va loan limits | Orange County, California VA Loans

No VA Loan Limits in 2020

January 14, 2020 by Tim Storm

No VA loan limits in 2020? You heard that right. The VA loan limits for 100% financing have been eliminated effective January 1, 2020. For high priced neighborhoods in Orange County this will have a dramatic affect for Veterans trying to buy a home. Veterans buying homes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties will also benefit greatly.

How VA Loan Limits Worked in 2019

Previously, the Veterans Administration would announce the upcoming 100% financing loan limit for each county in late November of the preceding year. Most recently the 2019 100% financing loan limit for Orange County was $726,525. This meant an Orange County Veteran could buy a home for a price as high as $726,525 with no down payment. (just don't forget about closing costs which do have to be paid). If the price was above $726,525 then the Veteran was required to come in with a down payment equal to 25% of the difference between the 100% loan limit and the purchase price. For example, if the purchase price was $1,000,000 then the down payment would be $68,368 (25% of the difference between $1,000,000 and $726,525). The VA loan would be $931,631 (before financing the VA Funding Fee, if applicable). Now, in 2020, no down payment is required.

Buy a $1,000,000 Orange County Home with $0 Down Payment

An Orange County Veteran purchasing a $1,000,000 property in Orange County now would not need any down payment.For that matter, the Veteran could buy a $2,000,000 with no down payment as long as they had enough income to qualify for the payment.

What You Need to Know Before Buy

There are things every Veteran should know before they buy a home. Really, they should know these things before they even think about making an offer on a home. Many times there is a big disconnect between the payment the Veteran is comfortable and the price of range homes they wish to purchase. Understanding the numbers involved in a purchase is critical in order to avoid frustration and potential financial disaster. Here are just a few of things to be aware of before looking at homes and getting your hopes up.

Know you own budget. What is your net income after taxes? How much do you spend on meals and entertainment? How much is spent on car payments, student loans, other installment loans? Are you carrying credit card debt? Hopefully you have positive cash flow, or at least know exactly what it will take to have positive cash flow.
Know what makes up a mortgage payment. It's not just Principal and Interest. The full mortgage payment also includes property taxes (can be anywhere from 1% to 2% of the purchase price divided by 12), home owners insurance (estimate using .25% of the loan amount divided by 12 - but you will shop for your homeowners insurance), and possibly Homeowners Association Dues if you purchase a condo or home in a PUD (Planned Unit Development).
Know what payment your are comfortable with and that will fit in your budget. If you are pushing your budget, are you expecting a raise in the near future that will lessen the burden?
Know that there are closing costs involved in a home purchase, even when using VA financing. Just like any home purchase, there will be escrow/settlement fees, title insurance, a VA appraisal fee, recording fees to the county, lender fees, inspection fees, notary, etc. Also, there will be "prepaid" expenses which include prepayment of property taxes, insurance. and mortgage interest. These are buyer costs. The seller will also have their own costs. Having a solid estimate of all the costs and fees involved is important in order to make sure you are not short to close when your closing date arrives. If you do not have money for closing costs or wish to keep you money in the bank, then you can negotiate upfront to have the seller pay some or all of your costs. This may put you at a disadvantage against other potential home buyers not needing the seller to pay closing costs but can put you in a good position with reserves in the bank after closing.

How to Get a Solid Estimate of the Numbers Involved in a Home Purchase

The best way to get an estimate of all the numbers involved in a VA home purchase is to work with an experienced VA Lending Expert. Ask for a VA Total Cost Analysis, which is prepared as part of the initial Pre-qualification process.The VA Total Cost Analysis will show you several "VA purchase scenarios" based on your preferred price range and payment comfort level. It will give you complete breakdown of payment for each home price as well as a breakdown of the costs involved in buying a home at each price.The TCA is delivered on a personalized web page and can be easily adjusted based on a specific property.

VA Loan PreApproval

The definition of a PreApproval varies from one lender to the next. Some lenders may just have the Loan Officer review you income documentation, run credit, and get an Automated Approval. Some lenders may not even do that much. There are some big online lenders who issue a PreApproval letter based on the initial borrower completed loan application without any review of the documentation. But in either of these situations, the final decision maker, the VA Underwriter, may have a different opinion of the loan package than the initial review by the loan officer. For this reason, you should ask for a "Fully Underwritten PreApproval".With a Fully Underwritten PreApproval your loan package is reviewed and Approved (or not) by an actual VA Underwriter. This is like walking into a car dealership with a check from your bank. Your financing is in place, provided the property meets VA requirements. This not only takes a lot of the stress out of the home buying process but also make your offer stand out among other competing "Prequalified" offers.

