Negative amortization was always controversial. Option ARMS (Pick-a-pay) always have had a negative amortization feature. In fact this loan has always been World Savings bread and butter. For the financially savvy person this loan makes complete sense. It has features which allows you to lower your taxable income, decrease your cost of funds over the long term and if used with a carefully calibrated investment strategy allows you to maximize returns to the max. Within this context negative amortization is a well accounted for risk and balanced by high returns. Even if on a short term basis you ended up with some negative amortization, over the long term, you would come out ahead.

The problem is the average consumer is not tremendously financially savvy. And therein lies the problem. When option arms were marketed to the average Joe as a financial vehicle, loan originators who themselves are not tremendously financially savvy saw an opportunity to sell more house for lower monthly payment. I’m not trying to put the onus solely on the originator here either. I am of the opinion that the head of every bank in the United States fully knew what they were selling to the average borrower.

I remember a borrower a few years ago who insisted beyond any reasonable persuasion that he wanted to be in such a loan. He said that the payment on the 5/1 ARM I was proposing was to high and he wouldn’t’ be able to afford the house after a few years. However, with the option ARM a different lender had proposed he would be “comfortable”, so if I didn’t give him a similar option he was going to go with the other lender.

This borrower had no business being in an option ARM. Not only was he relatively financially unstable, he was trying to live way beyond his means, counting on future income and future equity to compensate for the short term loss. This was never the market for the option ARM and these types of borrower had no business being in this type of loan. In fact I wrote a post back in 2005 warning borrowers about the dangers of the option ARM. I wanted to remind folks that despite how things were being advertised as a borrower you are still obligated to pay back the full loan amount with any accumulated interest.

And it is because of stories of such borrowers over the past few years that today we sit where we are. Today, Wachovia, one of the largest underwriters of option ARM’s pulled the plug on these negative amortization loans. Here is the news clip from Fortune magazine:

Wachovia (nyse: WB - news - people ) announced Monday that it is pulling the plug on it’s Pick-a-Pay program. The pay-what-you-will exotic loan offerings weren’t exactly subprime –the borrowers were a bit better-heeled Alt-A types– but the default rates on the loans have been much higher than expected and have been driving the lender’s losses.

The loans gave borrowers the option of paying several amounts each month, including low payments that led to an increase in the principal amount of the loans.

Not only did they stop the program they also have said they’ll waive the prepayment penalties on these loans as well. Most option ARM included three year hard pre-payment penalties. So whether you sold or refinanced the loan within the first three years you had to pay a prepayment penalty. With the fall in home prices adding to negative amortization more than they had figured things are not looking good that the banks can make money on these. So, Wachovoia took a long hard look and decided to cut their losses. According to Housing Wire:

Wachovia also said it will waive all prepayment fees for borrowers looking to refinance out of an option ARM, a clear indication of the stress borrowers in such loans are now facing; the bank recently hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS: 174.90, +0.19%) in an effort to help it figure out what it should do with the Option ARM loans on its books.

As you can tell it’s not just the consumer who is in pain here, Wachovia is hurting too.

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Categories: Arizona, Congress and Government, Humor and Fun, Interest Rate, Mortgage Roundup, Mortgages, Real Estate
1 Comment »

This was a volatile week for stocks and things are not looking very good. Everything seemed to be pointing down - except of course long term mortgage rates and oil prices. Both are on a gradual upward trend. The Dow is now down to September 2006 levels. With all this bad news, financial experts were all over T.V. trying to reassure nervous investors today.  Here is a screen shot:

Source: Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis Blog

Tags: bear market, financial experts, markets
Categories: Humor and Fun
4 Comments »

Okay most everyone knows what I think about this massive bailout package Congress is about to pass. In case you missed it, I think it’s a sham. Seriously. A big sham. How else do you explain this to the 30% of tax payers who are not homeowners. How about the 80%+ homeowners who pay their bills on time, buy what they can afford and read before they sign? Yeah. How about these tax payers.  Mr. and Mrs. Renter who lives within your means how about you pony up some dough so that we can clean up the mess our Wall Street pals and a few over excited folks made over there.

Okay.

Take a deep breath.

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Now. Here are some of the details of the $300,000,000,000.00 mortgage rescue plan currently being “debated” in the Senate. From the Dallas Morning News:

They would receive a refundable tax credit of up to $8,000, or 10 percent of the home value, on purchases of unoccupied housing.

