Freddie Mac has begun offering an alternative to appraisals on certain types of purchase and refinance loans, moving to match their counterparts at Fannie Mae. This is great for clients because it means there’s one less hurdle to worry about when looking to purchase or refinance a home.
Fewer hurdles mean a smoother process for clients, which means a higher probability of getting to the closing table on time, which is key whether you’re buying or refinancing. We’ll go over the loans that qualify and what you need to know.
How Appraisal Waivers Work
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have automated underwriting systems. The idea is that once the loan data is collected, the system checks the application to see if clients qualify. This has two advantages:
- The lending process is faster and more accurate with computers crunching the data in seconds
- It frees up human underwriters to focus on loans that need their attention
On sites such as Zillow and Trulia, there’s more property data available than there ever has been. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have both begun to gather their own data regarding property values, which enables them to create appraisal waivers on qualifying loans.
This means when you submit your loan application, Quicken Loans runs your loan through both the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac automated underwriting engines at the same time. If either one of those systems gives us the go-ahead to give you an appraisal waiver, we’ll use that one in order to get beyond the appraisal and move your loan process along.
Not every loan qualifies for an appraisal waiver, so let’s look at what qualifies.
Qualifying for an Appraisal Waiver
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have different systems that can be used for appraisal waivers in different situations – let’s break this down what this means.
Fannie Mae
For Fannie Mae loans, the main way you’ll get an offer to waive an appraisal is through a property inspection waiver. In order to get one, there are requirements.
Refinancing:
- Must be a one-unit property (including for condos).
- For a rate/term refinance on a primary residence or second home, you need at least 10% equity; 25% on investment properties.
- For a cash-out refinance, you need 30% equity for a primary residence and 40% equity on a second home or investment property.
Buying:
- Must be a one-unit property, (including condos).
- You need at least a 20% down payment on a primary residence or second home. Investment properties aren’t eligible.
There are some restrictions for both purchase and refinance on property inspection waivers. Two of the big ones are properties located in Idaho, Kansas or Montana are ineligible, as are all co-ops. If an appraisal has already been done, that value is used.
In certain cases, depending on your location and the amount of your down payment, you may be able to get a different kind of appraisal waiver through Fannie Mae. If you have any questions on this, one of our Home Loan Experts will be able to help.
Freddie Mac
Freddie Mac calls their appraisal waivers automated collateral evaluations. Their qualifications for if your loan has the possibility of a waived appraisal are a little more simplified than Fannie Mae.
The following are Freddie Mac requirements for an appraisal waiver:
- Must be a one-unit property, including condos.
- The loan must be a new home loan or a rate/term refinance.
- You must have a 20% down payment for buying a home, 20% equity for refinances.
As with Fannie Mae, there are limited instances in which you may get an appraisal waiver through a different program. When processing your loan, we’ll look at all options to ensure your loan process is as smooth as possible.
If you’re interested in refinancing your home or buying a new one, this could be one way to help simplify the process. If you’re ready to look into your options, get started online with Rocket Mortgage® by Quicken Loans. If you’d prefer to get started over the phone, you can talk to one of our Home Loan Experts by calling (888) 980-6716. If you have any questions, you can leave them for us in the comments below.
The post Appraisal Alternative Offered on Qualifying Freddie Mac Loans appeared first on ZING Blog by Quicken Loans.
from ZING Blog by Quicken Loans http://ift.tt/2FNoZjH
via Zero Mortgage Insurance
No comments:
Post a Comment