Authored by Tim Storm, an Orange County, CA Loan Officer specializing in VA Loans. MLO 223456. – Please contact my office at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. My direct line is 714-478-3049. I will prepare custom VA loan scenarios that will be matched up to your financial goals, both long and short-term. I also prepare a Video Explanation of your scenarios so that you are able to fully understand the numbers BEFORE you have started the loan process.

VA Loan Limits for Orange County, CA to be Eliminated in 2020

November 6, 2019 by Tim Storm

VA loan limits for Orange County, CA will be eliminated as of January 1, 2020. This is a big change from what has historically been a limit on Veterans’ ability to purchase a home in Orange County with no down payment. With VA loan limits in California eliminated, usage of the VA loan program should increase significantly.

How have the VA Loan Limits Been Set in Orange County?

Every N0vember, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announces the Conforming Loan Limits for each county in the United States. The basic Conforming Loan Limit in 2019 for all counties in the United States was $484,350. But for counties where home prices are above the national averages, like in Orange County, the “High Balance Conforming” limit was set at $726,525. There were also many counties in California with limits set above $484,350 all the way up to $726,525. It just depends on the average sales price of homes in that county.

VA followed suit and set the Zero Down 100% financing VA loan limits to be equal to the Conforming (or High Balance Conforming) loan limit set by FHFA. So in Orange County in 2019 a Veteran could buy a home for $726,525 for No Down Payment. If the Veteran was to buy a home priced above the loan limit then they would need a down payment equal to 25% of the difference between the purchase price and the loan limit. For example, if a Veteran was to purchase a home in Irvine for $826,525 (an even $100,000 above the loan limit) then the down payment required would be $25,000 and the resulting VA loan would be $801,525. Now, in 2020, the Veteran can buy that same home with $0 down. The VA loan will be $826,525. This change will open up the options for Veterans to buy a higher-priced home in areas like Newport Beach, where the VA program has not been widely used. The elimination of VA Loan limits will also help Veterans looking to buy VA approved condos.

What about the Inland Empire?

Riverside County and San Bernardino County, or the Inland Empire, will benefit big time from this change. The Inland Empire’s loan limit was set at the basic $484,350 in 2019. That has made it difficult for Veterans looking to buy their first home in the Inland Empire only to find that homes in many areas were priced above $500,000. Now, the barrier to entry will be much easier to break through.

How Does This Affect VA Refinancing?

This will also help those Veterans who already own a home and are looking to refinance to pull cash out above the current VA loan limits. In 2019 VA did tighten the cashout refinance guidelines, making it difficult to pull cash out above 90% a properties value. And it is the “total VA loan amount” including the VA Funding Fee that has to be used in the 90% calculation. But 90% loan to value for a cashout refinance is still better than any other type of Conventional or Government loan program for 1st mortgages.

Eliminating the loan limits means a Veteran who is looking to pull cash out on a property valued at $1,500,000 could get a new VA loan of $1,350,000. At least theoretically. It is important to mention that VA issues the underwriting guidelines but does not actually fund VA loans. Bank fund VA loans. As of this writing, we are still waiting to see how aggressive the banks will get with cashout refinancing are Super Jumbo loan programs.

2020 will be a big year for the VA loan program. Veterans who typically didn’t take a serious look at the VA loan should now learn more about and compare it to other financing programs. VA tends to have lower 30 year fixed rates than other programs, especially in the lower FICO score ranges. Also, the debt to income ratios are not limited to 43% like most Conventional Jumbo loan programs. And only a 2 year wait period is required after a bankruptcy or foreclosure, compared to 4 to 7 years for other types of loan programs. And best of all, even though no down payment is required, there is no monthly mortgage insurance like there is on Conventional loan programs when the loan to value is above 80%.

If you are a Veteran considering a home purchase or refinance, make sure you talk to a Loan Officer who is knowledgable with the VA loan program.

Authored by Tim Storm, an Orange County, CA Loan Officer specializing in VA Loans. MLO 223456. – Please contact my office at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. My direct line is 714-478-3049. I will prepare custom VA loan scenarios which will be matched up to your financial goals, both long and short-term. I also prepare a Video Explanation of your scenarios so that you are able to fully understand the numbers BEFORE you have started the loan process

Filed Under: VA Mortgage, VA Purchase Loans, VA Refinance Loans Tagged With: orange county va loan limits, va loan limits

Orange County VA Loan Limit for 2019 is $726,525

February 23, 2019 by Tim Storm

The VA loan limit in Orange County for 2019 increased once again to $726,525. In 2018 the limit had been $679,650. This $46,875 increase gives Veterans more reason to seriously consider the VA loan program even if they have a down payment. Home prices in Orange County are higher than in most parts of the country, making it difficult for home buyers, both Veteran and non-Veteran buyers, to finance the purchase of a home. VA offers the only 100% financing program with a limit to $726,525 and is only available to eligible Veterans.

Jumbo VA Loan Program – What is it and How Does it Work?

