The government’s First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit expires December 1, 2009. If you expect to use the program in conjunction with a home purchase, therefore, you may want to consider yourself officially “on the clock”. Assuming a 60-day window between contract and closing, there are...

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credits – Cannot Be Used For The 3.5% Required Down Payment. •    Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1709(b)(9), the homebuyer’s downpayment required for eligibility for FHA insurance may not consist of any funds (including funds derived from a sale of the homebuyer tax credit)...

I am sure you have heard all the Hype about the new ability about Using the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit as a Down Payment.  Not so FAST! As a lender on the Broker side I am all over this; I have queried multiple lenders and have included there response. In short not one lender has implemented...

Hopefully rates do not follow the trend of Monday.  Mortgage Backed Securities shed roughly 31bp which translates into an increase in consumer Mortgage rates. This week, there isn’t much data to watch and, because of Memorial Day, trading will be very light towards Thursday and Friday. It’s...

The first week of May is officially over, and Mortgage backed securities once again sold off at the end of the week giving up a total of 30bp this week (FNMA 30 YR 4% Chart). The selloff pushed Mortgage Rates higher for the first week of May. May 2009 Mortgage Rates. This week we saw the economy shed...

It’s already May, and time for another Mortgage Rate Watch May 2009 – May 2009 Mortgage Forecast Loans closed in May will have first payment dates of July 2009. If April was a harbinger of things to come for May, Homeowners and Homebuyers will be the proud recipients of stable LOW Historic Mortgage...

As I have said before and will say again, we are witnessing Historical LOW Mortgage Rates.  We may never see rates this low again, or at least for a very long time.  If that is not enough encouragement consider the following: An $8,000 Tax Credit FHA only requires 3.5% down payment Home Values are...

Rer IRS Website: This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase...

The appraisal process often baffles consumers. They may feel that their home is worth a higher dollar amount, and so the appraised value doesn’t always make sense to them. It is important to know that the appraiser is completely independent from lenders, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents,...

The flight to security was nonexistent for Mortgage Backed Securities before the long Holiday Weekend.   Mortgage Rates increased today as the FNMA 4% 30 YR MBS gave up .25bp.  Overall MBS are only down 3bp week over week (See Mortgage Rate Chart) The equity markets rallied and hitched a ride on Wells...