. 3-4 unit properties – 3 months PITI required.
AUS approved and credit qualifying manually underwritten loans for 2-4 unit
properties located in New Jersey:
2 units: 3 months PITI required 3-4 units: 6 months PITI required Cash Saved at Home
Borrowers who have saved cash at home and are able to adequately
demonstrate the ability to do so, are permitted to have this money included as an acceptable source of funds to close the mortgage, subject to the following;
The funds must be verified, whether deposited in a financial institution, or
held by the escrow/title company.
The borrower must provide satisfactory evidence of the ability to
accumulate the savings.
The borrower must explain in writing: How the funds were accumulated, and
The amount of time it took to accumulate the funds.
It must be determined that the accumulation of cash is reasonable, based on
the time period during which the funds were saved, and the borrower’s income stream, spending habits, documented expenses, and the borrower’s history of using financial institutions.
Borrowers with checking or savings accounts are less likely to save money at
home than individuals with no history of using bank accounts. Commission from Sale
If the borrower is a licensed real estate agent and is entitled to a commission
from the sale of the subject property, the commission funds may be credited towards borrower's minimum down payment and/or closing costs.
A family member entitled to a commission from the sale of the subject
Gift Funds
Gift funds from an acceptable source may be used to pay closing costs and
the borrower’s minimum down payment.
See Cash Reserves for excess gift fund usage allowance.
Gifts may be obtained from the following acceptable sources:
Family member/relative, defined as a parent, grandparent, spouse, child
(including son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, legally adopted child, and foster child) or other related individual (including relation by blood, marriage, adoption, legal guardianship, domestic partnership, fiancé, or fiancée).
The borrower’s employer or credit union
A close friend with a clearly defined and documented interest in the
borrower
A charitable organization
A government agency or public entity that has a program providing home
ownership assistance to low and moderate income families and first time homebuyers
Federal, State, local government agencies and approved non-profit
agencies considered by to be an instrumentality of the government may provide funds for down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses.
Gifts may not be obtained from the following sources: The seller
The real estate agent or broker The builder
An associated entity
Gifts given in the form of cash are not acceptable.
Generally, FHA Is not concerned with the source of the donor funds, provided
that the funds are not derived in any manner from a party to the transaction. Donors may borrow the gift funds as long as the borrower is not obligated on the note(s) acquired to secure the borrowed funds.
Brokersare encouraged, but not required to use the Pacific Union Financial
Gift Letter.
A gift letter must be signed by the donor and the borrower. DONOR(S)
MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THEIR ABILITY TO DONATE GIFT FUNDS AND EVIDENCE OF RECEIPT OF THOSE GIFT FUNDS FROM THE DONOR’S
ACCOUNT MUST BE PROVIDED PER THE FOLLOWING.
If the gift funds ... Then the required documentation is ...
Are in the borrower’s account A copy of the cancelled check (both sides) or other withdrawal document showing that the withdrawal was from the donor’s account, AND
Borrower’s deposit slip and bank statement showing the deposit.
Note: The donor’s bank statements are not required.
Are to be provided at closing AND
In the form of a certified check from donor’s account
Bank statement showing the withdrawal from the donor’s account disclosed in the gift letter, AND
Are to be provided at closing AND
Are in the form of a cashier’s check, money order, official check, or other type of bank check
Have the donor provide a withdrawal document or cancelled check (both sides) for the amount of the gift, evidencing that the funds came from the donor’s personal account disclosed in the gift letter, AND
A copy of the check, AND
Borrower’s deposit slip or bank statement that shows the deposit and new balance OR the check may be given directly to the Title Company or Realtor who must provide written acknowledgment identifying the specific check received & being held in escrow by the Title Company
Are to be provided at closing AND
Are in the form of an electronic wire transfer to /or cashier’s check deposited with the closing agent
Have the donor provide documentation of the wire transfer from donor’s account disclosed in gift letter, AND
Written acknowledgement that the specific check or wire transfer was received and is being held in escrow by the Title Company
Are being borrowed by the donor, AND
Documentation from the bank or other savings account is not available
Written evidence provided by the donor to evidence that the funds were borrowed from an acceptable source. Funds may not be provided by an interested party to the transaction, including the lender.
Borrower’s deposit slip or bank statement showing the deposit and new balance OR
Written acknowledgment that the specific check was received and is being held in escrow by the Title Company
Large Deposits
If there is a large increase in the borrower’s account or if the account was recently opened, the borrower must provide a credible explanation and documentation to source large deposits for all transactions. A large deposit is considered the lesser of:
A deposit that resulted in an increase greater than 25% of the borrower’s
gross monthly income; or
A deposit that is more than 2% of the sales price. Retirement Accounts
Up to 60% of the value of assets such as Individual Retirement Accounts
(IRA), thrift savings plans, 401(k) and Keogh accounts may be included in the underwriting analysis, unless the borrower provides conclusive evidence that a higher percentage may be withdrawn, after subtracting any Federal income tax and withdrawal penalties.
Redemption evidence is required.
