Explaining Mortgage Insurance

Mortgage insurance is one of the many benefits of owning a home. This type of insurance protects the mortgage company from large uncollectible debts when borrowers fail to make their payments. The different types of mortgage insurance include default and non-default. Learn about the types of mortgage insurance and how much they cost. If you’re thinking about getting mortgage insurance, keep reading! Hopefully, you’ll find this information useful!

Pay for mortgage insurance

You can choose to pay for mortgage insurance as part of your monthly payment or as an extra expense at closing. This insurance protects the lender in the event that you default on your mortgage loan. If you do not pay it, you could be subject to losing your home to foreclosure, damaging your credit score. There are several kinds of loans for low down payments, and each type requires different mortgage insurance policies. Learn more about the different types of mortgage insurance policies and how to choose one that works best for you.

Lender-paid mortgage insurance, or LPMI, is bought on your behalf by the lender and is usually reserved for borrowers with good credit. While it reduces your monthly payments, it is not refundable. You cannot cancel it once you’ve taken out the loan. Once you’ve agreed to pay for mortgage insurance, you can’t get it out. As you pay down your mortgage, you cannot cancel the insurance plan.

Types of mortgage insurance

There are several types of mortgage insurance. Borrower-paid mortgage insurance (PMI) is usually the most common. This type of insurance is paid monthly along with the mortgage. You will be required to pay it until you have 22% equity in your home, based on the original purchase price. Once you reach this amount, the lender must cancel your PMI. The process of accumulating enough equity to cancel BPMI usually takes 11 years.

One option is to opt for single-premium mortgage insurance (PMI). This allows the borrower to pay the entire premium for mortgage insurance in one payment. But this type of mortgage insurance is not as common as you might think. Most buyers will need mortgage insurance, but some people can get away with dropping the insurance after paying at least 20% of the original purchase price. In such cases, it is important to keep in mind that PMI does not cover your mortgage in the event you die or become unable to make payments.

Benefits of mortgage insurance

Mortgage insurance, also known as private mortgage insurance (PMI), helps buyers secure loans with a small down payment. By using this type of insurance, home buyers are only required to pay 5% of the property’s value. This option can be beneficial for first-time buyers or those with limited resources. A mortgage-insurance policy offers the buyer peace of mind by helping to cover extra costs if something happens to him or her. If you need to buy a new home, learn more about the benefits of mortgage insurance.

It’s an important part of the mortgage process, but a great many people are still not aware of the benefits. Mortgage insurance can help buyers with a smaller down payment, and it can protect a lender’s interests. If you have a steady payment record, you can easily transfer your insurance policy to another property, saving money on premiums over time. In addition to saving money on premiums, mortgage insurance also protects your investment from the financial impact of a death.

The cost of mortgage insurance

You may wonder how much mortgage insurance costs. This type of insurance is separate from homeowner’s insurance and is mandatory for conventional loans that require less than a 20% down payment. Mortgage insurance is a type of private insurance that protects the lender in the event that a borrower is unable to make payments. The mortgage insurance company attaches the insurance to your home loan when you pay less than 20% of the purchase price. It will then add a premium to your monthly payment until you have reached 20% equity.

The cost of mortgage insurance is usually one-to-two percent of the total loan amount. The rates can vary from lender to lender, but in general, you should expect to pay about $167 a month for a $200,000 loan. Depending on your loan amount, the monthly premium can be high, or low, but it is important to note that mortgage insurance costs are not based on the purchase price or appraised value of the home.

Should I Get Mortgage Insurance?

Whether to obtain private mortgage insurance or standard mortgage life insurance depends on your circumstances. Term life insurance offers a cash benefit instead of tying your future mortgage debt to your death. Term life insurance is not required, but it is a good idea. Mortgage life insurance can be costly. A term life insurance policy can be priced appropriately to match your mortgage term. If you intend to live in your home for many years, owner’s title insurance is essential.

