Orlando Short Sale Expert | Orlando Short Sales, Orlando Short Sale Realtor

“Now that we’ve gotten the Q3 reports from Fannie, Freddie and the FHA, the picture of housing’s future is becoming ever clearer.  The combined Real Estate Owned (REO) inventory of the three rose 24 percent quarter to quarter and 93 percent year over year.

In real numbers, at the end of Q3 there were a record 293,171 REO’s sitting on their books. This of course doesn’t count REO held by the banks and private label securities. That’s up from 153,007 at the end of Q3 2009.  Granted, the GSE’s and FHA have disposed of (sold) an awful lot of properties. In the first 9 months of this year they’ve sold over 200,000, but that still leaves us, net, with the above numbers, which are also rising at a fast clip.  Now let’s add the foreclosure mess.

The numbers I just reported don’t account for the foreclosure sale freezes that are still in place in many states, because the freezes didn’t happen until the very last few weeks of Q3. REO inventory will likely drop precipitously in Q4, as all those foreclosures sit in limbo with no sales and no evictions, only to surge again once the banks get the paperwork flowing again.  None of this should come as any surprise, given that the number of bank repossessions surged to new record highs at the end of the summer.  So why am I bombarding you with all these numbers? Because as I have always said, over and over, the housing’s recovery is based almost entirely on inventory.  We can talk prices, affordability, confidence, foreclosures, scandals, politics, whatever you want, but in the end it comes down to supply and demand.  We are looking at a ballooning supply coupled with dwindling demand. You do the math.”

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, East Orlando, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Winter Park, Oviedo, Apopka, Lake Mary, Clermont, Ocoee  Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area.

Please visit:

Avoid Foreclosure / Short Sale Help  http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com, or http://ShortSellMyOrlandoHome.com

Our Website http://JerryLaRose.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com,  or http://OrlandoRealEstateVoice.com ,

If you’re a Buyer looking for Great Deals –  http://InvestmentPropertyDealsOrlando.com

Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange, Seminole, Polk, Lake  or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, East Orlando, St. Cloud,  Davenport, Clermont, Longwood, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland,  Apopka,  Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. The short sale process is complicated and we can help simplify it.

Call us at 407-580-7011 or email at jerry@JerryLaRose.com to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales.

CHANGE #1

On September 1, 2010, HUD released Mortgagee Letter 2010-28 regarding changes to FHA mortgage insurance premiums. The letter states that, on August 12, 2010, the President signed into law new legislation which allows HUD to increase the amount of the annual mortgage insurance premiums charged for FHA single family housing mortgage insurance programs. For purchase and refinance transactions, HUD has decided to raise the annual premium which is collected on a monthly basis (the “monthly MI”) and simultaneously lower the upfront mortgage insurance premium (the “MIP” which is typically financed into the loan) “so that FHA is in a better position to address the increased demands of the marketplace and return the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) fund to congressionally mandated levels without disruption to the housing market.”

Effective for FHA loans with case numbers assigned on or after October 4, 2010, the upfront mortgage insurance premium for purchase and refinance transactions will change from 2.25% to 1.0%. The annual mortgage insurance collected on a monthly basis (the monthly MI) will change to the following:

Let’s look at a scenario and see how this will affect a typical homebuyer. Let’s say a buyer is purchasing a home at a price of $150,000 with maximum FHA financing (meaning they’re only making the minimum 3.5% down payment) and they’re getting a 30-year fixed at 4.25%. Because they are making a 3.5% down payment ($5,250), their base loan amount is $144,750.

So as you can see, the borrower’s payment will be higher with the new changes but my take on it is: in the whole scheme of things, when buying a $150,000 home, it’s not as “major” as some may lead you to believe. Not a HUGE deal when you really look at he numbers.

CHANGE #2

On September 3, 2010, HUD released another mortgage letter (2010-29) and it is regarding minimum credit scores and loan-to-value ratios. The three main changes, also effective for case numbers assigned on or after October 4, 2010, are:

1)     Borrowers with a minimum decision credit score at or above 580 are eligible for maximum financing.

2)     Borrowers with a minimum decision credit score between 500 and 579 are limited to 90 percent LTV.

3)     Borrowers with a minimum decision credit score of less than 500 are not eligible for FHA-insured mortgage financing.

