This article covers Lenders Increasing Credit Score Requirements Due To COVID-19

Most borrowers have noticed that Lenders Increasing Credit Score Requirements Due To COVID-19 Outbreak.

• Lenders across the board have raised their minimum credit score requirements on government and conventional loans due to the coronavirus pandemic
• The good news is that FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac did not tighten their minimum lending requirements
• The minimum credit score requirement for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA loan is still 580 FICO
• Borrowers can still qualify for an FHA loan with under a 580 credit score and down to a 500 FICO with a 10% down payment
• The VA still does not have a minimum credit score requirement
• This holds true as long as they can get an approve/eligible per automated underwriting system (AUS)
• All mortgage borrowers need to meet the minimum credit score requirements of FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac
• However, lenders can have their own lending guidelines that are above and beyond those of FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, and/or Freddie Mac
• These higher credit standards are called lender overlays
• Most mortgage lenders have overlays on government and conventional loans
• However, Gustan Cho Associates has no lender overlays on government and conventional loans
• During the coronavirus pandemic, lenders have drastically spiked up their credit score requirements on home mortgages
• Some lenders now require a 680 credit score requirement on FHA loans
• Some lenders will not take a VA loan application unless the borrower has a minimum of a 660 credit score
• This holds true even though the Veterans Administration does not have a minimum credit score requirement on VA loans

The Coronavirus Pandemic Impact On Mortgage Loan Programs

The pandemic has caused turmoil for investors in the secondary mortgage bond market.

• Investors of mortgage-backed securities do not have any interest in buying MBS for borrowers with under 700 credit scores
• There is no liquidity in the secondary mortgage bond markets
• Non-QM lenders have ceased taking Non-QM mortgage loan applications until further notice
• Many non-QM lenders have closed their operations indefinitely and/or have gone bankrupt
• Jumbo lenders have ceased taking Jumbo loans until further notice
• Jumbo loans are considered higher risk loans
• Lenders do not want to take on any layered risks
• This is why many lenders have suspended all manual underwriting on FHA and VA loans
• Many lenders have stopped doing FHA 203k loans until further loans
• All FHA and VA construction loans have been suspended until the mortgage crisis stabilizes
• Down Payment Assistance mortgage programs have also been halted due to risk factors by many lenders

Investors in the secondary mortgage bond markets have absolutely no appetite for mortgages with borrowers with under 700 credit scores.

What Does LLPA On Credit Scores Mean

Everyone gets a different mortgage rate.

• Lenders start out with a par rate. Lenders then do pricing hits on the risk level they have
• The higher the risk of the borrower, the higher the mortgage rates
• Loan Level Pricing Adjustments are pricing hits charged by lenders due to layered risks
• Pricing adjustments or LLPAs have drastically increased for borrowers with under 700 credit scores during the coronavirus pandemic
• Not only are mortgage rates higher on lower credit score borrowers, but most lenders are now charging discount points for borrowers with under 700 FICO
• The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has forced many lenders to increase and/or implement more lender overlays
• Lender overlays are additional lending guidelines that are above and beyond the minimum agency mortgage guidelines by HUD, FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
• For example, to qualify for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA loan, the minimum credit score required by HUD is 580 FICO

However, lenders can have their own credit score requirements that are above and beyond HUD’s minimum credit score requirements.

Lenders Increasing Credit Score Requirements Due To COVID-19 Outbreak And The Secondary Market

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the mortgage markets upside down.

• The good news is borrowers with great credit and income can now qualify for a home mortgage at historic low mortgage rates
• However, borrowers with less than perfect credit are having major issues qualifying for a mortgage
• This holds true even though they may qualify for a mortgage and meet all agency mortgage guidelines
• Most lenders have imposed tougher lending requirements due to the shakeup in the secondary market
• The secondary mortgage bond market is leery and careful of potential mortgage defaults
• Investors on the secondary mortgage bond market do not want to invest in risky mortgage loans
• By risky loans, borrowers with under 700 credit scores are called risky home mortgages
• Many borrowers who had solid pre-approvals with lower credit scores got a notice from their loan officers the pre-approval was null and void
• Since the majority of lenders increased credit score requirements during the coronavirus outbreak, lenders like Gustan Cho Associates got flooded with borrowers who were turned down by other lenders

Gustan Cho Associates is one of the very few national lenders who still remained a no lender overlay lender during the coronavirus outbreak.

Agency Mortgage Guidelines Versus Lender Overlays: What Are Lender Overlays

Mortgage companies can impose lender overlays on just about anything. All lenders need to have their borrowers the minimum agency mortgage guidelines. However, lenders can have higher lending standards that are above and beyond the minimum agency mortgage guidelines which are called lender overlays. Lenders can set lender overlays on just about anything.

Here are common lender overlays imposed by mortgage lenders:

• Lenders can set a higher credit score requirement than the minimum credit score required by agency mortgage guidelines
• Lenders can set lender overlays on debt to income ratios
• Lenders can not take any borrowers that need manual underwriting on FHA and VA loans
• Lenders can not accept gift funds to main borrowers
• Lenders can set a minimum credit score requirement on VA loans when the VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement
• Lenders can decide not to accept VA and/or FHA loans during Chapter 13 Bankruptcy repayment plan when both the VA and HUD allow borrowers to qualify
• Lenders can require a one to two-year waiting period after Chapter 13 Bankruptcy discharged date when both FHA and the VA does not have a minimum waiting period requirement

To qualify for a mortgage with a lender with no lender overlays, please contact us at Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or text us for a faster response. Or email us at gcho@gustancho.com. The team at Gustan Cho Associates are available 7 days a week, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Agency Mortgage Guidelines Versus Lender Overlays

These higher lending guidelines by lenders are called lender overlays.

