Fannie Mae publishes updates to HARP

Below I’ve  included the updates to Fannie Mae’s changes to the HARP program that begin to take effect on December 1st 2011. The bottom line is that people who owe more than 80% of the value of their home should be able to refinance with  the same rate as those with equity.  Also, a recent foreclosure or bankruptcy won’t necessarily rule them out.

I’ve highlighted the points that I think are important to most of us.

Selling Guide Announcement SEL-2011-12
November 15, 2011
Updates to Refi Plus™ and DU Refi Plus™
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in an effort to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their mortgage loan. As a result of FHFA’s announcement, Fannie Mae will be making the changes to Refi Plus™ (manual underwriting) and DU Refi Plus™ as noted below. These refinance options are designed to assist borrowers who have demonstrated an acceptable payment history on their existing Fannie Mae mortgage loan, but may not have been able to refinance to obtain a lower payment or move to a more stable product.
NOTE:
There are a variety of effective dates for the updates and each is described below. The updates to Refi Plus will be reflected in the next monthly update of the Selling Guide, which is scheduled for December 13, 2011. Desktop Underwriter® (DU®) will be updated in March 2012 to include any relevant DU Refi Plus changes. The changes will be described in the DU Release Notes that will be issued in advance of the release.
Program Extension
The HARP program has been extended. Accordingly, lenders will now be able to originate Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus mortgage loans provided the note date is on or before December 31, 2013. Whole loans must be purchased by Fannie Mae no later than April 30, 2014 or in MBS pools with issue dates no later than April 1, 2014.
Maximum LTV Ratios and Eligible Products for Refi Plus
Fannie Mae is removing the maximum LTV ratio limit for Refi Plus mortgage loans secured by fixed-rate mortgages with terms up to 30 years. This includes loans with terms of 15 years, which were previously restricted to a maximum LTV ratio of 105%. There continue to be no limits on the CLTV or HCLTV ratios.
The maximum LTV ratio limits for all occupancy and property types are:

no maximum for fixed-rate mortgages with terms up to 30 years,

105% for fixed-rate loans with terms greater than 30 years up to 40 years, and

105% for ARMs with initial fixed periods greater than or equal to five years and terms up to 40 years (as permitted by the ARM plan).
Refer to the Whole Loan Committing and MBS Pool Information sections of this Announcement for information about new committing and delivery options for loans with LTV ratios that exceed 105%. The updated Eligibility Matrix has also been posted on eFannieMae.com.
Effective Date
The expansion of the LTV ratio limits is effective for Refi Plus mortgage loans with application dates on or after December 1, 2011.
© 2011 Fannie Mae. Trademarks of Fannie Mae. SEL-2011-12 Page 2
DU Implementation of LTV Expansion
The changes to the LTV ratio limits described above will be implemented in DU in March 2012. Until such time as DU is updated, DU loan casefiles that receive an Ineligible recommendation due to an LTV ratio above 125% will not be eligible for delivery.
Changes to Underwriting Requirements for Refi Plus
A number of changes are being made to the manual underwriting requirements for Refi Plus, including:
Mortgage payment history requirements: The lender must determine that the borrower has not had any mortgage delinquencies on the existing mortgage in the most recent six month period, and no more than one 30-day delinquency in months 7 – 12. This is a change from the existing mortgage delinquency policy, which varies based on whether the borrower’s payment is increasing or decreasing.
Requalification requirements for large payment increases: A new policy is being introduced that requires the borrower to be requalified for the new loan if there is a large payment increase. The following requirements must be met when the principal and interest payment increases by more than 20% of the current contractually obligated payment under the note:

minimum representative credit score of 620;

maximum DTI ratio of 45%;

verification of income sources and amounts in accordance with the Selling Guide, Chapter B3-3 Income Assessment; and

verification of assets to close if the borrower is required to bring funds to closing in accordance with Chapter B3-4, Asset Assessment.
In the event that the note provides for more than one payment option, the lender must use the lowest payment option to determine whether the increase exceeds 20%. If the borrower’s payment is increasing by 20% or less, the standard Refi Plus guidelines continue to apply.
Removal of bankruptcy and foreclosure policy: Fannie Mae is removing the requirement that the borrower (on the new loan) meet the standard waiting period and re-establishment of credit criteria in the Selling Guide following a bankruptcy or foreclosure. The requirement that the original loan must have met the bankruptcy and foreclosure policies in effect at the time the loan was originated is also being removed.
Borrower benefit requirement: To be eligible for Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus, the borrower must receive a benefit in the form of either a reduced monthly mortgage payment (principal and interest) or a more stable product, such as a move to a fixed-rate mortgage from an ARM. Fannie Mae is updating the borrower benefit criteria to also include a reduction in the interest rate or a reduction in the loan amortization term as eligible borrower benefits.
Effective Date
The changes to the Refi Plus underwriting requirements are effective for mortgage loans with application dates on or after December 1, 2011.
Loan-Level Price Adjustments for Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus
Fannie Mae is significantly reducing the maximum amount of loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs) that apply to “HARP” mortgage loans – loans secured by principal residences with LTV ratios greater than 80%. The following changes apply:
© 2011 Fannie Mae. Trademarks of Fannie Mae. SEL-2011-12 Page 3

The cap applicable to the sum of the LLPAs and the Adverse Market Delivery Charge (AMDC) on HARP mortgage loans with amortization terms less than or equal to 20 years is being reduced to 0.00%. As a result, all delivery fees are effectively eliminated for this category of loans.

The cap applicable to the sum of the LLPAs and the AMDC on HARP mortgage loans with amortization terms greater than 20 years is reduced to 0.75%.

LTV ratio ranges in the tables have been updated to reflect the higher LTV ratios that will now be permitted.
For Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus mortgage loans that are not defined as HARP loans, the LLPAs, AMDC, and the current caps will remain in effect. Refer to the updated Refi Plus Pricing Matrix on eFannieMae.com for complete information.
Effective Dates
The pricing changes are effective for all Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus whole loans purchased on or after January 3, 2012, and for mortgage loans delivered into MBS with issue dates on or after January 1, 2012.
Permissible Refinance Solicitation Practices
At the direction of the FHFA, Fannie Mae is modifying the policies by which lenders can solicit borrowers for a Refi Plus or DU Refi Plus refinance.
Requirements for the solicitation of Refi Plus and DU Refi Plus mortgage loans with LTV ratios greater than 80%:

Lenders may solicit borrowers with mortgages owned or securitized by a particular government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), provided that the lender simultaneously applies the same advertising and solicitation activities with respect to borrowers of mortgage loans with LTV ratios greater than 80% and owned or securitized by the other GSE.

Lenders must apply the same advertising and solicitation activities to all mortgage loans with LTV ratios greater than 80% and serviced for a particular GSE, regardless of whether the lender or a third-party owns the associated Fannie Mae MBS pools or Freddie Mac PC pools.

All other provisions of the Selling Guide, B2-1.2-05, Prohibited Refinancing Practices, regarding refinance practices remain in effect.
If lenders choose to reach out to borrowers, and the lender’s communication includes a reference to a GSE, then the communication must include the following:

“Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have adopted changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and you may be eligible to take advantage of these changes.”

“If your mortgage is owned or guaranteed by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, you may be eligible to refinance your mortgage under the enhanced and expanded provisions of HARP.”

“You can determine whether your mortgage is owned by either Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae by checking the following websites:
www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage or http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/.”