This is not a significant change because most lenders/banks/brokers) are not financing FHA borrowers with less than a 620 credit score anyway. I don’t feel that these changes will affect you or your buyers much at all. Again, nothing too “major”.

Some good news is: we’ve heard nothing else more about the maximum interested party contributions lowering from 6% to 3% since HUD’s mortgagee letter released 01/20/10. In this mortgagee letter, HUD stated that this change will be “posted in the Federal Register in February, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.” We should all be glad that this hasn’t officially rolled out (yet) because I feel that this change would have a much greater impact on us and our clients than any of the above. If we hear something more about it, I’ll let you know.

If you have any questions or concerns or if you’d like to further discuss any of this, please let me know.

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, East Orlando, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Winter Park, Oviedo, Apopka, Lake Mary, Clermont, Ocoee  Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com,  http://OrlandoRealEstateVoice.com ,  www.JerrySellsOrlando.com, or http://InvestmentPropertyDealsOrlando.com for your Orlando real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange, Seminole, Polk, Lake  or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, East Orlando, St. Cloud,  Davenport, Clermont, Longwood, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland,  Apopka,  Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said that it intends to require borrowers to have scores of at least 500 to qualify for FHA-insured loans. The agency has not required a minimum score before.  “It really is just conforming FHA standards to what FHA lenders have already been doing,” said Michael Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics for the Mortgage Bankers Association.  As a result, the practical impact of this move will be extremely limited; during the second quarter of 2010, no FHA-insured loans were issued to borrowers with sub-500 scores. And, in fact, less than 1% of borrowers were below 580; most loans went to borrowers with scores above 620.

The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to reduce default risk to the FHA loan portfolio and to boost the reserves that back those loans, according to HUD Commissioner David Stevens.  “These are the latest in a series of changes to allow the FHA to manage its risk better while continuing to support the nation’s housing recovery,” he said. “By protecting FHA’s capital reserves, we can continue providing affordable, responsible mortgage products and will remain the nation’s largest source of home purchase financing for underserved communities.”  During May, 8.97% of all FHA loans were seriously delinquent (seasonably adjusted). That was up from 7.93% during May 2009. But defaults have turned downward since January, when they peaked at 9.16%.  The defaults have drained FHA reserve, which is funded by insurance payments, to below the 2% minimum mandated by Congress. Taxpayer money could be in jeopardy if the insurance funds are depleted any further.

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, East Orlando, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Winter Park, Oviedo, Apopka, Lake Mary, Clermont, Ocoee  Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange, Seminole, Polk, Lake  or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, East Orlando, St. Cloud,  Davenport, Clermont, Longwood, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland,  Apopka,  Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is considering three policy changes to boost its capital reserves. Under the changes, new borrowers seeking FHA-insured loans will need a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA’s 3.5% downpayment program. New borrowers with credit scores between 500 and 580 will be required to provide a 10% downpayment, and borrowers with credit scores below 500 will no longer qualify. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a notice today seeking public comment on the measures, which are designed to reduce financial risk and preserve affordable mortgage finance. HUD will accept public comment for the next 30 days on the proposed changes.  “These are the latest in a series of changes to allow the FHA to manage its risk better while continuing to support the nation’s housing recovery,” said FHA commissioner David Stevens in a press release.

Specifically, the FHA is proposing to update the combination of credit and downpayment requirements for new borrowers, reduce seller concessions from 6% to 3% and tighten underwriting standards for manually-underwritten loans.  The changes also seek to reduce the share of the home sales price that sellers are allowed to contribute at the closing table to offset the buyers’ costs. The current share of 6% “exposes the FHA to excess risk by potentially driving up the cost of the home beyond its appraised value,” the FHA said in a statement today. The proposed change would reduce seller concessions to 3%, which the FHA said would bring it into conformity with industry standards.  The proposed FHA policy updates also require lenders, during the underwriting process, to consider compensating factors that are “the best predictive indicators of loan performance” — credit history, loan-to-value ratio, debt-to-income ratio and cash reserves.