Evidence of liquidation is not required, unless more than 60% of the amount
in the account is used
The portion of the assets not used to meet closing requirements, after
adjusting for taxes and penalties may be counted as reserves. Sale of Personal Property
Borrower may sell personal property such as cars, recreational vehicles,
stamp or coin collections, or baseball collections subject to the following:
Borrower must provide a satisfactory estimate of the value of the items
and evidence that the items were sold.
Published value estimates issued by organizations such as automobile dealers
or associations related to the asset type, or
A separate written appraisal by a qualified appraiser with no financial interest
in the transaction.
The lower of the estimated value or the actual sales price may be used as
assets to close. Secured/Unsecured Loans
Loan from a Family Member
A secured or unsecured loan from a family member covering 100% of borrower’s down payment and closing costs is allowed subject to the following:
“Family Member” is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, (biological, foster
or step), sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother, legally adopted son or daughter, a child who is a member of the borrower’s household due to placement by an authorized agency for legal adoption, aunt, and uncle.
Borrower may not receive cash back at closing (except for documented
earnest money).
Loan payment (if applicable) must be included in debt to income ratio. Loan terms cannot require a balloon payment within the first 5 years. If the family member borrowed the funds, the initial source of the funds
cannot be a party with an interest in the transaction. The family member may borrower from a banking affiliate of the lender provided the loan is made under the same terms and conditions available to all customers. Secured Loans
Proceeds from a loan secured by financial assets such as stocks, bonds, Certificates of Deposits, or real property may be used for the total required investment. The assets securing the loan may not also be used an asset for qualifying purposes.
Unacceptable Sources Unsecured loans
Cash advances on credit cards
Borrowing against household goods and furniture Other unsecured financing
Borrowers
Age of Borrower
All borrowers must have reached the age at which the mortgage note can be legally enforced in the jurisdiction where the property is located. There is no maximum age limit for borrowers. All applicants are evaluated on their ability to meet underwriting guidelines.
Borrower Eligibility
Pacific Union Financial makes mortgages to natural persons only. Borrowers are ineligible for a mortgage if they are a different type of legal entity or hold title as a different type of legal entity. These legal entities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Corporations S corporations
Borrowers with diplomatic immunity Inter vivos trusts
Life estates Land trusts
General partnerships Real estate syndications
Additionally, loans where a custodian, agent, conservator, or guardian is signing on behalf of the borrower, non-borrowing spouse, or a vested owner are not allowed.
A CAIVRS screening must be performed on all loan obligors. Screening is not required on a non-borrowing spouse or on a streamline refinance. Refer to Credit section for additional information regarding CAIVRS.
First time homebuyers are eligible. Employee Loan Policy
Loans to the originating Broker and/or their employees are allowed, subject to a Second Level Risk Review and approval by a Credit Risk Underwriter.
Identity of Interest Transactions
Identity of Interest Transactions are transactions between family members,
business partners or other business affiliates. Identity-of-interest
transactions are restricted to a maximum LTV of 85%. However, maximum financing above 85% is permissible under the following circumstances:
Family member purchasing another family member’s principal residence.
“Family member” is defined as a child, parent, grandparent, (biological, foster or step), sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother, legally adopted son or daughter, a child who is a member of the borrower’s household due to placement by an authorized agency for legal adoption, aunt, and uncle.
Employee of builder purchasing home from builder.
Current tenant purchasing home he/she has rented for at least six (6)
months predating the sales contract (with lease or other written evidence).
Sales by corporations purchasing an employee’s home and reselling to
Non-Borrowing Spouse
In community property states, a credit report is required and the debts of the
non-borrowing spouse must be included when determining qualifying ratios.
Community property states are: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
The non-borrowing spouse’s credit history is not taken into consideration. Non-Occupying Co-Borrowers
Non-occupying co-borrowers may not be added on cash-out refinance
transactions.
Maximum 75% LTV except as stated below.
For one unit properties only, maximum financing is allowed if: Non-occupying co-borrower is related to the borrower by blood,
marriage, or law, or
Non-occupying co-borrower can document a family-type, long-standing
relationship with the borrower unrelated to the loan transaction.
Occupying borrower must meet FHA minimum credit requirements. If a parent is selling to a child, the parent may be a non-occupying
co-borrower only if LTV is ≤75%.
All borrowers, including non-occupying co-borrowers must sign the note and
security instrument. Non-U.S. Citizens
Borrowers with Diplomatic Immunity Not allowed.
Non-Permanent Resident Aliens Primary Residence only.
Borrower must be eligible to work in the U.S. Evidence of valid Social Security number required
Evidence of residency and work status to be obtained through documentation
from US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), formerly INS. Documentation requirement(s):
Copy of the Employment Authorization Card, I-688B. This card carries an
expiration date.
A social security card is not acceptable as evidence of work status. If the card expires in less than one year, a legible copy of the previously
expired card(s) is required to evidence a history of regular renewals. Permanent Resident Aliens
Evidence of lawful, permanent residency issued by the Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS), formerly INS. Documentation requirement(s):
Copy of the valid Alien Registration Receipt Card (Resident Alien card),
I-551
Social Security Number (SSN) Validation
All borrowers must have a valid social security number as evidenced by one
of the following:
Pay stub W2
Valid tax returns
Case Numbers
The loan officer’s name and NMLS number must be provided when requesting an FHA case number. FHA Connection will not issue a case number if the loan originator’s name or NMLS number is not provided.
