Tim Storm | Orange County, California VA Loans - Tim Storm

What FICO Score is Required for a VA Loan?

October 29, 2013 by Tim Storm

A common question by Orange County veterans interested in using VA financing to purchase or refinance a home is “what is the minimum FICO required?” The answer to this question can vary from lender to lender. Many lenders require a minimum of 620. But there are lenders who will allow FICO scores as low as 580 or lower.

Minimum FICO Scoring Tied to Loan Amount and Purpose

VA lenders may adjust the minimum FICO score depending on the loan amount and purpose of the loan. For example, many lenders will allow a minimum FICO of 620 only when it is a purchase loan and the loan amount is $453,100 or less. A loan amount greater than $453,100, which is considered a “high balance” is common in Orange County, may require a minimum FICO of 640. A refinance may have a different set of requirements. A refinance of a Conventional loan to a VA loan where the loan amount is less than $453,100 may require a FICO score of at least 640, while VA loans greater than $453,100 require a minimum FICO of 660. The VA loan limit for 100% financing in Orange County in 2018 is $679,650. Loan amounts above $679,650 are possible but would require some equity or down payment. A VA loan above the county limits for 100% financing is considered a “Jumbo VA Loan.”

Other VA Loan Credit Requirements

Overall, VA is one of the most flexible loan programs when it comes to credit. A Veteran can get a $0 down VA loan in Orange County only two years after a bankruptcy or foreclosure. Most loan programs require at least 4 fours seasoning after a foreclosure, if not closer to 7 years. And more down payment. But with VA, the 2 year requirement makes it a very flexible program. There is no seasoning requirement for a short sale.

How is the FICO Score Determined

FICO, which is the acronym for Fair Isaac Company, is a program which is used by the credit bureaus to determine a borrowers creditworthiness. There are different versions of FICO depending on what a person is financing. The FICO score shown on a credit report at a car dealership will be different than the FICO score pulled by a lender. There are different factors that a home lender deems to be important versus what a car lender will think is important. Also, there are other types of scores that are readily available to consumers, including the Vantage Score. However, the only way to get your actual FICO score that a mortgage lender will see if to go to a mortgage lender.

Get PreApproved for a VA Loan

One of the biggest reasons why it is so important to get PreApproved for a VA loan prior to searching for a home is because of the credit report. Even the best borrowers can sometimes have a surprise on their credit report. Finding this out and clearing any credit report errors prior to finding the home of your dreams is important if the closing is to be a smooth transaction. This is why the first step for a Veteran in Orange County who is thinking of using VA financing to buy a home should always be to call a local Orange County VA lender.

Authored by Tim Storm, a California Mortgage Loan Officer MLO 223456 – Please contact my office at the Home Point Financial (NMLS 7706). Direct line at 949-640-3102. www.OrangeCountyVALoans.com

Filed Under: VA Mortgage, VA Purchase Loans Tagged With: credit score, fico score, orange county va loan, VA Loans

VA Loan Program is not just for first time home buyers

August 27, 2013 by Tim Storm

Many Orange County, CA veterans think that the VA loan program is only for first time home buyers. Or is for low income home buyers. In Orange County especially, that is not even close to the truth. In the OC, where the 100% financing limit for a VA loan is $668,750 in 2013 *, there are many second and third time users of the VA program. *2014 limit is $687,500

VA offers Veterans a great way to finance a home. Along with no down payment, there are several other advantages to VA financing.

VA allows for higher debt to income ratios than most other types of financing
VA more flexible guidelines when it comes to credit. Issues like bankruptcy, short sales, and foreclosure are more quickly forgiven with VA financing than other types of financing.
There is no monthly mortgage insurance on the VA loan program, even though the down payment requirements are low to $0. Other programs, like the FHA program, require the borrower to pay a fairly high mortgage insurance payment each month. This saves veterans money every month versus other loan programs.
VA does allow for financing above the counties $0 loan limit. This is known as a Jumbo VA loan. The Orange County 100% limit is $668,750 in 2013. *2014 limit is $687,500

How to get Prequalified for a VA Loan in Orange County, CA

Getting prequalified for a VA loan is fairly easy. The most important step is to find an Orange County loan officer who specializes in VA loans. Probably more than any other type of loan program, working with a loan officer who is very familiar with VA guidelines can save time and stress. The loan officer should be able to provide custom loan scenarios. And meeting the loan officer is also possible when you choose someone who is local to you.