As part of a regulatory overhaul of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants, the bill would permanently increase to $625,000, from $417,000, the limit on loans they can purchase from lenders in expensive housing markets. That would make it easier for borrowers in those areas to obtain mortgages at discounted rates.

Later on in the same peice it says:

The Senate bill would provide $150 million to expand counseling for borrowers to prevent foreclosure and establish stricter lender disclosure rules to make plain the maximum monthly payment for an adjustable rate loan.

The bill also establishes an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, to be financed by $500 million to $900 million in fees from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Initially, the trust fund would cover any expenses related to the foreclosure rescue plan, meeting a demand by Senate Republicans that taxpayers not pay for the program.

Under the refinancing plan, only borrowers seeking to remain in their primary home would be eligible, shutting out real estate speculators and owners of vacation homes. And lenders would first have to agree to cut the principal balance of loans to roughly 85 percent of each property’s current value, a substantial loss in many housing markets.

Arizona Mortgage Team has a great post with all the details too.

Tags: bill, Congress, housing rescue, Mortgages
Categories: Congress and Government, Debt, Economics, FHA
3 Comments »

Early in my mortgage career a sales veteran once told me that the best way to solve a customer problem was to throw money at it. I guess this is an even better solution when you’re the ones printing money.

Full story “Housing rescue plan passes key Senate test“.

My opinion:

Just to put things in perspective, I thought I’d put the faces of the folks who’ll be stuck with the bill:

Tags: FHA, foreclosure rescue, spending
Categories: Congress and Government, Debt, Personal Finance
7 Comments »

The good news is most US Senators have disclosed the circumstances of how they obtained their home mortgage. The bad news is 23 have not. Should we be suspicious? I think we should. The story this morning:

Amid a brewing scandal over special mortgage deals given to two U.S. senators, Politico last week asked the offices of all 100 senators to describe the circumstances under which they obtained their own home loans. Seventy-seven senators have complied so far. Twenty-three have not.

Senators are not required to report in their disclosure forms any financial information about their homes unless they draw rental income from the home. But in the wake of questions regarding mortgages obtained by Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) — loans they received through a VIP program run by Countrywide Financial Corp. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said that the disclosure rules should be changed so that senators’ mortgage details are made public.

Full story (Senators’ mortgages under microscope).

Tags: Mortgages, scandal, senators
Categories: Congress and Government, Mortgages, Real Estate
No Comments »

I look through the visitor statistics from time to time to get an idea for what people seem to like on this blog. However, that’s kind of a limited way of getting an understanding of what the audience is looking for, because my audience can only read what I write. I don’t know if I’m making any sense.

Anyways, the purpose of this post is to hear from you. I’ve been blogging for a few years and it hit me today that I’ve never really asked my readers what they would like to see on this blog. I know I’ve posted a lot about FHA loans, Mortgage Insurance, Subprime and various other topics, but today I want to ask you. What are are some topics you’d like to learn more about?

I know may people call to ask me if the market has bottomed out. Well, I can’t really say for sure, but there can be good buys out there. In fact, there was one person who said he really didn’t think he could get a good answer from a real estate agent, since they have an interest in the answer. But, I reminded him that not all real estate agents are like that.

So, going back to the original question. Would you like to see some analysis of when and when not to do a refinance? How about an interest rate trend review? See, there I go again. I’m trying to come up with some topics.

Seriously, leave a comment below regarding a home mortgage related topic you’d like me to write about and I promise to take you up on you request.

photo credit: jamuraa

Tags: Mortgages, Real Estate, topics
Categories: Blogging, Mortgages
2 Comments »

There is a scandal brewing in Washington involving members of the Senate Banking Committee and Countrywide. Apparently these guys were getting “special deals” from Countrywide and are now pleading ignorance. I guess the trick is when you’re getting special treatment the best thing to do is not ask questions. I’ll have to keep that in mind if I should ever become a politician.

Denial. Ignorance. Incompetence. Fill your word here __________ after you watch the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee revealing to reporters that  he doesn’t know the interest rates these days. Geez. Why are you then spearheading one of the most important mortgage banking reforms of the modern era? Twitter me Senator, I’d be happy to send you hourly updates on mortgage rates:

More on the brewing scandal.