Cancelling and Reinstating Case Numbers
Case number cancellation request must be emailed to the FHA Resource Center
at answers@hud.gov using the Case Cancellation Request Form.
FHA systems will automatically cancel any uninsured FHA case number after six months, if one of the following actions is not performed as a last action:
Entry of appraisal information;
FHA issuance of a Firm Commitment;
FHA receipt of the insurance application and subsequent updates; or
A Notice of Return (NOR) has been issued and resubmissions have occurred.
Note: Last action does not include updates to borrower names and/or
property addresses.
Reinstatement of cancelled case numbers must be emailed to the FHA Resource Center at answers@hud.gov using the Case Reinstatement Request Form. Case numbers that are automatically cancelled will only be reinstated if the one of the following is provided:
Evidence that the subject loan was closed prior to the case number
cancellation, such as a Settlement Statement or similar legal document; or Evidence that not reinstating the case number will cause the borrower undue
hardship based on recent changes to mortgage insurance premiums and underwriting requirements.
Credit / Underwriting
Loans must comply with FHA policies and the policies outlined within this document. Refer to Chapter 4 of the HUD 4155.1 for additional guidelines not addressed within this section.
Back to Work – Extenuating Circumstances due to an “Economic Event”
An “Economic Event” is when a borrowers has experienced an occurrence beyond their control that resulted in a loss of income, loss of employment, or a combination of both. TOTAL Scorecard “Refer” recommendations or the manual downgrade of an “Accept/Approve” recommendation, may be eligible for FHA purchase transaction financing provided all the following requirements are met:
The “Economic Event” lasted at least 6 months; and
The “Economic Event” resulted in a 20% or more reduction in the borrower’s
household income;
Documented evidence that the delinquencies were due to the “Economic
Event” must be provided;
Borrower must have reestablished a “Satisfactory Credit” history for at least
12 months;
Borrower must have fully recovered from the “Economic Event”; Housing counseling is required, as follows:
The borrower must attended an approved housing counseling program at
least 30 days, but no more than 180 days prior to initial application. Counseling must be performed by a HUD approved housing counseling agency, state housing finance agency, approved intermediaries or their sub-grantees.
Counseling may be conducted in person, via telephone, via internet, or
other methods approved by HUD.
Upon completion of the required counseling, the borrower will be given a
Counseling Certificate of Completion that must include the counselor’s handwritten signature. In instances that the counseling certificate is received electronically or via other means and does not include a counselor’s handwritten signature, the borrower must obtain the
counselors signature. This may be accomplished by faxing or emailing the certificate to the counselor to obtain their handwritten signature.
All other HUD requirements must be met, per Mortgagee Letter 2013-26 and
the HUD 4155.1. Bankruptcy (BK)
Chapter 7
Requires at least two years from the discharge date, and the borrower must
Seasoning of less than two years but no less than 12 months may be
acceptable if the borrower:
Can show that the bankruptcy was caused by extenuating circumstances
beyond the borrower’s control (defined as death or long-term disability of the primary wage earner) and
Has since exhibited a documented ability to manage his/her financial
affairs in a responsible manner.
Documentation must be provided to evidence that the borrower’s current
situation indicates that the events which led to the BK are not likely to recur.
Exceptions to the two year seasoning requirements may be permitted based
on “Back to Work – Extenuating Circumstances”, see guidelines below for additional details.
Chapter 13
Borrower may be eligible provided that:
At least 12 payments have been made under the BK plan, and All payments have been made on time, and
The borrower has written permission from the BK court to enter into the
mortgage transaction.
Refer to Manual Downgrade topic.
CAIVRS (Credit Alert Verification Reporting System)
A CAIVRS screening must be performed on all obligors on the loan. Screening is not required on a non-borrowing spouse. If CAIVRS screening indicates an applicant is delinquent on a Federal debt or has had a claim paid on an FHA insured loan within the previous three years, the borrower is NOT eligible for a new FHA loan. The CAIVRS confirmation code must be entered on the 92900-LT.
Exceptions are allowed only under the following circumstances:
The borrower sold the property, with or without a release of liability, to an
individual who subsequently defaulted. The borrower must prove that the loan was current at the time of the assumption.
A divorce decree or legal separation agreement awarded the property and
responsibility for payment to the former spouse. The borrower is not eligible if FHA paid a claim on his/her mortgage in default prior to the divorce.
The borrower may be eligible for an FHA-insured mortgage if:
The property was included in a bankruptcy caused by circumstances
beyond the borrower’s control, such as the death of the principal wage earner, or a serious long-term uninsured illness, and,
The borrower meets the requirements for previous bankruptcy described
in Chapter 4 of the HUD 4155.1.
Eligible Back to Work - Extenuating Circumstances, see guidelines below for
additional details.