Authored by Tim Storm, a California Mortgage Loan Officer MLO 223456 – Please contact my office at the Emery Financial. Direct line at 949-640-3102. www.OrangeCountyVALoans.com

Filed Under: VA Purchase Loans Tagged With: first time buyer, orange county home buyer, VA Loan

Why Get PreApproved for a VA Mortgage?

August 11, 2013 by Tim Storm

The real estate market in Orange County, CA is hotter than its been in years making mortgage PreApproval more important than ever. There are more people looking to purchase a home, and all price ranges, than at any time since before 2008. This has lead to competition for the limited supply of homes on the market. So who is getting their offer accepted?

Mortgage PreApproval is more important than ever!

The more prepared a potential homebuyer is the better chance they have of getting an offer accepted. What does it take to be prepared for a home purchase in Orange County, which is such a competitive market? The first and most important step is to get PreApproved. Homebuyers need to know BEFORE they start searching for a home what they can actually afford. They should have a budget in place and have a good idea of how much total mortgage payment they can afford.

The mortgage payment is made up of more than just the principal and interest. Buying a home also means paying property taxes and home owners insurance. And if the property is in a Planned Unit Development or is a condo, then Home Owners Association dues also need to be factored in. The best way to know these numbers is to consult with a local Orange County mortgage lender.

What your Orange County, CA VA Specialist Loan Officer Can Do for You

A good Orange County loan officer who specializes in VA financing will be able to not only answer questions regarding the loan and home buying process, but also prepare custom loan scenarios that will have the full details of a real estate transaction. The loan scenarios should show the purchase price, loan amount, required down payment, closing costs, and prepaid expenses. The scenarios should also show the full payment breakdown.

The VA specialist loan officer should also be able to show the home buyer scenarios that the buyer actually qualifies for, at least based on the initial verbal consultation. To get PreApproved the lender will need the borrowers income and asset documentation. Items such as recent paystubs, two years W2’s and tax returns, and bank statements. The lender will need a completed loan application and will also run credit.

Not all home buyers are financially ready to buy. But the PreApproval process will give them the road map to getting prepared. Whether they need to work on their credit, save more money for down payment, or adjust to the type of home they are shopping for (or neighborhood), just knowing for they can buy is very important.

Filed Under: VA Purchase Loans Tagged With: va loan preapproval

VA Refinancing Options For Eligible Orange County, CA Homeowners

July 9, 2013 by Tim Storm

VA mortgage loans allow eligible Orange County Veterans to refinance their home to take advantage of lower interest rates that can ultimately save you sizable sums of money in both the long-run and the short-run by lowering your monthly payment. What many don’t realize is that the current loan does not need to be a VA loan.

Many Orange County home owners are finding that if they currently have a Conventional loan, they can refinance into a VA loan if you are an eligible veteran or member of the armed services. Transferring from a Conventional mortgage to a VA mortgage is known as a “Conventional to VA Refinance Loan” and is a very straightforward process. Technically, VA considers a refinance from a non-VA loan into a VA loan to be “cash out”, even if the borrower is not getting cash back. And while many lenders will only allow a Conventional to VA refinance up to 90% of the properties value, there are lenders who closely follow VA guidelines and allow for 100% loan to value financing. In Orange County, where the VA 100% financing limit in 2013 is $668,750, this opens a lot of possibilities. And don’t forget, many lenders will finance up to a $1,500,000 VA loan. Some equity is required when the loan is greater than the 100% limit, but not as much as would be required for a “Jumbo” Conventional loan.

The “Conventional to VA Refinance Loan” process is described in detail in our article Can I Qualify For A VA Refinance If I Currently Have A Conventional Loan?

A common question related to VA refinancing is whether or not you combine a Conventional 1st mortgage with an equity line or fixed rate second mortgage. The answer is…you can! Even if the 2nd is greater than 100% of the properties value it is still possible to combine a portion of the equity line with the first mortgage and “subordinate” the remaining 2nd mortgage. There are loan to value restrictions in this scenario, typically capping out at 115% of the properties value.

