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Low VA Mortgage Rates Stay Low, VERY LOW VA RATE

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

It seems like I have been telling people for the past 2 years or so that VA interest rates were not going to be going any lower.  There were many time that in that window of time that I was right, however overall rates, VA rates especially, have continued to go lower and stay low.  It is times like right now when I wish for many reasons I had the benefit and blessing of a VA loan.

I bought my home in 2007 and even put down 20% on the purchase of the home.  Bad news for me is not only is all that equity gone, but I am also stuck at 6.5% rate even though interest rates are at 4.25% for 30 years or 3.25% on the hybrid loan.  I could be saving literally $800 a month or more if I could streamline refinance but that is not available on a conventional loan.

What is so amazing about the VA mortgage streamline refinance is that you can refinance even if your home has no value or equity.  You could have bought your home in 2007 at 250,000 and now it is worth 175,000 but you can still streamline your VA loan.  Perhaps the downturn in the US economy has affected your credit rating or FICO score?  If this is the case, as bad as that can be, it does NOT disqualify you from the VA streamline program.

Some of the benefits of these extremely low VA rates today are:

  • lots of savings monthly from streamlining
  • easier to decide to streamline
  • the streamline allows you to skip some mortgage payments if done correctly
  • many many more.

If you have a VA mortgage please apply here or give us a call at 866-569-8272 so we can show you what the VA streamline can do for you.

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Posted in Home Values, VA Loan, VA Refinance, VA Streamline Refinance, va interest rates | No Comments »

VA Streamine: Save Military Personnel Possibly Hundreds Monthly-Rock Bottom Interest Rates

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Many Americans are trying to save money anyway they can. Cutting costs by stretching their dollar on food, clothing and medicine helps. But, being able to reduce large expenses on a monthly basis, would be the most help. A lot of people have refinanced their homes. Now, with the VA interest rates hitting close to or being at rock bottom, active or inactive servicemen and women who currently have a VA loan, can save big money every month. They can refinance their existing VA loans under the VA Streamline Refinance Program.

A 620 Fico score or home appraisal no longer needed

If you have already tried to refinance under this loan program and failed, it would most likely benefit you to try to refinance again. As of April 18, 2011, the rules have changed for refinancing with the VA Streamline Refinance Program. Previous failed attempts might not be a problem for you now.

A Fico score of 620 or an appraisal is no longer needed. Also, this loan addresses the difficulties with your current VA loan being more than what your home is worth.

Some VA interest rates are as low as 2.75 percent with an APR of 2.45 percent. These rates are historically at low amounts. In many cases, hundreds of dollars can be saved each month on your mortgage payment.

Quick and easy loan approval

The VA Streamline Refinance Program is designed for active and inactive military personnel to take advantage of the very low interest rates. It was set up to make it easy and quick. Also, there are some places that will pre-approve you in just 60 seconds.

Other qualifying features that this loan has are:

Your existing VA loan has to be up to date on its monthly payments. You can not be behind.

There cannot be more than one-30-day late mortgage payment made on your existing VA loan within the last 12 months.

Employment and income verification will probably be needed.

A refund of your existing escrow account can be made to you.

You cannot receive any cash back funds from the refinance.

After the loan is approved, you can skip up to two monthly payments.

American military personnel and their families can widely benefit from the VA Streamline refinance of their existing VA loan, especially since the VA interest rates are very low. It will just save a lot of money each month for them. They can use the financial boost to help get caught up on other important bills. Families can stop skimping on their food, clothing and medicine expenses. Reducing monthly mortgage expenses will ease the money crunch that seems to be never ending.

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Posted in Home Values, VA Credit Score Info, VA Loan, VA Refinance, VA Streamline Refinance, va interest rates | No Comments »

VA Streamlines Do Not Require An Appraisal Of Home Value

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Effective April 18, 2011!!!!

With interest rates still very low, many home owners are refinancing their mortgages to get lower finance rates. They face a tons of paperwork and documentation. The process can last a while, need a new appraisal and generally be a pain in the neck. Of special concern is the appraisal as so many home owner’s properties have seen values reduced to a number lower than their mortgage. A 1% reduction can save you $100 to $600 per month with no out-of-pocket expenses.