Refer to Chapter 4 of the HUD 4155.1 for additional information on
Collection Accounts
FHA does not require outstanding collection accounts to be paid off as a
condition of loan approval.
TOTAL Scorecard approved loans:
The presence of collection accounts has been considered in the borrower’s
credit history. A letter of explanation or supporting documentation is not required.
TOTAL Scorecard “Refer” recommendations and manually underwritten loans: Collection accounts must be considered when underwriting the loan. The
borrower must provide a letter of explanation and supporting
documentation consistent with the explanation, for all collection accounts.
Collection accounts with an aggregate balance equal to or greater than
$2,000, excluding medical collections and charge off accounts, must meet the following capacity analysis:
Collection Account(s) Status:
Capacity Analysis Requirement: Paid in full at closing or prior to
closing The funds used for payment must be verified and sourced Approved payment
arrangements The monthly payment amount must be verified and included in the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio for all transactions, regardless of the TOTAL Scorecard recommendation
No payment arrangements 5% of each outstanding collection account balance must be
included in the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio for all transactions, regardless of the TOTAL Scorecard recommendation
Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS)
These guidelines apply only to manually underwritten loans. For loans that receive an approval through TOTAL Scorecard, no further documentation/evaluation is required.
Borrowers that are participating in a consumer credit counseling program
may be eligible with documentation of the following:
One year of the pay-out period has elapsed under the plan.
The borrower’s payment history has been satisfactory and all required
payments have been made on time, and
The borrower has received written permission from the counseling agency
to enter into the mortgage transaction. Credit Analysis
Loans submitted to TOTAL Scorecard must receive an Approve/Eligible or
Accept/Eligible recommendation.
Loans that receive a Refer/Eligible must be manually downgraded and
Credit Report and Scores
A tri-merge credit report is required on all loans. For Streamline Refinance transactions, it is used solely to validate the credit score.
Credit Score Methodology
The following criteria may be used to determine each individual borrower's credit score using the "middle/lower" method.
If there are three valid credit scores for a borrower, the middle score
(numerical middle of the three scores) is used.
If there are three valid scores for a borrower but two of the scores are the
same, the duplicate score is used.
If there are two valid scores for a borrower, the lower of the two scores is
used.
If there is one valid score for a borrower, that score is used. Loan Decision Score Selection
After selecting the appropriate credit score for each borrower, the loan
decision score must be determined as follows:
One borrower: The selected credit score is also the loan decision score. More than one borrower: The lowest selected credit score among all
borrowers is the loan decision score.
More than one borrower and one or more of the borrowers does not have
a credit score (non-traditional or insufficient credit): The lowest credit score of the borrower(s) must be used as the minimum loan decision score.
Disputed Accounts
Borrower(s) disputing derogatory credit account(s) must provide a letter of
explanation and documentation to support the reason for the dispute. If the borrower is disputing a medical accounts, a letter of explanation and
supporting documentation are not required.
Disputed accounts include non-medical: Derogatory charge-off accounts, and Disputed collections; and
Disputed accounts with late payments with in the most recent 24 months. Disputed account(s) analysis requirements are as follows:
Disputed Account: Disputed Accounts Analysis Requirement: Cumulative outstanding balance
of all borrower account(s) is greater than or equal to $1,000
The mortgage application must be downgraded to a “Refer” and a Direct Endorsement underwriter is required to manually underwrite the loan
Cumulative outstanding balance of all borrower account(s) is less than $1,000
Disputed Account: Disputed Accounts Analysis Requirement: Excluded Accounts, regardless
of the amount
Disputed medical accounts are excluded from the $1,000 limit and do not require documentation
Disputed derogatory credit accounts resulting from identity theft, credit card theft, or unauthorized uses are excluded from the $1,000 limit. Documentation, such as a police report disputing the fraudulent charges, must be provided.
If the original or updated credit report indicates that a disputed account
meets any one of the following requirements, a manual downgrade is not required:
The disputed account(s) are non-derogatory; or The disputed account(s) have a zero balance; or
The disputed account(s) indicate “paid in full” or “resolved”; or The disputed account(s) are less than $1,000; or
The disputed account(s) with late payments aged 24 months or more; or The disputed account(s) is current and paid as agreed.
If the dispute results in the borrower’s monthly debt payment being less than
indicated on the credit report, the borrower must provide documentation to support the lower payment.
Foreclosure
If the borrower has had past delinquencies or has defaulted on an FHA
insured loan, there is a three-year waiting period before the borrower can regain eligibility for another FHA-insured mortgage. The three-year waiting period begins when FHA pays the initial claim to the lender. This includes deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, as well as judicial and other forms of
foreclosures.
Foreclosure or deed-in lieu of foreclosure on a non-FHA loan requires three
years seasoning.
Exceptions are possible if the foreclosure was the result of documented
extenuating circumstances that were beyond the borrower’s control, such as a serious illness or death of a wage earner, and the borrower has
re-established good credit since the foreclosure. Exceptions may be permitted based on “Back to Work – Extenuating Circumstances”, see guidelines below for additional details.