In case of death, the policy will pay off the outstanding mortgage balance. This insurance protects your family in the event of your death before the loan amortization period has been complete. The benefit will equal the outstanding mortgage balance at the time of your death. When the time of your death comes, the mortgage insurance death benefit will be paid directly to your lender. Whether you choose life insurance or term life insurance, both policies are valuable to protect your family’s future.

Mortgage insurance is an essential part of personal financial planning. Without it, you risk losing your house, your assets, and your job. Purchasing mortgage insurance protects you from these risks, while the costs are often higher than the costs of regular life insurance. The cost of mortgage life insurance is usually higher than regular life insurance, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. A good idea is to compare the premiums offered by different companies to decide whether it is worth it and always consult with your Orlando Realtor.

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Florida’s Green Lights Hometown Heroes Housing Program

The Florida legislature has appropriated $363 million for the state’s Green Lights Hometown Heroes Housing program. This will fund programs that help Florida’s low and moderate-income citizens purchase a home. The Florida Housing and Finance Corporation administers these programs, including down payment assistance and SHIP-Homeownership and Rental. The Florida Housing and Finance Corporation also offers a list of affordable housing options, as well as information on disaster relief programs, special needs housing, and lenders and property managers.

Teachers are a definite incentive for the program

For many Florida residents, a home is an expensive proposition. Even a median-priced home can cost over $62,000, which puts them out of reach for most of the population. Teachers, police officers, and other frontline employees earn far less than this amount, so they face the extra hurdle of finding a home. For this reason, this housing program is an especially welcome development for educators and other frontline workers.

The program provides up to $25,000 to cover down payments and closing costs for qualifying applicants with a credit score of 640. However, teachers are not automatically eligible because the requirements are very strict. Loan officers are getting between ten and fifteen calls a day, and it is a competitive process, especially with the limited supply of homes in a given area. Further, the demand is much higher than the supply.

Florida Realtors are actively advocating for affordable housing for our heroes. The state legislature recently allocated $100 million for the program in the fiscal year 2022-23. A total of two hundred and fifty homes are planned to be made available to heroes. The first phase of the program is targeted toward educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military personnel. The program offers down payment assistance, reduced mortgage rates, and other helpful benefits.

It will provide zero-interest loans to be used toward down payment and closing costs

The Green Lights Hometown Heroes Housing program will help eligible frontline workers obtain low-interest loans for their down payment and closing costs. Funds from this program do not have to be repaid until the home is sold, refinanced, or paid off. This program is modeled after the Salute Our Soldiers military loan program, which has helped hundreds of veterans purchase homes.

Florida’s Hometown Heroes Housing program will provide down payment and closing cost assistance to front-line workers and military members. The program is open to veterans, active-duty military, and front-line workers in more than 50 professions. The program is designed to make homeownership affordable for these heroes in our communities and will help low and moderate-income homebuyers purchase their first homes.

It is a definite incentive for homebuyers

The state has established a $100 million program to give first-time homebuyers who qualify for low-interest loans a chance to own their own homes. The program will provide zero-interest loans for up to 5% of the loan amount and up to $25K in down payment assistance. The program is administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Eligible homebuyers can receive zero-interest loans for a down payment or closing costs. They can also receive a zero-interest second mortgage with a 30-year deferred term. This second mortgage will be due in full upon sale or transfer of the deed to the home. The Florida Hometown Heroes loan is non-forgivable and cannot be refinanced.

The program complements other efforts by the Florida government to increase homeownership opportunities for low-income Floridians. It would be similar to the Salute Our Soldiers Military Loan Program, which has helped hundreds of active-duty military and veterans purchase a home. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program would provide zero-interest loans to help homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs. In addition, qualifying homebuyers would receive down payment assistance up to 5% of the first mortgage loan amount. The zero-interest loans would be repaid in full if the buyer sells the home, refinances, or sells the property.