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, East Orlando, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Winter Park, Oviedo, Apopka, Lake Mary, Clermont, Ocoee  Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange, Seminole, Polk, Lake  or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, East Orlando, St. Cloud,  Davenport, Clermont, Longwood, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland,  Apopka,  Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales

HAFA (which means “I have HAFA mind to never pay another mortgage payment again!”) Kidding!!! Actually it is part of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) that aims to help homeowners who are unable to qualify for a loan modification under HAMP by providing them with the option to pursue a short sale or deed-in-lieu. Under the program, financial incentives are provided to servicers (banks) and borrowers (now you’re talking!) who utilize these foreclosure alternatives.

As of April 5, 2010, the program is now in action and according to the guidelines, once a borrower is determined to be ineligible for a HAMP modification, the bank must consider that borrower for HAFA within 30 days. Every potential eligible borrower must be considered for the program before the borrower’s loan is referred to foreclosure or the bank allows a pending foreclosure sale to be conducted. If the bank determines that the borrower is eligible, the short sale or deed-in-lieu process will begin. Qualified borrowers will be given pre-approved short sale terms before the property is listed, and once an offer is made, banks/mortgage servicers will have 10 days to approve or reject the sale.

HAFA Government Program

HAFA+Brochure+Text+1 25 10

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales.

CNBC”s Diana Olick has the details on the FHA releases new guidelines for homeowners to meet in order to receive a loan.

http://realestate.msn.com/video/default.aspx?vid=59b6660d-847a-40a6-89a3-f33254ff45b1&from=cp^cp_en-us_realestate_CustomPlayer_Hub&fg=msnrealestate

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Lake Mary, Oviedo or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales

Starting in early summer, the Federal Housing Administration is tightening lending standards in an effort to bolster its dwindling reserves. The new lending standards will make it tougher for some prospective buyers to purchase a home by requiring a higher down payment than the typical 3.5 percent for some borrowers, higher insurance premiums and reduced seller concessions.

Securing FHA-insured mortgages are attractive to borrowers because down payments are only 3.5 percent. Most conventional loans now require 20 percent down, keeping many creditworthy borrowers on the sidelines.

New Guidelines

The new rules — which are temporary and take effect this summer — come after more than a year of stringent standards from lenders. Among them:

• Better Credit Score — New borrowers will have to have a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify for a 3.5 percent down payment. Previously, there was no minimum score. Those with lower scores will have to make at least a 10 percent down payment. The average credit score of FHA-insured borrowers is 693.
• Higher Insurance Premiums — Buyers who get an FHA-insured loan will soon have to pay a higher initial insurance premium. The new premium will be 2.25 percent of the value of total loan amount, up from 1.75 percent now. A $100,000 mortgage would require a payment of $2,250, or $500 more. But buyers can roll the added cost into the loan amount.
• Reduction in Seller Concessions — Starting this summer, sellers will not be able to offer as much help to buyers to pay their closing costs. The maximum amount of assistance will drop to 3 percent of the value of the property, from the current 6 percent.

FHA removes anti-flipping rule

Another FHA rule change could help foreclosure-plagued markets like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Miami, Detroit and Los Angeles, making it easier for investors to “flip” houses to buyers who use FHA-insured loans.

Effective Feb. 1, the federal government will waive for one year an FHA anti-flipping rule that prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days.

The new rule lets investors buy today and re-sell as quickly as possible. The move is to allow REO homes purchased by investors to resell as quickly as possible, helping stabilize real estate prices and revitalize neighborhoods after the U.S. housing market collapse.

This new rule will open up a new pool of homes to buyers. Waiving the 90-day flip rule is being heralded by many real estate investors as a boon to their ability to buy, rehab and resell foreclosed homes on a more efficient time line.

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Jerry LaRose is an Orlando Area Residential Real Estate Expert, who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of Real Estate in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden Florida or any place in the country. Jerry has created a team of professionals throughout Orlando and the country to ensure that you enjoy a smooth transition to your new area. Please visit http://OrlandoShortSaleExpert.com or www.JerrySellsOrlando.com for your real estate needs.  Please give me a call if you have questions about the Orlando and Central Florida real estate market.

P.S. If you are listing your home as a short sale in Orange or Osceola County Florida and Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden,  Kissimmee or Ocoee Florida make sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale packages. Call us at 407-580-7011 to find out more about Orange County Short Sales and Orlando Area Short Sales