Divorce is not considered an extenuating circumstance; however an
exception may be granted where a borrower’s loan was current at the time of the divorce, the ex-spouse received the property, and the loan was later foreclosed.
The inability to sell the property due to a job transfer or relocation to another
Judgments
Judgments must be paid in full prior to loan approval, with the exception of a court ordered judgment with payment arrangements. If payment arrangements have been made with the creditor of a court ordered judgment and three months scheduled payments were made prior to loan approval, payment in full is not required. The following requirements must be met:
The verified payment must be included in the DTI.
The borrower must provide a copy of the payment agreement and evidence
that the payments were made in accordance with the agreement.
Prepayment of the scheduled payments in order to meet the minimum three
month requirement, are not allowed.
Note: In a community property state, non-purchasing spouse judgments must be
paid in full, or meet the payment arrangement requirements detailed above. Manual Downgrades
Loans that are manually downgraded from a TOTAL Scorecard Approve or
Accept recommendation to a “Refer” recommendation are subject to FHA’s standard documentation requirements for manually underwritten loans and are not eligible for documentation relief indicated in the AUS findings. The underwriter may not rely on the TOTAL Scorecard recommendations for creditworthiness or eligibility. The loan must be reviewed for compliance with FHA manual underwriting guidelines.
All manually underwritten loans require Cash Reserves.
HUD requires the underwriter to manually downgrade a TOTAL Scorecard
Approve or Accept recommendation to a “Refer” recommendation and perform a complete manual underwrite based on standard FHA guidelines if any of the following credit characteristics exist:
Loans with a decision credit score <620 and DTI ratio >43%. Additional derogatory credit references are received that were not
included on the credit report evaluated by TOTAL Scorecard.
Suspended and debarred individuals may not be approved, even though
manual underwriting, if any party (borrower, seller, loan officer, listing or selling agent, appraiser) is included on the LDP or GSA list.
Loans in which borrower(s) have disputed accounts with a cumulative
outstanding balance equal to or greater than $1,000. See Disputed Accounts for additional guidelines.
Minimum Loan Decision Scores
Feature Standard Specialty
Purchase and Rate/Term 620
580 if LTV >90% - Conforming Balance
600 if LTV >90% - High Balance
560 if LTV ≤90% - Conforming Balance and High Balance
Credit Qualifying
Streamline Refinance 620
560 – Conforming Balance
600 if LTV >90% - High Balance
560 if LTV ≤90% - High Balance Non-Credit Qualifying
Streamline 620 for pricing purposes only
A credit report is not required, but may be used if the score will improve pricing.
Loans with a credit score will be priced to the lowest pricing tier.
Non-Traditional Credit Not eligible
If a decision score is not provided, assume the following for pricing purposes only:
580 - Conforming Balance
600 - High Balance
Cash Out Refinance 620
Conforming Balance:
600 if LTV >75% but ≤80%
560 if LTV≤75%
High Balance:
600 if LTV ≤75% Modified Mortgages
A modified mortgages is one in which a permanent change has been made to
the original loan terms without forgiveness of any principal or accrued interest. This may include, but is not limited to:
A change in amortization term A reduction in interest rate
A reduction in the scheduled monthly payment amount
Non-Pacific Union Financial serviced loans must meet the 6-12 month agency
payment history requirements and must have a minimum 24 month mortgage payment history under the new terms.
In addition to meeting the agency payment history requirements during
the most recent 6-12 month payment period, no late payments are allowed during the 13-24 month period post modification.
Pacific Union to Pacific Union refinance transaction must only meet the
agency 6-12 month payment history requirements. A 24 month payment history is not required.
A copy of the modified note must be in the loan file.
See Restructured Mortgages, if applicable.
Mortgage/Rental History
New Jersey borrowers securing a 2-4 unit dwelling must provide 12 months
cancelled checks if mortgage/rental history is not provided on the credit report. Borrower’s living rent-free during the most recent 12 months are not allowed.
See Streamline Refinance and Back to Work Extenuating Circumstances
topics for additional requirements. Multiple FHA Loans
A borrower may have more than one FHA loan only under the following
circumstances:
Borrower is relocating and establishing residency in an area outside
reasonable commuting distance. In this case, the relocation is not required to be employment related.
The borrower must provide evidence of the increase in number of
dependents and the property’s failure to meet current needs. Borrower must have 25% equity in the current property as evidenced by an appraisal. Tax assessments and broker market analysis are not acceptable.
Borrower is vacating a jointly owned home.
Borrower was or will be a non-occupying co-borrower with a joint interest
in a property purchased by other family members as their primary residence.
Qualified investor entities are limited to a financial interest (this includes any
type of ownership, regardless of the type of financing) in seven rental dwelling units, when the subject property is part of, adjacent to, or
contiguous to, a property, subdivision or group of properties owned by the investor. The units that count toward this limitation include:
Each dwelling unit in a two, three, and four family property, and
The rental units in an owner-occupied two, three, or four unit property. Non-Traditional Credit
Non-traditional credit must be documented using a Non-Traditional Mortgage
Credit Report (NTMCR). Direct verifications may be obtained only when a NTMCR is impractical or the service is not available.