• Due to the liquidity issues on the secondary mortgage bond markets, most lenders have increased their minimum credit score requirements to 660 to 680 credit scores plus discount points
• Not only have they increased their credit score requirements, but they also increased mortgage rates as well as discount rates
• Many lenders do not want to originate and fund FHA and VA loans
• For example, JP Morgan Chase suspended taking any loan applications on government loans
• Chase Mortgage will only do conventional loans for borrowers with at least 700 credit scores and 20% down payment
• The VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement on VA loans
• However, most lenders have implemented a minimum credit score requirement of 640 to 680 FICO on VA loans
• The great news is Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group has not imposed any lender overlays on government and conventional loans during the coronavirus pandemic crisis

Gustan Cho Associates still takes loan applications for borrowers with under 620 credit scores on VA and FHA loans. Gustan Cho Associates still originates and funds manual underwriting on VA and FHA loans.

Lenders Increasing Credit Score Guidelines Due To Coronavirus Pandemic: The coronavirus pandemic shook the US economy.. Not only has the stock markets plummeted, but the pandemic also created chaos in the mortgage markets. Many mortgage lenders raised their minimum credit score requirements to 640 to 680 FICO.

Besides raising credit score requirements, many lenders with no overlays imposed lender overlays on debt-to-income ratio caps. The 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package devastated nonbank mortgage lenders.

Included in the stimulus bill was the ability of unemployed homeowners to receive a mortgage forbearance for up to 12 months. While borrowers are given a forbearance where they do not have to make mortgage payments up to 12 months, servicers still need to pay monthly principal and interest payments to investors. Mortgage servicers also need to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance. In this article, we will discuss and cover why Lenders Increasing Credit Score Guidelines Due To Coronavirus Pandemic.

Lenders Increasing Credit Score Guidelines For Borrowers With Bad Credit

Government and Conventional Mortgage Guidelines did not change yet due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, over 90% of the lenders are in chaos as of what direction to take. All non-QM lenders have suspended operations for at least two weeks to 30 days. Some non-QM lenders went out of businesses due to the coronavirus economic meltdown.

Will this be the end of non-QM loans? Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions said they have cut 200 jobs out of 275 and suspended operations for two weeks. Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions plans on resuming originating non-QM loans.

However, expect the company will restructure its business model and tighten credit standards and guidelines. One of the things Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions may implement is higher credit score requirements, lower debt to income ratios, and higher down payment requirements. Most lenders that allowed FHA loans down to 580 FICO have imposed lender overlays increasing credit scores to at least 640 FICO or higher.

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Is It Possible To Qualify For a Mortgage With Under 620 Credit Scores?

Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group will still originate and fund FHA and VA Loans for borrowers with under 620 credit scores. However, the pricing on borrowers with under 640 credit scores will be higher than it used to due to the mortgage crisis. For example, borrowers with under 620 credit scores on VA and FHA loans may need to pay discount points. Any borrowers with under 640 credit scores will have higher mortgage rates due to risk. Many lenders stopped accepting mortgage loan applications on borrowers with under 640 credit scores. Fortunately, Gustan Cho Associates will still originate and fund under 620 credit score borrowers on FHA and VA loans.

Importance of Having High Credit Scores For Mortgage Borrowers

Mortgage rates are at an all-time low for borrowers with higher credit scores. Conventional borrowers with higher than 740 credit scores can get mortgage rates in the mid 3.0%. FHA borrowers with at least 680 FICO can get great mortgage rates. However, borrowers under 640 credit scores will get higher rates and may need to pay discount points for now.

Can things change in the future for lower credit score borrowers? Nobody has a crystal ball. Pricing can get better in the coming weeks. However, it is unlikely for lenders who have increased their FICO overlays to lower it in the near future.

It is very important for borrowers to try to maximize their credit scores prior to applying for a mortgage. Your loan officer should be able to help you maximize your credit scores. One of the quick fixes to boost your credit scores is paying down your credit card balance to a 10% utilization ratio. This is a developing story. Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group will update our viewers with new developments to this story in the coming days or weeks.

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Hurdles With Qualifying For A Mortgage With Lower Credit Scores During The Pandemic

Many of our viewers at Gustan Cho Associates is reading this article due to having a hard time qualifying for a mortgage with lower credit scores during the pandemic. Gustan Cho Associates have been very successful in helping borrowers with lower credit scores during the pandemic. Our experienced team of loan officers at Gustan Cho Associates are experts in structuring sellers concession credits so borrowers can cover their closing costs. This holds especially true with having the seller pay discount points. Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group has no lender overlays on FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional Loans. Gustan Cho Associates has reopened non-QM loan programs such as bank statement loans for self-employed borrowers with no income tax returns and the asset depletion mortgage loan program. To qualify for a mortgage with a five-star national mortgage company with no lender overlays, please contact us at Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or text us for a faster response. Or email us at gcho@gustancho.com. The team at Gustan Cho Associates is available 7 days a week, evenings, weekends, and holidays.