“During the pandemic and beyond, our hometown heroes – the nurses, EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and educators – were the ones who kept us safe, cared for our loved ones, and taught our children,” says 2022 Florida Realtors President Christina Pappas. “Unfortunately, with skyrocketing home prices, they often can’t afford to live in the communities where they work. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program is a great way to help address this issue.” 

The program will be available to more than 50 occupations and is subject to certain income and purchase price limits that vary by county. DeSantis said mortgage loan officers throughout the state would begin accepting applications for the program beginning June 1, 2022.

“There are 1,000 lenders involved in the program to start providing assistance to essential workers, such as police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and teachers, among other professions,” says Florida Realtors Vice President of Public Policy Andy Gonzalez.

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Foreclosure Homes in Orlando FL

Searching for a foreclosure property in Orlando, FL

The home buying process can be as exciting as it can be scary… Especially when buying a foreclosure home in Orlando. Depending on if you plan on living in the home, selling it, or renting it out, you should be a critical buyer. There are several things you should consider before making your decision.

Finding the right Orlando neighborhood.

If you plan on living in the home, you should find a neighborhood that meets your family’s needs. Being in a good school district or being close to your job could help you decide. But, if you plan on renting it out, you’ll want to be in an area where it will rent out fast like near a college or university. Your real Orlando estate agent can advise you on finding the best area to meet your needs.

Determine how much you can afford to pay

It’s important to know how much you can afford to pay for a house before you begin your search. Keep in mind that when you’re buying an Orlando short sale home or foreclosure, you’re buying it in as-is condition. Chances are you’ll have to make a few repairs to make it livable. Unless you’re an experienced investor, I would suggest avoiding homes needing major repairs. By adding the cost of repairs to the sale price you’ll know how much the house will cost you.

Finding a Realtor that specializes in Orlando foreclosure properties

Not all Realtors in Orlando have experience with foreclosure properties or short sales. You must find an agent that specializes in foreclosure homes and short sales. By hiring the right agent, you will greatly increase your chances of finding the right property.

Facing Foreclosure in Orlando?

If you or someone you know have an approaching foreclosure sale date, you must take action! Whether you speak with us or some other Orlando foreclosure specialist, don’t wait. Time is against you and the faster you take action the better your chances of avoiding foreclosure.


Know your options…

Just because the bank has begun the foreclosure process or has threatened to, don’t panic! You have options… Depending on your situation there are some different options available to you.


Short Sale

A short sale is when your mortgage lender agrees to let you sell the home for less than what’s owed on the mortgage. They will only do this if the home is currently valued for more than what it’s worth or “market value”. You must also prove to the bank that you can no longer afford to pay the mortgage. You’ll have to submit a complete short sale package to your bank. The package consists of a hardship letter, 2 years of tax returns, and your financials.


Loan Modification

If you’re looking to keep the home and continue living in it a loan modification may be an option. This is when the lender adjusts the terms of your mortgage making the payment more affordable. In my experience, the modified terms are often worse than the original mortgage terms. The truth is you won’t know until you try.


Deed in Lieu

A deed in lieu is when you sign the deed over to the bank and they agree to stop the foreclosure. Having a deed in lieu of your credit is still far better than foreclosure.

STOP FORECLOSURE!

File for Bankruptcy

As a last resort, you can always file for bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure. Consult with a local bankruptcy attorney to see if it could be an option for you.

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What You Should Know About Mortgage Forbearance

Like many Americans right now, you might be worried about making your next mortgage payment. Don’t panic just yet… Forbearance may be a good option for you! It means working together with your mortgage company to help you avoid any late penalties and eliminate any risk of being foreclosed on. You may also consider seeking the advice of an experienced real estate agent before contacting your lender.  

If you’re experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19, here are some things you need to know about mortgage forbearance agreements.

What’s mortgage forbearance?

Mortgage forbearance is a program designed to provide temporary relief from your mortgage payment by either lowering your monthly payment or pausing your payments completely for a pre-determined amount of time. This is generally requested by homeowners who are going through some type of financial hardship affecting their ability to make their mortgage payments, like loss of employment, divorce, or illness.