Non-traditional credit may be used when the borrower does not have the
type of credit that appears on a traditional credit report or to supplement an insufficient number of tradelines.
Ratios may not exceed 31%/43% DTI.
Increases based on compensating factors are not allowed.
Income from non-occupant co-borrowers may be included in the DTI
ratios.
Non-traditional credit may not be used to: Offset derogatory credit; or
Create a credit report for a borrower without a verifiable credit history; or Enhance a poor payment history
Non-traditional credit must:
Include three credit references, including at least one from Group I, and Exhaust all Group I references prior to considering Group II references Group I references include rental housing payments or utility company
Eligible Group II references include:
Medical, life, auto or renters insurance coverage that is not payroll
deducted.
Payment to child care providers – made to a business providing such
services.
School tuition
Retail stores – department, furniture, appliance stores, specialty stores;
rent to own – i.e., furniture, appliances
Payment of medical bills not covered by insurance Internet/cell phone services
Documented 12 month history of saving by regular, non-payroll deducted
deposits resulting in an increasing balance to the account. No NSF activity reported.
Automobile leases
Personal loan from an individual with repayment terms in writing and
supported by cancelled checks to document the payments.
Non-traditional credit references must include a minimum of 12 months
history with:
No history of delinquency on rental housing payments.
No more than one 30-day late payment on all other references. No collection accounts / court records reporting (other than medical)
within the last 12 months. Insufficient Non-Traditional Credit
For borrowers with no credit references or only Group II references:
A satisfactory credit history with at least 12 months of history must include
no more than one 30-day delinquency on any Group II reference, and no collection accounts/court records (other than medical) filed within the last 12 months, and
Ratios may not exceed 31%/43% and must be computed only on those
borrowers occupying the property and obligated on the loan.
Ratio increases based on compensating factors are not allowed.
See Cash Reserves for additional requirements.
Restructured Mortgages/Short Payoff
A restructured mortgage is one in which the original terms have been
changed, including through the origination of a new mortgage, resulting in any of the following:
Forgiveness of principal and/or interest on either the first or second
mortgage.
Application of a principal curtailment by or on behalf of the investor to
stimulate principal forgiveness.
Conversion of any portion of the original mortgage debt to a mortgage
that is fully forgiven over a period of time or due upon the sale of the subject property (a “soft” subordinate mortgage).
Conversion of any portion of the original mortgage debt from secured to
unsecured.
A restructured mortgage may be identified as follows:
The borrowers tax return (if obtained) reflects income from a 1099C from
the mortgage lender, mortgage insurance company or third party investor, or
The payoff amount is significantly less than the credit report balance or
the current monthly payment disclosed on the 1003 varies from the payment reported on the credit report, or
The borrower’s credit report reflects verbiage such as “Settled for less
than amount owed,” or “Paid In Full –not as agreed.”
Non-Pacific Union Financial serviced loans must meet agency requirements
and must have a 24 month mortgage payment history immediately after the loan was restructured.
In addition to meeting the agency requirements during the 6-12 month
payment period, no late payments are allowed during the 13-24 month period immediately after the loan was restructured.
Note: A 24 month payment history is not required if Pacific Union to
Pacific Union refinance transaction.
A restructured mortgage may not be accurately reflected on the borrower’s
credit report. If it is known or suspected that the borrower had a previous restructure, the credit report must be updated and the loan rescored and resubmitted to TOTAL Scorecard.
A restructured mortgage is sometimes referred to as a “short pay loan”, a
“short pay refinance” or a “short refinance”.
A copy of the restructured note must be in the loan file.
See Modified Mortgages, if applicable.
Short Sale / Pre-Foreclosure
A borrower is not eligible for a new FHA-insured mortgage if he/she pursued
a short sale agreement on his/her principal residence to take advantage of declining market conditions and purchase a similar or superior property within a reasonable commuting distance at a reduced price as compared to current market value.
A borrower is considered eligible for a new FHA-insured mortgage if from the
date of loan application for the new mortgage, all the following applied:
Mortgage payments on the prior mortgage were made within the month
due for the 12-month period preceding the short sale, and
All installment debt payments for the same time period were also made
within the month due.
A borrower in default on his/her mortgage at the time of the short sale or
pre-foreclosure sale is not eligible for a new FHA-insured mortgage for three years from the date of the short sale or pre-foreclosure sale.
A borrower who sold his/her property under FHA’s pre-foreclosure sales
FHA paid the claim associated with the pre-foreclosure sale. Exceptions to the three year seasoning requirements may be made if the:
Default was due to circumstances beyond the borrower’s control, such as
the death of a primary wage earner, long-term uninsured illness or a Back
to Work - Extenuating Circumstance; and
The credit report indicates satisfactory credit prior to the event that
caused the default. Tax Liens
Failure to make payments on a delinquent federal debt must be considered
when analyzing the borrower’s creditworthiness. The underwriter must provide justification as to why the previous failure does not represent a risk of mortgage default.
