February 17th, 2012 |
HARP Refinance, What Is The HARP Program?
The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is designed to assist homeowners in refinancing their mortgages – even if they owe more than the home’s current value.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I know if I am eligible for a refinance under the HARP program?
Here are some of the basic guidelines:
- The mortgage MUST be owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
- The mortgage MUST have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on or before May 31, 2009.
- The mortgage CANNOT have been refinanced under HARP previously unless it is a Fannie Mae loan that was refinanced under HARP from March-May, 2009.
- The current loan-to-value (LTV) ratio MUST be greater than 80%
- The borrower MUST be current on the mortgage at the time of the refinance, with no late payment in the past six months and no more than one late payment in the past 12 months.
- You have a reasonable ability to pay the new mortgage payments.
- The refinance improves the long term affordability or stability of your loan.
Contact me for a HARP Refi Quote
Is my servicer participating in MHA?
All servicers for loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to participate. Additional servicers are strongly encouraged to participate.
What should I do if my servicer tells me that the investor is not participating in the Making Home Affordable Program?
Keep in mind that all servicers for loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to participate with respect to those loans but you are not obligated to your current servicer/lender. You can choose another servicer/lender.
I’m current on my mortgage. Will a refinance under the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) help me?
Eligible homeowners who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of today’s lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance. Through a refinance under HARP, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow the refinancing of mortgage loans that they own or that they guaranteed in mortgage backed securities.
Will refinancing lower my payments? How might HARP benefit me?
The objective of a refinance under HARP is to provide creditworthy homeowners who have shown a commitment to paying their mortgage the opportunity to get into a new mortgage with better terms.
Homeowners whose mortgage interest rates are much higher than the current market rate should see an immediate reduction in their payments. Homeowners who are paying interest only, who have a low introductory rate that will increase in the future, or who face a balloon payment may not see their current payment go down if they refinance to a fixed rate and payment. These homeowners, however, could save a great deal of money by reducing the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Refinancing into a more stable fixed-rate loan product and avoiding future mortgage payment increases would likely improve your ability to sustain your mortgage payments over the long-term. When you submit a loan application, your lender will give you a “Good Faith Estimate” and a “Truth in Lending Statement” that includes your new interest rate, mortgage payment, and the amount that you will pay over the life of the loan. Compare this to your current loan terms. If it is not an improvement, a refinancing may not be right for you.
Will a refinance under HARP reduce the amount that I owe on my loan?
No. The objective of a refinance under HARP is to help homeowners get into more stable or more affordable loans. Refinancing will not reduce the principal amount you owe to the first lien mortgage holder or any other debt you owe.
How will I know if a refinance under HARP will improve the long-term affordability or stability of my loan?
When you submit a loan application, your lender will give you a “Good Faith Estimate” and a “Truth in Lending Statement” that includes your new interest rate, mortgage payment, and the amount that you will pay over the life of the loan. Compare this to your current loan terms. If it is not an improvement, a refinancing may not be right for you.
Contact me for a HARP Refi Rate Quote
How do I know if my loan is owned or has been guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have established toll-free telephone numbers and web submission processes to make this data available. Homeowners can enter information to determine if either agency owns or guaranteed the loan. This information is not a guarantee of eligibility for a refinance under HARP, as other qualifying criteria must also be met.
For Fannie Mae:
www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup
For Freddie Mac:
www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage
I have both a first lien and a second lien mortgage. Do I still qualify for a refinance under HARP?
As long as the amount due on the first lien mortgage is less than 125% of the value of the property, homeowners with more than one mortgage may be eligible for a refinance under HARP. Your eligibility will depend, in part, on two additional requirements:
- The lender that has your junior lien mortgage must agree to remain in a junior lien position.
- You must be able to demonstrate your ability to meet the new payment terms on the first lien mortgage.
What are the interest rate and other terms of a refinance under HARP?
The rate will be based on market rates in effect at the time of the refinance and the homeowner will be subject to any associated points and fees quoted by your lender. Interest rates may vary across lenders and over time as market rates adjust. The refinanced loans must have no prepayment penalties or balloon payments.
Can I get cash out to pay other debts?
No. The Home Affordable Refinance will not return cash to the borrower for the purpose of paying other debts.
I am delinquent on my mortgage. Will I qualify for a refinance under HARP?
No. Homeowners who are currently delinquent or have been more than 30 days overdue during the past 12 months generally will not qualify. Contact your servicer to see if a modification under the Home Affordable Modification Program is an option for you.
Will I need mortgage insurance?
If your existing loan has private mortgage insurance, you will need the same amount of insurance coverage for a refinance under HARP. If your existing loan does not have private mortgage insurance, it will not be required as part of a refinance under HARP.
How long will refinances under HARP be available?
The program expires on December 31, 2013. Your refinance under HARP must have a mortgage note date on or before that date.
Are mortgages on condominiums eligible for refinance under HARP?
Condominiums are already eligible under HARP and, under the enhanced program, condominiums that originally met Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac requirements remain eligible.
What are the circumstances under which appraisals are not required?
We are further streamlining Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac’s existing use of AVM (automated valuation model) estimates of properties. Where there is a reliable AVM estimate of value provided by Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, a new appraisal will not be needed. Where there is not a reliable AVM value, a new appraisal will be required.
When will these enhancements become available?
Timing will vary by mortgage lender. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac will be sending operational instructions to lenders by November 15th, 2011. Some lenders may be able to accommodate mortgage applications under some of the enhancements by December 1 while it could take other lenders additional time to incorporate the expanded program into their systems. In addition, some of the enhancements such as delivery of loans with LTV greater than 125% should be operational during the first quarter of 2012.
This information is current as of today’s date. For verification please visit the HARP website.
About the Author
Rich Conley is a Southern California based Mortgage Loan Officer employed with Constant Funding, Inc. He is licensed by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS #334659) and the California Department of Real Estate (DRE #01837830). You can email Rich at Rich@RichConley.com