Mortgage forbearance is not free money; you still owe the full amount of those reduced or missed payments.   

Does mortgage forbearance affect my credit?

Under normal circumstances [not during a global pandemic], it would be up to your lender whether or not to report your forbearance to any credit bureaus. However, right now mortgage lenders are providing struggling homeowners with an automatic, no documents required 3-month forbearance plan because of the coronavirus. They will not be reporting this forbearance plan to any of the credit bureaus either.  

Under normal circumstances, however, a forbearance would still be much less damaging to your credit than a few missed payments or foreclosure.

How does a mortgage forbearance work?

First of all, you have to make contact with 6your lender to see if they will approve you for a forbearance agreement. Don’t ever just stop making payments without speaking to your lender first. Normally, lender qualifications will vary slightly between different mortgage companies. The type of loan you have will also be a determining factor in what options you will be offered, or you will qualify for.

If you qualify for mortgage forbearance, your lender will work together with you to set up the terms of your agreement. Terms of forbearance may include:

  • Length of time for the forbearance period
  • Reduced payment amount required during the forbearance period.
  • Whether or not your lender will report the forbearance to credit agencies.
  • After the forbearance period ends how will you pay your mortgage moving forward, including skipped or reduced payments.

Once the forbearance period ends, you will have to pay your mortgage company back according to the terms you agreed on. Here are some typical options for paying back the missed amount:

  • Lump sum bringing the loan current in 1 single payment.
  • Adding an additional amount to your normal monthly payment until your current.
  • Normal payments will resume and missed payments will be added to your mortgage lengthening the terms of your mortgage.
  • Loan modification; when the terms of your mortgage are permanently adjusted by either a reduced payment, reduced principal or both.

How long will a mortgage forbearance last?

Mortgage forbearance is designed to provide temporary relief from your mortgage payment while you are going through a financial problem. Typically forbearance agreements do not last more than 3 months to 1 year.

Most mortgage companies will require you to provide them with regular updates during the forbearance period. If you need an extension, your lender will explain your options at that point.

Can a forbearance plan hurt my financial future?

A forbearance will usually be reported to the credit bureaus unless your lender has agreed to not report it. Right now, because of the coronavirus outbreak, almost all lenders have agreed to not report a forbearance to any of the credit bureaus. Having a forbearance on your credit history still looks much better than a foreclosure, short sale, and even a few missed payments.

Before you buy a new home in the future, you would need to re-establish yourself as a credible borrower. As long as you’ve already gone through the forbearance without missing any payments, the impact on your credit should be minimal and you may even consider applying for a new home loan from the same lender that granted you the forbearance.

How can I qualify for a mortgage forbearance?

The qualifications for mortgage forbearance are similar to that of a short sale. You start by applying. Most lenders will let you start the process online but I suggest you begin by calling your lender and take notes on every phone call… who did you speak to?… what happened on the call? etc. You can get started by gathering the following items.

  • Most recent mortgage statement.
  • List of your monthly income.
  • List of your monthly expenses.
  • Hardship letter, an explanation of why you cannot continue to make the mortgage payment (include any supporting documentation if possible).

Just like when I do a short sale in Orlando, it’s best to start communicating with your lender way before you miss any payments. If you already missed a payment before reaching out, it will show up on your credit report and stay until the loan has been made current again.

Keep in mind, if you’re filing because of a natural disaster or even a global pandemic like we’re facing currently, there’s usually a time limit in which you can file your claim.

If your request is denied, you then have an option to appeal the decision with your mortgage company. Then your application will be reviewed by a newly assigned loan officer, and they will reach out to you with an updated decision.

How do I get mortgage forbearance?

You should contact your mortgage servicer to apply for a mortgage forbearance agreement. Call the number on your monthly statement and ask for the mortgage forbearance dept to get started.