The borrower is not eligible for a mortgage loan until the delinquent account
is brought current, paid, otherwise satisfied, or a satisfactory repayment plan is made between the borrower and the Federal agency owed and is verified in writing.
If a tax lien has NOT been recorded, the taxes may remain unpaid if the
borrower has a written repayment agreement in place.
A minimum of three months repayment history is required and the
payment amount must be included in the DTI ratios.
If a tax lien has been recorded and the borrower has entered into a
repayment arrangement, the lien is not required to be paid off subject to the following:
A minimum of three months repayment history with no late payments
is required and the payment amount must be included in the DTI ratios. No exceptions allowed.
Late payments made prior to the most recent three month period must
be due to documented extenuating circumstances.
If no payment arrangements have been made the tax lien must be paid in
full.
Tax liens may remain unpaid provided the lien holder subordinates the tax
lien to the FHA insured mortgage.
IRS tax liens do not require a subordination agreement unless there is
evidence that the IRS has demanded a first lien position.
Collateral
Appraisal
An FHA Appraisal may be transferred from another lender to Pacific Union
Financial. Only the appraisal is assignable. The appraisal must be evaluated by a Pacific Union Financial underwriter. The transferred appraisal:
May not be expired.
Borrower Acknowledgement
All files must include one of the following acknowledgements from the borrower:
Receipt of the appraisal at least three days prior to closing.
Waiver of right to receive appraisal within three days prior to closing. Escrow Holdbacks
Non-HUD REO: An escrow repair is allowed for repairs that cannot be
completed due to weather related delays, but do not affect the livability, safety or structural integrity of the property or affect the ability to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy on new or proposed construction.
Refer to the Escrow Holdback Policy for detailed guidelines. HUD REO: Refer to the HUD REO Loan Program Guide for detailed
requirements. Flip Properties
Property flipping is a practice whereby a recently acquired property is resold for a considerable profit. These type transactions are allowed if the property is not
misrepresented and/or the value of it is not artificially inflated. In an effort to prevent illegal property flipping, FHA implemented the following property flipping policy:
Only owners of record may sell properties that will be financed using
FHA-insured mortgages; and.
Any re-sale of a property may not occur 90 or fewer days from the last sale
to be eligible for FHA financing, and
For sales that occur between 91 and 180 days, where the new sales price
exceeds the previous sales price by one hundred percent (100%) or more, FHA will require additional documentation validating the property’s value. Sale by the Owner of Record
FHA considers the re-sale date as, the date of execution of a sales contract
by the buyer.
The property must be purchased from the owner of record and the
transaction may not involve any sale or assignment of the sales contract. This applies to all FHA purchase money mortgages regardless of the time between re-sales.
The file must include documentation verifying that the seller is the owner of
record. This documentation may include, but is not limited to a property sales history report, a copy of the recorded deed from the seller, or other documentation such as a copy of a property tax bill, title commitment or binder, demonstrating the seller’s ownership of the property and the date it was acquired.
Exceptions to the 90-Day Restriction
Sales by HUD of its own Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. Properties
that were HUD REOs and then rehabilitated and resold are not eligible under this exemption.
Sales by other US Government agencies of single family properties pursuant
to programs operated by these agencies.
Sales of properties by non-profits approved to purchase HUD-owned
single-family properties at a discount with resale restrictions.
Sales of properties that are acquired by the sellers by inheritance. Sales of properties purchased by employers or relocation agencies in
connection with relocations of employees.
Sales of properties by state and federally charted financial institutions and
Government Sponsored Enterprises.
Sales of foreclosed properties by state licensed mortgage lenders.
Any entity that sells foreclosed properties on behalf of an exempt lender or
financial institution.
Sales of properties by local and state government agencies. Sales of a previously foreclosed or abandoned property acquired,
rehabilitated and resold by an entity using funds from and performing under agreements with state and local government agencies under a Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
Notes:
Documentation proving a seller is exempt from any of the property
flipping guidelines is required in the endorsement file prior to approving the loan transaction.
Re-sales that occur under this exemption within 90 days of last acquisition
with a sales price increase of 100% or more require a second appraisal ordered from a Pacific Union Financial Appraisal Vendor service.
Re-sales Occurring Between 91 and 180 Days Following Acquisition A second appraisal made by another appraiser ordered through Pacific Union
Appraisal service is required if the re-sale price is one hundred percent (100%) or more over the price paid by the seller when the property was acquired. Example: If a property is re-sold for $80,000 within six (6) months of the seller’s acquisition of that property for $40,000, a second appraisal supporting the $80,000 sales price is required.
Documentation showing the costs and extent of rehabilitation that went into
the property resulting in the increased value may be provided, but the second appraisal is still required.
The cost of the second appraisal may not be charged to the homebuyer;
however may be paid by the seller.
Both appraisals must be FHA appraisals prepared by independent appraisers. Both appraisers must be on HUD’s roster list of Approved Appraisers and be
state certified with an unexpired license.
If there is a difference in value of more than five percent (5%) between the
two appraisals, the appraisal with the lowest value must be used.
The Conditional Commitment is issued based on the appraisal used by
underwriting.
