Welcome to the "Z" Team!

Great to report that loan rates hit another all-time low this week, marking the seventh straight week it has averaged below 4 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Jan. 19: 

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.88 percent, with an average 0.8 point, a new all-time low and dropping from last week’s previous record of 3.89 percent. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.74 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.17 percent, with an average 0.8 point, up slightly from last week’s record low of 3.16 percent. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 4.05 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.82 percent, with an average 0.7 point, the same as last week’s average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.69 percent. 
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.74 percent, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 2.76 percent average. Last year at this point, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.25 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac

More news from the “Sierra Foothills” of El Dorado, Placer, Amador and Sacramento Counties of California at: www.sierraproperties.com or email: zeller123@gmail.com

Record-low mortgage rates sparked a wave in mortgage applications for home purchase and refinancings last week, increasing more than 20 percent in a week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports. 

for the week ending Jan. 13, mortgage applications for refinancing applications jumped 26.4 percent while home purchase applications, a future gauge for home buying, increased 10.3 percent.  

“With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped,” Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, said in a statement. “Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season.”

Freddie Mac reported that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a record low of 3.89 percent for the week ending Jan. 12. For six consecutive weeks, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages — the most popular choice among home buyers — has averaged below 4 percent. 

Source: “Mortgage Applications Surge on Refinancing Demand,” Reuters (Jan. 18, 2012)

More news from the “Sierra Foothills” of El Dorado, Placer, Amador and Sacramento Counties of California at: www.sierraproperties.com or www.dougandbudzeller.com

Freddie Mac announced it has eliminated its minimum credit score requirement for borrowers wanting to refinance, but they must have at least 20 percent equity in their home, HousingWire reports. Freddie Mac used to require a minimum credit score of 620. 

In following instructions from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, government-sponsored enterprises Freddie and Fannie Mae are both looking at how they can ease requirements to spur more refinances so more borrowers can take advantage of record-low mortgage rates.

Fannie Mae has removed a refinancing requirement that lenders must determine the borrower’s ability to repay — aimed at increasing refis and helping more underwater borrowers stay current on their mortgages. 

HousingWire reports that about 4 million loans serviced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are underwater, in which the borrower owes more on their loan then their home is currently worth. 

Source: “Freddie Cuts Some Refi Credit Score Requirements,” HousingWire (Jan. 5, 2012)

More news from the “Sierra Foothills” of El Dorado, Placer, Amador and Sacramento Counties of California at: www.sierraproperties.com or www.dougandbudzeller.com

Home buyer affordability continues to be pushed higher due to mortgage rates remaining at record lows, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. 

“Mortgage rates ended the year hovering near historic lows in an already affordable housing market,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement.  With affordability so high, Nothaft notes “it’s not surprising then that over 5 percent of households in December plan to purchase a home over the next six months, the highest share since May,” according to The Conference Board. 

For the ninth consecutive week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, the most popular choice among home buyers, have been at or below 4 percent. In fact, only twice this year did 30-year rates average above 5 percent, Freddie Mac reports. 

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Dec. 29.

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged3.95 percent, with an average 0.7 point, inching up from last week’s all-time record–a 3.91 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.86 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.24 percent, with an average 0.8 point, also up slightly compared to last week’s record 3.21 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 4.20 percent.
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.88 percent, with an average 0.6 point, increasing from last week’s 2.85 percent average. Last year at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.77 percent. 
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.78 percent, with an average 0.6 point, slightly up from last week’s 2.77 percent average. A year ago, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.26 percent. 

 Source: Freddie Mac

 More news from the “Sierra Foothills” of El Dorado, Placer, Amador and Sacramento Counties of California at: www.sierraproperties.com or www.dougandbudzeller.com

For the third week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, the most popular choice among home buyers, averaged at or below 4 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.

“Mortgage rates were little changed this week just as the economy is showing potential for further gains in the near term,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. 

Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Nov. 18:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4 percent with an average 0.7 point, rising slightly from last week’s 3.99 percent average. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.39 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.31 percent with an average 0.7 point, increasing from last week’s 3.30 percent. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.76 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.97 percent with an average 0.6 point, decreasing slightly from last week’s 2.98 percent average. Last year at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.40 percent.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.98 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week’s 2.95 percent average. A year ago, 1-year ARMs averaged 3.26 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac

For the second time this year, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped below 4 percent and continues to hover around record lows, Freddie Mac reported in its weekly mortgage market survey. 

