Everything you need to know about the Mortgage Industry.

Joann C. Mathison

Learn your terms

  • • A conventional mortgage product is originated in the private sector, and is not insured by the government while the FHA program does receive federal backing. Fannie and Freddie are the two government-sponsored enterprises that buys home loans from lenders, securitize them, and then sell them to investors. They have specific requirements for the loans they can purchase from lenders.

    • AVAILABLE FOR: primary, secondary and investments (all types of properties)

    • LOAN AMOUNT: max $510,400

    • DOWN PAYMENT:

    • Min 3% for primary

    • Min 10% for second home (it needs to be min 100 miles away from your primary)

    • Min 20% for investment

    • Min 25% for condo not approved by Fannie Mae

    • MIN CREDIT SCORE: 620 for 80% / 640 for 90%

    • PMI: if down payment less than 20%

    • Waiting times:

    • Short sale & Foreclosures 7 yrs

    • Bankrupcy 4 yrs

  • An FHA loan is also originated in the private sector, but it gets insured by the government through the Federal Housing Administration.

    • AVALIABLE FOR: only primary residence (not many condos approved FHA) First time home buyer (no ownership for the last 3 years)

    • LOAN AMOUNT: max $373,750

    • DOWN PAYMENT:

    • Min 3.5%

    • CREDIT SCORE: min 580

    • PMI:

    • For all loans.

    • 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance added to your base loan amount + 0.85% a year (paid monthly)

    • PMI will be paid for the life of the loan unless you buy with 10% down or higher, in which case is paid for 11 years.

    • Waiting times: • Short sale & Foreclosures 3 yrs

    • Bankrupcy 2 yrs

    • Non occupant borrower allowed

  • • AVALIABLE FOR: only primary residence, eligible veterans.

    • LOAN AMOUNT: max $510,400

    • DOWN PAYMENT: 0%

    • CREDIT SCORE: min 580

    • PMI: NO / Funding fee added to the base loan amount (1.4% to 3.6%)

  • • AVALIABLE FOR: all types of residence and properties.

    • LOAN AMOUNT: max $750,000 / min $75,000

    • DOWN PAYMENT:

    • 25% for single family residence

    • 30% condos

    • 40% Orlando area

    • 50% income from Venezuela

    • 60% LTV for refinance

    • CREDIT SCORE: min

    • OTHER:

    • Corporate title (Case by case)

    • Condo approval based on condo questionnaire

    • No POA allowed

    • 6 months reserves deposit in a Checking account