Fortunately, under the VA Streamline Program, Veteran’s Administration mortgage borrowers can refinance their property without an appraisal. Countless number of veterans and active duty military members are fortunate to take part in the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs Streamlines Mortgage Financing program. The program is sometimes called IRRRL, an acronym for Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan.

The VA Streamlines is truly an express loan:

No appraisal needed
No income or employment verification required
No credit report required
There is no need for a termite inspection
Loans close quickly

However, though the Veteran’s Administration backs the loan and doesn’t require any of the above items, you must shop for lenders as some require appraisals and credit reports.

Your existing Veteran’s Administration loan must be paid on time for the past 12 months and current when you apply for refinancing. Additionally, you may only refinance an existing Veteran’s Administration loan with this program.

Veteran’s cannot refinance for a higher amount that the refinanced mortgage, in other words no cash back to the borrower. The exception to this is the borrower may add up to $6,000 for energy efficiency improvements and add any loan origination costs too. Be careful though, as this will raise your monthly payment than a straight refinancing. In addition, some lenders may want you to look at a 15 year term for the Streamline as it will save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest. But, the monthly payment will be much higher as you are repaying much more principle than if you write a thirty year repayment plan refinancing. Make sure you can afford the payments as your home is at stake.

The occupancy requirement for a Veteran’s Administration Streamline is different from your original Veteran’s Administration mortgage loan. For the original loan you had to certify that you would be occupying the home, for an IRRR loan you are only required to certify that at one time you lived at the property.

An additional feature of Veteran’ Affair Streamline refinancing is that you may up to skip two payments over the life of the loan – they are put at the back-end of your loan.

There is no better refinancing program available than the VA Streamlines program. With little paperwork, no out of cost expenses as you can roll closing costs into the loan and the potential to significantly cut your monthly mortgage payment this is loan that you should explore at once. It could save you a bundle of money.

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Posted in Home Values, VA Credit Score Info, VA Refinance, VA Streamline Refinance, underwriting, va interest rates | No Comments »

VA Streamline Rates Fall To 4.25%

Monday, April 11th, 2011

The housing market is very weak. As a result, people are defaulting on their mortgages and filing bankruptcy. All of these actions result in the economy weakening. So, what’s the federal government doing about it? They’re starting with their veterans by offering a VA streamline mortgage that can save you hundreds of dollars every single month.

If you are a veteran and have a mortgage that’s financed through a VA loan, then you can qualify for this loan. Think of the possibilities – a mortgage designed just for you, all because you’ve served your country. It’s a great benefit that you should take advantage of.

As long as your current interest rate is higher than 5%, then you stand to save a significant amount of money. Regardless of whether your current interest rate is fixed or variable, the streamline mortgage loan can be the answer you’re looking for.

The streamline mortgage is also referred to as interest rate reduction refinancing loan. The difference between this loan and the other refinancing loans that are on the market is that this is designed for veterans. Other loan companies may be able to offer a great interest rate, but it could be temporary. As soon as the market turns around, that rate that was saving you money could sky rocket, leaving you powerless to do anything about it. The VA streamline mortgage, however, is a permanent, low rate. This means that you’re locked into the low VA rate – currently as low as 4.25%.

An interest rate reduction of only 1% is enough to save you hundreds of dollars. For every 1% that you reduce your current interest rate by, you can save anywhere from $100 and $600, all dependent on the amount your loan is for. This amount of money can dramatically affect your cash flow and personal finances. Think of what you can do with a couple hundred dollars a month – you can pay off other debt, go on vacation, or create a comfort zone from your bills.

The VA streamline mortgage loan is something you can’t afford not to do. There are no out of pocket expenses because pre-paids and closing costs can be rolled into the new loan amount. Other companies require you to pay that up front. The process is easy and it’s simple to qualify for. Getting the loan could change the way you’re living, all because you took advantage of the benefits that are given to you because of being a veteran.

