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What Is A Homeready Mortgage And What Are Its Benefits?

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What Is A Homeready Mortgage And What Are Its Benefits?

About Homeready Mortgage Program

When thinking of homeownership the most important decision is finding the right mortgage to finance our home.

Many Americans are unable to put down the standard 20% down payment so the  came up with options.

Keeping in mind the need for homeownership for low-income borrowers, Fannie Mae has introduced a program called — HomeReady Mortgage Program.

What is a Homeready Mortgage?

Home ready mortgage program helps with low down payments, low financing costs, and low mortgage insurance costs.

With home ready mortgage program, the borrowers have flexibility in acquiring funds for down payments.

This HomeReady mortgage program sponsored by Fannie Mae has been planned to assist mortgage lenders by helping credit-worthy low-income borrowers.

A very low down payment of 3% and a cost that is better than or equal to standard pricing are the key features of a HomeReady mortgage.

Freddie Mac has a similar program called .

Borrower’s Qualification

When borrowers have a credit score of 620 or greater then they are eligible, and those borrowers who score 680 or more may receive even better pricing.

Be it first-timer or repeat homebuyers, and those borrowers seeking to refinance an existing mortgage, all can take the advantage of the HomeReady program.

Affordable mortgage insurance coverage is also offered by the HomeReady program.

Effective July 20, 2019, borrowers are eligible when their income is 80% or less of the area median income (AMI) for the census tract in which the property is located.

That also includes properties in low-income census tracts.

Since already confirmed that anybody can take advantage of the HomeReady program, (terms and conditions apply) a borrower may have ownership interests in other residential properties, but at the time of closing only one of those other properties may be financed by HomeReady mortgage.

How do the Borrowers Benefit?

Along with a low down payment of 3%, compared to standard loan pricing the HomeReady mortgages offer pricing that is better than or equal to them.

The program Also lower than standard mortgage insurance coverage are offered in the program with requirements being the  (LTV) ratio should be between 90% and 97%, along with the facility that the borrower can cancel the monthly mortgage insurance payments when the LTV ratio drops below 80%.

Additionally, the borrower may tap other sources of funds like gifts, grants, and Community Seconds mortgages and doesn’t require to use a minimum amount of personal funds for the down payment and closing costs.

Second mortgages are called Community Seconds, these mortgages are used to fund down payments and  on first mortgages that are delivered to Fannie Mae.

How will the Lenders Benefit?

While offering a credit risk assessment the loans that are eligible for HomeReady are automatically identified by Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter (DU) system.

Along with the advantage of pricing that is better than or equal to Fannie Mae’s standard pricing, risk-based pricing waivers for borrowers with credit scores of 680 or greater and LTV ratios over 80% are received by lenders.

One can integrate a HomeReady loan along with standard loans in MBS pools and whole loan commitments.

What is the difference between HomeReady and HomePossible?

Though there are a few basic differences between the two, HomeReady and HomePossible are both great options working toward lower-income, lower-credit-score borrowers who want to build wealth through homeownership.

HomeReady mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae and HomePossible is backed by Freddie Mac.

Just the difference being to qualify for a HomePossible loan requires a slightly higher minimum credit score.

Conclusion

HomeReady can be used on a variety of home types. HomeReady is a great product for low-income applicants who want to put the minimum down payment for a mortgage.

Once you’ve paid off 20% of the home’s value, you have the option of canceling the mortgage insurance.

HomeReady can be purchased through local, national, and online lenders and are perfect for first-time and low-income home buyers.

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