$726,525 is the 100% financing loan limit for Orange County, but is not the actual limit for the highest a VA loan can go. Many lenders will fund VA loan amounts as high as $1,500,000. A Jumbo VA loan is when the loan amount is higher than the 100% financed limit.A down payment is required when the purchase price is higher than the 100% financed loan limit, but it is minimal compared to other loan programs. The down payment is equal to 25% of the difference between the 100% financing loan limit and the purchase price. For example, if a Veteran is purchasing a home for $850,000 in Irvine, CA, the minimum down payment required would be $30,868. ($850,000 – $726,525 = $123,475. And 25% of $123,475 = $30,868). This means that a Veteran can purchase an $850,000 home in Orange County with only 3.63% down payment. The base VA loan amount would be $819,132.

Other Advantages of the VA Loan Program

There are several advantages the VA loan program has over most other types of home financing. They include:

No monthly Mortgage Insurance or PMI, even when the down payment is less than 20% (or $0)
Flexibility with Debt to Income Ratios – Many “Jumbo” loan programs limit the debt to income ratio to 43%. Some will go as high as 50%. Standard VA guidelines do not have a maximum debt to income ratio. It is not uncommon for a VA loan to be approved with the debt to income ratio being above 55% or even 60% in some cases. What is more important on a VA loan is the Residual Income calculation. *Debt to Income ratio is equal to a homebuyers total mortgage payment, installment payments (car, student loans, etc), minimum credit card payments, alimony, child support, etc divided by their total gross income before taxes. If a home buyer making $7,000 per month has a proposed mortgage payment of $2,500 and a car payment of $500, then their Debt to Income ratio is 42.8%. $2,500+$500 = $3,000. $3,000 / $7,000 = 42.8%
Short wait period after a bankruptcy or foreclosure. While Conventional loan programs typically require a minimum of 4 years wait period after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and 7 years after a foreclosure, VA only requires a 2 year wait prior after a bankruptcy or foreclosure. It is important to reestablish credit after a significant credit event, but it is not unusual to see credit completely restored only 2 years after a major credit event.
Competitive 30 year fixed interest rates – While VA does not have an “interest only” loan program, VA does have very solid 30 year fixed loan programs with interest rates that can quite often be lower than other comparable loan programs.
Flexibility with FICO scoring. With Conventional loan programs, to get competitive loan pricing, the borrowers FICO score needs to be 740 or higher. With VA, there is very little difference in loan pricing between a borrower with a 740 FICO and a borrower with a 680 FICO. Even with a FICO of 620 it is possible for a Veteran to receive a competitive 30 year fixed interest rate.

Cashout Refinance to $726,525

The new loan limits will also help Orange County Veterans who already own a home and are looking to pull cash out for debt consolidation, home improvements, or almost any other purpose. VA allows “cash out” up to 100% of the property value up to the 100% loan limit. The new loan amount, including the VA Funding Fee, can be 100% of the property value. Also, properties valued higher than the $726,525 loan limit are eligible for even higher loan amounts. The formula for calculating the maximum Jumbo VA loan amount on a cash out refinance is similar to the formula for determining the loan amount on a Jumbo VA purchase. A Veteran who owns a home in Mission Viejo valued at $850,000 could get a new VA loan of $819,132.

Who is Eligible for a VA Loan?

You may be eligible for a VA loan if you meet one of the following conditions:

You have served 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime, or…
You have served 181 days of active service during peacetime, or…
You have more than 6 years of service in the National Guard or Reserves, or…
You are the spouse of a service member who has died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related disability.

It is important to understand that the VA loan program is not only for First Time Buyers. It can be used multiple times and in some cases, a Veteran can have more than one outstanding VA loan. Your eligibility does not “expire”. Your VA lender will help you to retrieve your Certificate of Eligibility. All that is needed is a copy of your DD214. And in some cases, the lender may not even need that.

Step 1 in the VA Loan Process

The first step in the VA loan process is contacting a local Orange County, CA VA lender. Working with a Loan Officer who specializes in the VA loan program is important and will help to ensure that your VA loan has the best chance of closing with as little stress as possible. The lender should be able to answer your questions and prepare a custom VA Mortgage Analysis based on your goals and budget.

Authored by Tim Storm, an Orange County VA Loan Officer specializing in VA Loan. MLO 223456. – Please contact my office at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. My direct line is 949-640-3102. I will prepare custom VA loan scenarios which will be matched up to your financial goals, both long and short-term. I also prepare a Video Explanation of your scenarios so that you are able to fully understand the numbers BEFORE you have started the loan process.