All across America, people are struggling. The interest rate reduction loan is an opportunity to get you and the rest of the economy, back on track.

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VA Loan Benefits

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

In the current economy, many homeowners have not been doing well. Homeowners who cannot make their monthly mortgage payments are becoming delinquent on their mortgages and facing possible foreclosures on their homes. But in the midst of the mortgage crisis, the VA loan program has still been successful. VA loans, which are exclusively available to veterans and men and women serving in the military, provide multiple benefits to borrowers that enable them to finance their homes and stay grounded in the struggling home market.

VA Loans Have Lower Delinquency Rates Compared to Other Home Loans

This type of financing remains a popular option for qualified applicants who want to finance their home in an affordable way. In 2009, the Department of Veteran Affairs guaranteed 325,673 VA loans, proving that the bad economy was no match for the program. These loans have a delinquency rate of only 5 percent. This is quite low when compared to the delinquency of other types of home loans, which are as high as 30 percent! This shows that the VA must be doing something right with its home mortgage program to be able to maintain such a low delinquency rate.

Why VA Loans Continue to Be Successful

VA loans offer many benefits to both current homeowners and prospective homeowners that allow them to save money upfront and over the life of the loan. This type of financing is unique in that it does not require borrowers to make a down payment on purchases. Many lenders are reluctant to offer this type of incentive because they consider it to be risky in this unstable housing market. The elimination of the down payment saves first-time home buyers thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, which allows them to have more money for other expenses associated with buying a home. Homeowners who already have a mortgage can refinance their loan into a VA loan to receive a lower rate, cash or to consolidate their debt!

Currently, VA mortgage rates are at historical lows, which makes now a great time for individuals to get a VA loan. Compared to other types of home loans, these loans can offer even lower rates. With a low rate, homeowners can reduce their monthly mortgage payment and have more money available for other expenses. This type of financing also does not require mortgage insurance, so borrowers can save even more money over time.

Eligible Applicants Should Take Advantage of This Great Opportunity!

This type of financing is also easy to use because it has lenient credit and income requirements; applicants do not have to have perfect credit to be eligible! This is good news for those who may have been turned down for a conventional loan. Applicants will need to have a credit score of at least 620, and they must have gone one year without any delinquent payments. Consider financing with a VA loan to receive a low rate and save money! Interested veterans and service members should speak with a loan specialist to learn all of their options and how they can get started today! Our office makes it easy and simple to refinance. We have over ten knowledgeable loan officers in our office. They ready and willing to help you and inform you of all the great VA programs offered to you. Make sure to call us to take advantage of the great rates and benefits we can offer you!

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Posted in Home Values, VA Loan, VA Purchase, va interest rates | No Comments »

Military VA Loan Holders Have Never Had an Opportunity in History Like They do Now

Monday, August 9th, 2010

I began doing VA streamline loans for military home owner in the fall of 1997.  At this time, I was attending college and simply wanted a part-time job that I can feel good about and it would also allow me to make a reasonable income.  A friend of mine, was working at a mortgage company that focused their efforts on veterans and a special type of loan for these military homeowners.  My first day of work I was given a sheet of paper full of phone numbers and was asked to start dialing as many veteran homeowners as possible.  Basically, at this time VA interest rates have recently come off of some of their highest levels in years and the mortgage industry was very under regulated and here I was at a company that was offering streamline refinances to almost anybody with a VA loan and a heart beat.  See a great video here on this subject!

Fast forward now almost 15 years later and I am still doing home loans for nation’s finest; military homeowners.  Today however, our mortgage industry is being regulated to the extreme and banks are making it more and more difficult for those of you with VA loans to take advantage of these historic interest rates.  I am not passing all the blame onto banks.  As someone who has worked in the mortgage industry for the past 15 years I realize the industry needed overhaul, regulation, and change.  However, as is typical we have now seen a knee-jerk reaction and over correction making it very difficult for some of the most deserving borrowers to take advantage of these historically low interest rates.