Tags: interest rates, Mortgages, senate, senators
Categories: Congress and Government, Interest Rate, Mortgages
No Comments »

I receive a lot of questions on the Home in Five Down Payment Assistance Program. The most popular question is of course regarding the availability of funds for non-targeted areas. Well, if you were waiting for these funds before making your purchase then wait no more. We have some good news today. I received an e-mail this morning that there has been $2,000,000 released for down payment assistance in non-targeted areas.

What does this mean to you then?

This means that money is now available for down payment assistance on properties that are outside the designated targeted zones but inside Maricopa county. Just so everyone is clear here are some quick facts:

• Borrower must be fully approved for a loan program which allows the use of down payment assistance (such as FHA)
• Borrower can use funds to purchase anywhere in Maricopa county.
• The borrower does not need to be a first time home buyer (for these funds).
• Have a property in escrow, appraised and underwritten - since the money runs out quick.
• The rate on this program is 6.3% and the assistance is 5% of the purchase price.
• Funds are disbursed on a first come first serve basis.

This program allows up to 5% down payment assistance.  Funds can be used to pay closing costs as well, it just depends on how you end up structuring the loan with your loan officer.

Just a reminder that these funds are HUGELY popular and go fast, so if you are anywhere close to finding a property…this is a SUPERB time to take the plunge!

Read more on the Home in Five Down Payment Assistance Program.

Tags: Down Payment Assistance, maricopa county
Categories: FHA, Mortgages, Uncategorized, down payment assistance
5 Comments »

Senator Kent Conrad admits he wasn’t aware that Countrywide gave him preferential treatment on his mortgage and donated the equivalent fee to a charity. Senator Christopher Dodd on the other hand also got a loan from Countrywide but denies he was treated any differently. I don’t know if I buy that necessarily. Shame on Countrywide for treating these powerful senators differently than the regular borrower. It only hurts the industry when big companies try to pull this kind of shenanigan.

Now why is this significatn you ask? Well because these two Senators sit on the Senate Banking Committe, and Dodd is in fact the chairman. This committee has been actively seeking ways to regulate the mortgage industry since early last year.

Now, if I were a Senator on this committee, I’d highly recommend not doing any Real Estate transaction until the credit crunch is fully behind us and any legislation has been dealt with. Or, just doing a cash purchase if you must delve into the market.

Here is the story from Bloomberg:

June 14 (Bloomberg) — Senator Kent Conrad said he was given preferential treatment on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp. and will write a $10,500 check to charity.

“It appears Countrywide waived one point on my mortgage,” Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, said in a statement today in Washington. “Although I did not ask for or know that I was receiving a discount, and even though I was offered a competitive loan from another lender, I do not want to have received preferential treatment.”

Conrad said he also received a loan from Countrywide on an eight-unit apartment building in Bismarck, North Dakota, even though the lender typically serves properties that have four units or less. He said he had decided to refinance that loan with another institution.

Conrad and Senator Christopher Dodd, who oversees the U.S. mortgage industry as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, were among those who received loans through Countrywide’s “V.I.P.” program, which waived points, fees and borrowing rules for prominent people, Portfolio magazine reported June 12. Dodd has denied receiving preferential treatment.

Full story here.

Tags: countrywide, senate banking committee, senators
Categories: Congress and Government, Mortgages, Uncategorized
1 Comment »

Many thanks to all the Windemere agents who attended the Blogging 101 class yesterday (on Thunderbird and 101). I sure enjoyed teaching the class. I owe this opportunity to Chris Mattix, my newest Facebook friend! So, thank you Chris for having me.

As promised here is a link to the Powerpoint presentation from yesterday. Additionally, I have posted the video of a class I did on setting up a Wordpress blog at the Arizona RE Bloggers Network meeting last month.

Arizona Real Estate Bloggers Network Meeting - May 2008 from phoenixrealestatelive on Vimeo.

I do mortgages on the side to support my blogging habit, so please feel free to refer any clients who may be in the market and need a good quality lender! If you browse through this blog you’ll realize that Aimee and I certainly know what we’re doing and we have a history of providing 100% customer satisfaction!

Just a friendly reminder

Post Updated Monday June 16th. Here is the powerpoint slide from my presentation via SlideShare:

| View | Upload your own

Tags: arizona, bloggers, blogging, phoenix, Real Estate
Categories: Arizona, Bloggers, Blogging, Phoenix, Uncategorized
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