As if you didn’t already know, a recent report (and chart) issued by MBA indicates that Underwriter productivity has been on the decline over the past ten years (UW Productivity). On average, for the larger lenders the number of loans reviewed per underwriter per month decreased from about 165 to 33; that’s a decrease daily from approximately 8 down to…
Here’s one that might have you scratching your head. According to a recent FHFA report, mortgages made to first-time homebuyers tend to perform worse than those made to repeat buyers. That would seem to indicate that first-time homebuyers are riskier than established homebuyers. Fannie Mae doesn’t agree (FHFA View). Fannie says it’s like comparing apples to oranges. Although they’re both…
HUD/FHA’s Origination Through Post-Closing Handbook (4000.1) consolidates & supersedes numerous Mortgagee Letters, Notices, etc. that have been issued in past years and provides users with one, updated & consolidated document containing the current FHA underwriting policies. Lenders beware – this Handbook also enacts many changes to current FHA policies & procedures. Many of these changes will make it more difficult…
As a Turtle would say, “You bet your sweet …” it can! (Ancient and Honorable Order of Turtles) CFPB started a pilot program with several lenders about a year ago to explore the possibilities of a totally electronic closing. Not closing that uses static images of paper documents that are signed electronically but rather a process that is totally electronic;…
There still seems to be some confusion, under the new TRID rules, over when a lender should issue a revised Closing Disclosure and what changes trigger a new “3 business day wait” before a loan may be consummated. Under the new rules, the consumer must receive the Closing Disclosure at least 3 business prior to loan consummation. To be safe,…
Answer: Fannie Mae recently announced several underwriting policy & procedural changes in their Selling Guide Announcement SEL-2015-07, dated June 30, 2015. One noteworthy change involves the topic of using vested stocks, bonds and mutual funds (including retirement accounts) when they are used for meeting a borrower’s minimum investment requirement, closing costs and reserves. Previously, a standard reduction in value was…