Re-Sales Occurring Between 91 Days and 12 Months Following Acquisition FHA reserves the right to require additional documentation to support the
re-sale value if the re-re-sale price is five percent (5.00%) or greater than the lowest sales price of the property during the preceding twelve (12) months.
Documentation may include, but is not limited to, an appraisal from another
appraiser.
Date of Property Acquisition Determined by the Appraiser
Information provided by the appraiser in compliance with the USPAP rules
may be relied on to determine the seller’s acquisition date. Appraisers are responsible for considering and analyzing any prior sales of the property being appraised within three years of the date of the appraisal.
If the most recent sale of the property occurred at least one year previously,
no additional documentation is required.
Any conflicts in information must be resolved and the file must be
documented accordingly. Leaseholds
Leaseholds are allowed for all transaction types, with the exception of FHA streamline refinances. Leaseholds must meet all applicable FHA requirements.
Manufactured Homes
Permitted. Refer to the Manufactured Home Loan Program Guide for applicable guidelines and state restrictions.
Note: Modular homes are eligible for financing and must follow standard site built housing requirements.
Mixed Use Properties
Mixed use properties are eligible provided the non-residential use does not
impair the residential character and does not exceed 25% of the total square footage.
Property Listed for Sale
Eligible for Rate/Term or Streamline Refinance if listing was expired or
cancelled prior to application date.
Eligible for Cash-Out Refinance if listing was expired or canceled >90 days
Property Overlays
Condo project must be on FHA’s approved list.
Properties located on an Indian Reservation are not eligible. Reminders for Minimum Property Requirements
Property must be free of any health, safety or structural hazard that may
impair the customary use and enjoyment of dwelling.
All mechanical, heating and electrical supplies must be adequate for the
dwelling.
All properties must have safe potable drinking water and sanitary facilities for
safe disposal of sewage. Connection to public or community water/sewage is required whenever feasible.
Individual water systems:
Systems must meet all requirements of the local and/or State Health
Authority having jurisdiction. If the local authority does not have specific requirements, the maximum contaminant levels established by the EPA will apply.
A water test or inspection is required if: Deficiencies are noted by the appraiser; There are observable signs of system failure; Required by the State or local jurisdiction;
There is knowledge that the water may be contaminated;
The water supply relies on a water purification system due to the
presence of contaminants;
The water has an unusual taste, smell or appearance; There is evidence of corrosion of the pipes (plumbing); or
Any of the following are present within ¼ mile: Intensive agricultural
operations, coal mining or gas drilling operations, dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station or dry cleaning operations.
Note: In some states County Health Authorities are required to collect
the test samples; however, it they are unable or are not required to collect the samples, an individual/company acceptable to the State and the laboratory may collect the samples.
Individual sewage inspections by a local health authority may be required
when appraiser indicates a problem with either the septic system, indicates the subject is located in an area with soil percolation problems or is a condition of the appraisal.
If roof is defective and has three or more layers of shingles, it must be
corrected.
Site must be graded to provide positive, rapid drainage form perimeter of will
and prevent ponding on the site.
Property may not be located in a high pressure gas, liquid petroleum or high
voltage electric transmission line easement.
Any defective paint condition in a dwelling build prior to 1978 will be
Property must be free of wood destroying insect infestation, dry rot and
fungus growth. A termite inspection is required when:
The appraiser recommends an inspection or marks the “evidence of
infestation” box on the appraisal report; or
It is requested in the sales agreement; or
It is mandated by the state or local jurisdiction; or
At the Underwriter’s discretion, if the property is located in a “Termite
Infestation Probability” (TIP) zone per the CABO TIP Map, which can be located via the National Pest Management Association Inc. website at http://www.npmapestworld.org/techresources/hud.cfm.
Debt to Income Ratios / Qualifying
Debt to Income (DTI) Ratio Matrix
TOTAL Scorecard Approve/Accept Eligible Transactions Lowest Minimum
Loan Decision Score Maximum DTI Compensating Factors Acceptable
≥620 55%
50% - 2-4 unit properties located in New Jersey
If a manual downgrade is required, follow Manual Underwriting requirements below.
Not required
Manually Underwritten Transactions
(Refer/Eligible, Manually Downgraded Loans or Credit Qualifying Streamlines) Effective For Case Numbers Assigned On or After April 21, 2014
Lowest Minimum Loan Decision Score
Maximum DTI
Acceptable Compensating Factors
≥580 with 2 comp factors 40% / 50% Two of the followingCompensating Factorsare require:
Verified and documented cash reserves; or
Minimal increase in housing payment; or
Significant additional income not reflected in the gross effective income; or
Residual Income
≥580 with no other debt 40% / 40% The borrower must meet all the following requirements:
Monthly housing payment must be the only open installment account and must have a minimum 6 month payment history; and
Revolving credit must have been paid in full each month during the most recent 6 month period.
Note: Other debts and additional compensating factors are not allowed.
≥580 with one comp factor 37% / 47% One of theCompensating Factorsare required:
Verified and documented cash reserves;
Minimal increase in housing payment; or
Residual Income