If you want unbiased advice about your financial situation, consider speaking to a housing counselor from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can make an appointment with a HUD counselor near you by going to their website. They will advise you on whether forbearance is a good choice for you in your current situation. They will also explain how different repayment plans would work.

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Orlando Homeowners Get A Lifeline

I’ve been a real estate broker in Orlando for the past 16 years and in that time I’ve never seen the economy come to a screeching halt like this before. Not even when the market crashed back in 2008 and the market was suddenly flooded with Orlando short sale properties that weren’t selling.

This pandemic is a different kind of disaster that has nothing to do with unethical mortgage companies or homeowners living well above their means. This is a situation that took us all by surprise and is out of our control as homeowners. Luckily, there is help out there for homeowners who are currently in financial trouble.

Orlando homeowners who’ve lost their job because of COVID-19 are getting some help with their mortgage. Depending on the situation they’re in, they should be eligible to have their mortgage payments suspended or reduced for anywhere between 3 and 12 months.

Our Federal directors, with the help of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are instructing lenders to help homeowners out by offering flexibility. This would cover about 50% of all the home loans in the U.S. [loans that are guaranteed by Freddie and Fannie]. Regulators believe, however, that the mortgage industry adopts a similar policy with their customers.

Under this new plan, homeowners who lost their income could qualify for reduced payments or a pause to the payments altogether. This forbearance can be for up to 12 months depending on the homeowner’s situation.

Homeowners should not just stop paying their mortgage without contacting their mortgage company. Doing this will surely damage their credit. Their lender will work with them to at least suspend 3 months of payments right off the bat without any penalties and without reporting it to any credit bureau. They will do this with verbal testimony without any supporting documentation because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Within the 3 months, they should work with you to come up with a payment plan and may ask you for some proof of hardship to determine what your best options would be to get back on track.

COVID-19 mortgage help is not FREE MONEY!

You must know that help with your mortgage due to COVID-19 doesn’t mean free money. All homeowners will have to work out a repayment plan once they are back on track financially. This could also be simply extending the term of the loan.

Some may even have to repay the entire amount when the 90 days are up, depending on the banks’ criteria as well as the homeowner’s financial situation.

I believe this was a great 1st step by lenders. Could you imagine the mass panic throughout the US if, all of a sudden, homeowners couldn’t continue to make payments and all the lenders began foreclosure proceedings?!

There’s already enough stress about trying to not get the virus and keeping our loved ones safe and healthy that people should not have to worry about losing their homes.

Contact your mortgage lender

Homeowners needing help should reach out to their servicer immediately and find out what their options are. Explain to them that you are having financial problems because of the virus outbreak and request to be put into a forbearance program.

Some of the largest mortgage lenders in the country, like Wells Fargo and Chase, are also working to help homeowners who have been financially hurt by the coronavirus. These lenders have the responsibility to follow through on what our government directed them to do.

Mortgage companies have also been told to pause all foreclosure proceedings as well, although anyone in foreclosure right now would have had to be in trouble before the coronavirus even started spreading in the U.S. I believe this was more of a public health move than anything else.

Can a mortgage forbearance end up as a short sale?

Once a mortgage forbearance agreement has come to an end, there is still a chance that you don’t like the terms, or you still can’t afford what they’re offering. In this case, traditional loss mitigation procedures may resume. At this point, the usual options will be available to you like a short sale, loan modification, or a deed in lieu. Homeowners may feel that one of these options will benefit them more than agreeing to the terms they have laid out for you in the forbearance program.

Help for renters

These plans by mortgage companies don’t do anything to help renters. Renters, however, can apply for rental assistance through state and federally funded rental assistance programs. I would also suggest reaching out to your landlord and maintaining open lines of communication.

Landlords feeling the pain

Keep in mind, landlords are suffering as much and even more right now. Mortgage forbearance programs are designed for people’s homestead properties and not investment homes. Imagine you have 10 rental properties, 10 mortgages to pay… then, all of a sudden, you stop receiving 10 rental checks all at once!  

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