Yet overall, “fixed mortgage rates were little changed this week amid a mix of economic data reports,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. 

Here’s a closer look at mortgage rates for the week ending Nov. 10:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.99 percent with an average 07 point, down from last week’s 4 percent average. The last time the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped below 4 percent was Oct. 6 when it averaged 3.94 percent. Last year at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.17 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.30 percent with an average 0.8 point, dropping slightly from last week’s 3.31 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 3.57 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.98 percent, with an average 0.6 point, rising from last week’s 2.96 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.25 percent. 
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.95 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week’s 2.88 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.26 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac

Other information about the Sierra Foothills and Placerville, El Dorado County, California regions at: www.sierraproperties.com or www.dougandbudzeller.com

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the most popular choice among home buyers, dropped to its second lowest reading on record this week, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. 

“Market concerns over the European debt market drew investors to U.S. Treasury securities, lowering bond yields and mortgage rates,” says Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac.

Here are how rates fared for the week:

30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 4 percent, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week’s 4.10 percent average. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the second lowest on record, just behind the 3.94 percent record reached on Oct. 6. A year ago at this time, 30-year rates averaged 4.24 percent. 

• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.31 percent, with an average 0.7 point, falling from last week’s 3.38 percent average. Last year at this time, 15-year mortgages averaged 3.63 percent. 
• 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.96 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 3.08 percent. At this time last year, 5-year ARMs averaged 3.39 percent.
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 2.88 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, dropping from last week’s 2.90 percent average. A year ago at this time, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.26 percent. 

Source: Freddie Mac

Other real estate information and assistance for the Placerville, El Dorado County, California region at: www.DougandBudZeller.com

Borrowers who are current on their home loans may be able to refinance for lower interest rates, even if they are seriously upside down.  The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today that it will broaden the scope of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by removing the current 125 percent loan-to-value cap for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Other program enhancements include, among other things, reducing certain fees, eliminating the need for a new property appraisal if the FHFA has a reliable automated valuation model (AVM) estimate, and extending HARP until the end of 2013.  New federal guidelines for the HARP changes should be released to mortgage lenders and servicers by November 15.

More information is available from FHFA at http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/22721/HARP_release_102411_Final.pdf.

Freddie Mac borrowers ineligible for participation in the Home Affordable Modification Program or previously in default on a HAMP or other loan workout will be able to take advantage of a new option that reduces mortgage principle and monthly payments by at least 10 percent each. Lenders in our Placerville, California region recommend anyone interested should contact their local professional experienced with loan modifications.   

Under a Standard Modification, loans will have the interest rate set at 5 percent and the amortization period extended to 40 years from the time of the workout; lenders will receive cash incentives of up to $1,600 per home owner approved.

The Standard Modification replaces Freddie Mac’s Debt Coverage Ratio loan modification, which is now being referred to as a Classic Modification.

Source: “Freddie Offers New Loan Mod Option,” NASDAQ (09/13/11)

In less than a month, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will scale back the size of loans they buy from lenders, which some industry groups are saying will hurt home sales and could further dampen a housing market recovery. The drop in the conforming loan limit may make it more difficult for some buyers to purchase homes in expensive markets, housing experts say.

The current loan limits are set to expire Oct. 1. If an extension isn’t granted, the maximum mortgage amount in high-cost areas will drop from $729,750 to $625,500 (although that limit will vary throughout the country).

Some banks, such as Bank of America, have already stopped taking new applications for jumbo loans at the current rate so that they can process the ones already in the pipeline in time for the Oct. 1 deadline.

The drop in the conforming loan limit is expected to impact 2 percent of homes nationwide, but will have a much greater effect in some areas. For example, some analysts say 10 percent of the housing market in New York will be affected. 

Pamela Liebman, CEO of New York real estate company the Corcoran Group, told USA Today that the new loan requirements will “put a lot of buyers out of the market.”

Meanwhile, lobbying efforts are continuing, as several industry groups, including the National Association of REALTORS®, are urging Congress to act quickly on a two-year extension to maintain the GSE loan limit at $729,750. 

 Source: “Coming Loan Changes Could Squeeze High-Priced Home Markets,” USA Today (Sept. 6, 2011)

Other articles relating to the Sacramento and Placerville, California regions at: www.sierraproperties.com