VA IRRRL for Orange County Homeowners

Of course, you are also allowed to refinance your home if you currently have a VA mortgage. An Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) is also known as a VA Streamline Refinance. This is a fast and easy way to lower your monthly mortgage payment and interest rate! And typically with the lender using a “lender credit” to cover some or all of the closing costs.

Some of the benefits of a VA Streamline Refinance or IRRRL include:

In most cases you will not need to have an appraisal prepared. This saves time and cost.

No income verification. Remember when you purchased your home and had to provide two years income documentation, paystubs, first born and a pint of blood.( Just kidding.) The IRRRL program is “streamlined”, meaning its a very easy process. The lender will verify you have a job, but does not ask for income documentation. As a matter of fact, the income section of the loan application is left blank.

An extremely low VA Funding Fee – only 0.5%. And in many cases the lender can provide a loan scenario where even the VA Funding Fee is covered with the “lender credit.”

Consult with an Orange County, CA VA Loan Specialist

It is important to make sure to talk with a VA loan specialist. VA financing tends to be specialized. The guidelines for VA financing are much different than for Conventional loans, and consulting with a loan officer who is not familiar with VA financing may result in answers that are not correct. So make sure you are getting the correct answers to your questions when it comes to VA financing.

Filed Under: VA Cash out Refinance, VA Mortgage, VA Refinance Loans Tagged With: orange county va loan, va irrrl, va refinance

Who Pays Closing Costs on VA Loan in Orange County, CA

May 15, 2013 by Tim Storm 2 Comments

A common myth with VA loans in Orange County is that the seller is required to pay some or all of the closing costs on behalf of the Veteran buying the home. This is not true. As a matter of fact the seller is not “required” to pay anything for the Veteran. Sadly, this misconception is held by many Orange County real estate agents and can make it difficult for a Veteran to get their offer to buy a home accepted in a multiple offer competitive bidding situation.

What about “Non allowable” Costs?

The reason for the confusion in regards to closing costs stems from the fact that there are costs which the Veteran cannot pay. Certain lender fees, escrow closing fees, and the termite inspection fee cannot be paid by the Veteran. Does this mean the seller has to pay them? No, they do not. As a matter of fact there are situations where the Veteran is allowed to pay these “non allowables”.

When can the Veteran Pay “Non Allowable” Costs?

According to VA guidelines the Veteran can pay a 1% Origination Fee. However many VA lenders do not charge an Origination Fee. In the case that the lender does not charge an Origination Fee, or at least the full 1% Origination Fee, then the Veteran is allowed to pay up to 1% of the loan amount in what would have been “non allowable” costs.

Orange County, which tends to have higher priced homes than other parts of California, has seen wide usage of the VA loan program. An Orange County Veteran can buy a home for a price as high as $668,750 (2013 Orange County VA loan limit) with no down payment. Let’s say that a Veteran buys a home for $500,000 with no down payment. A lender who doesn’t charge an origination fee would allow for the buyer to pay $5,000 towards what would have been “non allowable” closing costs. (1% x $500,000). In most cases the non allowable closing costs will be less than 1% of the loan amount, at least in Orange County where home prices are high.

What if the Veteran Doesn’t Want to Pay Closing Costs?

There are often times situations where the Veteran doesn’t want to pay closing costs and the seller doesn’t want to either. If there are multiple offers on a home it can be difficult for Veteran home buyer to have a seller pay closing costs if competing offers are not asking for costs to be paid. This is where knowing the options available is important. Most lenders have the ability to adjust the rate up slightly and then cover some or all of the closing costs. So yes, a VA NO NO (no down payment and no closing costs) is possible even when the seller and Veteran pay nothing towards closing costs. You just need to be working with a local Orange County VA lender who understands and can provide you with several loan scenarios to choose from.

Authored by Tim Storm, a California Mortgage Loan Officer MLO 223456 – Please contact my office at the Emery Financial. Direct line at 949-640-3102. www.OrangeCountyVALoans.com

Filed Under: VA Purchase Loans Tagged With: closing costs, non allowable closing costs, VA Loan