NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines On Down Payment And Loan Limits

This article is about NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines on primary homes, second homes, and investment properties. Every non-QM lender has their own non-QM mortgage guidelines. Gustan Cho Associates has dozens of different lwholesale ending relationships with wholesale non-QM mortgage lenders and financial institutions:

For the latest information, it’s advisable to consult with mortgage professionals or refer to authoritative sources in the mortgage industry.

Every non-QM wholesale mortgage lender has different non-QM mortgage guidelines concerning the down payment, loan-to-value, reserves, credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and income documentation requirements. In this blog, we will talk about the general non-QM mortgage guidelines on non-QM and non-conforming loans.

What Are Non-QM Mortgage Loans?

YouTube player

Non-QM Loans and Bank Statement Loans are now in full force for homebuyers who cannot qualify for government and conventional loans. There are no waiting period requirements after a housing event (foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, short sale) with non-QM loans. NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines state that borrowers can qualify for a mortgage one day out of foreclosure and short sale. Self Employed borrowers can now qualify for bank statement loans for self-employed borrowers.
NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines

Non-QM Versus Qualified Mortgages

Under NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines, no tax returns are required on our bank statement non-QM loan programs. Our non-QM loan and bank statement loan programs require no mortgage insurance. Due to the launch of non-QM and bank statement mortgage loan programs, lenders are loosening their mortgage guidelines and overlays. A 10% to 20% down payment is required on non-QM and bank statement loans under NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines. The amount of down payment required on a home purchase depends on the borrower’s credit score. There are no loan limits on non-QM and bank statement mortgage loans for self-employed borrowers.

Lenders Loosening Overlays Due To NON-QM Mortgage Guidelines

More and more mortgage lenders have been loosening their credit guidelines and overlays to capture more home buyers. Most lenders have mortgage overlays. Overlays are additional internal mortgage guidelines above the minimum federal guidelines for FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA, and VA Guidelines.

For example, to qualify for an FHA-insured mortgage loan with a 3.5% down payment, the minimum credit score FHA requires is 580.

A large percentage of mortgage lenders did not accept any borrowers with credit scores below 640. Many lenders with 640 credit score overlays have dropped their minimum 640 credit requirement to 620, and some have even dropped them to 580 credit scores. Same with conventional mortgage loans.

Non-QM Mortgage Guidelines on Credit Scores

The minimum credit score required for a conventional mortgage loan is 620. Many conventional mortgage lenders have credit score overlays of 680. However, I have seen many lenders in recent months who have dropped their minimum credit score requirements to 620 FICO on conventional loans and FHA and VA loans to 500 FICO. The minimum credit score required on FHA and VA loans is 500.

Non-QM loans have their own non-QM mortgage guidelines on non-QM loans. The lower the credit score on non-QM loans, the higher the down payment requirements.

Non-qualified mortgage guidelines are subject to change, and it’s essential to consult with mortgage professionals or refer to the latest information from regulatory bodies for the most current details. Non-QM mortgages are loans that don’t meet the criteria set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for qualified mortgages. These loans are often designed for borrowers who may not meet the standard requirements for conventional mortgages.

What Are The Non-QM Mortgage Guidelines

In this section. we will cover some general characteristics and guidelines associated with non-QM mortgage guidelines and what non-qualified mortgages are. Non-QM lenders may consider borrowers with less-than-perfect credit histories. However, they typically require a reasonable explanation for credit issues.

Non-QM loans may have more flexibility with DTI ratios compared to qualified mortgages. Borrowers with higher DTI ratios may still qualify for non-QM loans.

Non-QM loans may allow alternative documentation types, such as bank statements or stated income, instead of the traditional W-2 forms and tax returns. This is particularly beneficial for self-employed individuals or those with non-traditional income sources. Non-QM mortgages may include interest-only loans, balloon payment loans, and other non-traditional structures that don’t meet the criteria for qualified mortgages.

Types of Properties For Non-QM Loans

Non-QM loans may be available for non-warrantable condos, ground up new construction, unique properties, or other non-standard property types that don’t meet conventional mortgage guidelines.  Non-QM lenders may be more flexible regarding down payment requirements, allowing for lower down payments compared to conventional loans.

Non-QM loans may come with higher interest rates than qualified mortgages to compensate for the increased risk associated with non-traditional borrower profiles.

It’s crucial to note that non-QM lending is subject to regulatory oversight, and lenders may have different criteria and requirements. Borrowers should carefully review the terms and conditions of non-QM loans and work with knowledgeable mortgage professionals to ensure they understand the specific details of the loan they are considering. Keep in mind that mortgage guidelines can change, and new regulations may be implemented.

Lenders Specializing in Non-QM Loans

Borrowers seeking a home loan with bad credit are in luck. Many lenders like myself specialize in helping home buyers with bad credit. Gustan Cho Associates is a national mortgage company with no overlays on government and conventional loans. If borrowers get approve/eligible per DU FINDINGS and LP FINDINGS. Borrowers can get approved if they can satisfy all conditions on AUS. Mortgage lenders have also loosened up mortgage standards on past prior credit. Just a couple of years ago, it was unheard of for lenders to accept borrowers with outstanding judgment and tax lien.

Qualifying For a Mortgage With Judgment and Tax-Lien

Now, most will accept borrowers with outstanding judgments and tax lienx with a written payment agreement with judgment creditor and Internal Revenue Service in force. Have made at least three timely payments. Can you provide canceled checks for those three payments. Mortgage lenders are more understanding of outstanding collections as well. HUD Guidelines do not require borrowers to pay off an outstanding unpaid collection to qualify for FHA Loans.

Mortgage Lender Overlays Versus Agency Guidelines

Most lenders have their own overlays on collection and charged-off accounts. To fund the mortgage loan, borrowers must have outstanding collections and charged-off accounts paid off before or at closing. Lenders are so paranoid about outstanding unsatisfied collection accounts because collection and charged-off accounts can turn into judgments.

There are two different layers of guidelines: Agency and the lender overlays. Many lenders have now eased mortgage standards on outstanding collection accounts where it does not have to pay.

HUD has implemented new collection account guidelines where 5% of the outstanding collection balance must be used to calculate debt-to-income ratios on non-medical collections. Medical collections are exempt from HUD guidelines. The new collection accounts mortgage standards are only for non-medical collection accounts with $2,000 or greater balances.

Best Mortgage Lenders For Bad Credit

Borrowers who need to qualify for non-QM loans or bank statement loans for self-employed borrowers can contact Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or text us for a faster response. Or email us at alex@gustancho.com. We are available seven days a week, evenings, weekends, and holidays.


Similar Posts