Filed Under: VA Purchase Loans, VA Refinance Loans Tagged With: 2019, Orange County, va loan limits

VA Loan Limits Increase in Orange County, CA for 2018

January 4, 2018 by Tim Storm

VA loan limits for 100% financing in Orange County, CA will be higher in 2018, jumping from the 2017 limit of $636,150 up to a new limit of $679,650. This is a fairly significant increase that will help Orange County Veterans buy or refinance homes in Orange County, where homes prices increased in 2017 and seem to be continuing to go up.

$679,650 Purchase Price with Zero Down Payment

Orange County, CA is considered a “high cost” county in California, along with Los Angeles county. Buying a home in Orange County has been challenging as home inventory has not kept up with the number of buyers wanting to purchase a home. And while being able to buy a home for $679,650 with no down payment may sound too good to be true, it is possible for eligible Veterans and Active Duty military.

Orange County has one of the largest populations of Veterans in the country, but many Veterans don’t realize they are eligible for the VA loan program.

Question: What if a Veteran Wants to Buy a Home for more than $679,650?

The VA Jumbo Loan Program Explained

Although $679,650 will help Veterans in Orange County, what happens when the purchase price is above the Zero Down limit? The obvious, but incorrect, answer is the down payment would need to cover the difference between the purchase price and Zero Down limit. But the Jumbo VA Loan program is better than that. A down payment of only 25% of the difference between the purchase price and the loan limit is required. For example, if the purchase price is $779,650, or $100,000 above the Zero Down limit, the down payment would only be $25,000. The VA loan would be $754,650. That is a great deal for Veterans who can afford a higher priced home.

Refinancing into a VA Loan

The increased loan limits do not only effect purchase transactions. They also effect those who want to refinance into a new VA loan to pull cash out. Over the last few years there are many Veterans who bought homes and now would like to pull cash out for home improvements (or to cover debt that has built up on credit cards). The increased limits make it easier for those who were previously right at the 100% loan limit, especially when property values have also increased.

The first step in figuring out how the new loan limits can benefit you is to contact a VA loan specialist located in Orange County, CA. The VA program is unique, and working with a local VA loan specialist who understands what it takes to get a VA loan closed quickly on a high priced home (Single Family or VA approved Condo) is beneficial for the Veteran. The VA loan officer should be able to provide multiple loan scenarios with specific details on the numbers involved in a refinance or purchase.

Authored by Tim Storm, an Orange County VA Loan Officer specializing in VA Loan. MLO 223456. – Please contact my office at the Home Point Financial. My direct line is 949-640-3102. www.OrangeCountyVALoans.com. I will prepare custom VA loan scenarios which will be matched up to your financial goals, both long and short term. I also prepare a Video Explanation of the your scenarios so that you are able to fully understand the numbers BEFORE you have started the loan process.

Filed Under: VA Purchase Loans Tagged With: 2018, orange county va loan limits, va loan limits

VA Loan Limits for Orange County increased in 2014

January 1, 2014 by Tim Storm

The VA loan limits in Orange County for 2014 will be $687,500. The Veterans Administration recently announced the 2014 VA loan limits and many counties in California saw an increase due to the improved real estate market and higher home prices in 2013. While most of the country, including many counties in California, will continue to have their limit set at the Conforming limit of $417,000, “higher priced” counties have higher VA loan limits.

What Makes Orange County “High Priced”?

The obvious answer to the question of why Orange County qualifies for high loan limits than most of the country is because of the high average cost of a home compared to other areas. While the Median home price in Orange county is above $500,000, most of the country’s median price is under $400,000. Other counties surrounding Orange County also have higher limits, including Los Angeles ($687,500) and San Diego ($546,250). It is important to note that this limit is for 100% financing. It is still possible to get a VA loan that is above the 100% limit.

Jumbo VA Loan in Orange County

When a loan amount is above the 100% limit it is commonly known as a Jumbo VA loan. Since the VA loan limit in Orange County for 100% financing is $687,500, then an VA loan above that amount is considered to be a “Jumbo VA Loan“. If a Veteran is purchasing (or refinancing) a home in with a sales price (appraised value) above $668,750 and they intend to get maximum financing, then they will need a down payment equal to 25% of the difference between the 100% loan limit of the purchase price. For example, if a Veteran is buying a home in Irvine, CA for $787,500, or $100,000 above the VA loan limit, then the Veteran would need a down payment of $25,000. Only $25,000, or 3.17% down payment. There is no better loan program than VA when it comes to low down payment and competitive fixed interest rates.

The first step in determining whether a VA loan is right for you is to contact a local Orange County VA loan specialist. The VA loan officer should be able to prepare custom VA loan scenarios after a quick phone conversation. The scenarios will give a detailed breakdown of the purchase price, loan amount, and costs involved in the home buying process. Also, your Orange County VA loan specialist should also be able to provide a video explanation of the scenarios, which will help to understand the scenarios as well as share them with other family members or financial advisors.

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 Mortgage Tagged With: va loan limits