Since my beginning in 1997 I have participated in 4 or 5 what we like to call “refi booms.”  A refi boom is a time where almost anyone with a loan is looking to refinance and almost everyone can benefit from that refinance.  The situation we currently have in front of us here in the United States is one that I would have bet my entire career against.  For years there have been home owners not taking advantage of low interest rates during our refi booms and their rationale or reasoning at that time was that they knew interest rates would go lower.  I thought they were all crazy and to be quite honest some even ignorant.

I had conversation after conversation with military families that told me they were not interested in saving $200 a month for one reason or the other.  As a loan officer nothing frustrated me more than hearing someone that did not think it was worth their time, some costs and some energy to save $200 or more a month, not to mention hundreds of thousands over the long haul.

Some of the most common reasons I would hear as to why a VA loan holder would not want to streamline refinance are:

  • The closing costs hurt my equity
  • I’m not saving enough
  • I think rates will go lower
  • I don’t want to start over on a new 30 year loan
  • and the list would go on an one

I am here today to tell you that if you are a veteran or military home owner and you have an interest rate at 4.75% fixed or higher or any type of adjustable rate or hybrid arm, THAT YOU NEED TO REFINANCE NOW!

You may be saying, “Eric you are admitting in this post that you were wrong before and that those that waited to refinance were right.”  THIS IS NOT WHAT I AM SAYING. Those families that refinanced along the way have saved way more money by taking advantage all the way along the drop.  It is the families that waited that may at this time be just S.O.L.

Those families that waited do not have access to the same easy VA streamline loans that they could have had years ago.  Just two years ago your home’s value (appraisal) was not needed, you did not have to have a FICO or credit score looked at, you did not have to be employed, and this list goes on and on.  So for the many families that waited, congratulations YOU WERE RIGHT, rates have gone lower, but for those same families that can NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE now I am sorry.

As a VA mortgage insider I am here to tell you at the rate that VA loans are changing, it is a matter of time and very little time until there are no longer VA streamline loans available.  I think this is a tragedy to our military, but it is the world we live in today.

Who cares if rates may be going even lower?  All of the reasons NOT TO DO A VA Streamline in the past are now gone.  Let’s revisit them:

  • The closing costs hurt my equity
  • I’m not saving enough
  • I think rates will go lower
  • I don’t want to start over on a new 30 year loan

    • The closing costs hurt my equity.

    NO CLOSING COST VA LOANS are the majority of the loans we are doing now.  Seriously NO COST LOANS.  (see video here).  Do you really have any equity left anyway?

    I’m not saving enough.

    We are in what some tend to compare to the Great Depression #2 and if a couple hundred bucks a month is not worth it to you now, then it will never be.  I also want to remind you that when you do a VA streamline loan you get to postpone two mortgage payments and get a cash refund of your current escrow balance, thus putting immediate money in your pockets.

    I think rates will go lower

    You are just plane gambling and should mortgage your whole house and go to Vegas if you think this.  Suppose they do go lower, have you really lost by taking current rates that are the lowest they have been on record?

    I don’t want to start over on a new 30 year loan

    We have been offering 25 and 20 year loans at a pace never before seen.  Because rates have gone so low on VA loans, we see people taking a 25 or 20 year loan and still saving money each month!

    Dear VA home owners, please for the love of whatever you cherish, contact us now and at least look into the VA streamline loan.  I seriously have never been a part of an opportunity like we see now and am very weary that it will ever come around again!

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    Posted in Home Values, VA Loan, VA Refinance, VA Streamline Refinance, underwriting, va interest rates | No Comments »

    Mortgage Meltdown: U.S. Home Prices – Comparing 2006 to 2010

    Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

    Between 1997 and 2006 the price of the typical American home increased by 126%.  Pretty amazing number to see huh?  Well, what about from 2006 to 2010?  What has happened in the more recent market and how is the current housing market looking?  Whether you are buying, selling, looking for a VA loan, or traditional, check out the infographic below to find those answers.

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    Mortgage Meltdown: U.S. Home Prices - Comparing 2006 to 2010

    Click Image to Enlarge >>

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