NEW FANNIE MAE RULES FOR MORTGAGE FINANCING, another view.

WILL THE NEW FANNIE MAE RULES REALLY OFFER ANY HOPE FOR CONSUMERS??? 

My experience working with home buyers for many years says," NO".

John Mulkey brings news of new Fannie Mae rules for consumers who have experienced foreclosure, short sale or "deed in lieu of".  See:  New Fannie Mae Policy May Offer Hope To Struggling Homeowners

This is like throwing a few crumbs to a herd of Buffalo.  A few will benefit, but the herd will starve. 

Once a consumer's credit has been impaired to the degree that a foreclosure, short sale or "deed in lieu of" hits their credit report, the interest rates they'll have to pay for any credit will necessarily limit the availability of any future credit.

The most significant limitation to mortgage qualification is the amount of the down payment required.  The ability of a consumer to finance real estate is directly related to the cash required to close.  For every uptick in the interest rate charged or down payment required, the number of consumers who qualify for mortgage approval is reduced. 

This is fine for the folks who live by the "skin in the game" mantra.  However, IMO, the concomitant limitations on the availability of credit is what is going to cause the housing industry to remain moribund for a decade or more.  Fannie Mae may be offering crumbs to future buyers today, but the benefit to most who have a foreclosure, short sale or "deed in lieu of" on their credit report will be negligible, as has been any of the previous "brain storms" of the Fannie Mae functionaries who haven't a clue of what makes the housing industry tick. 

The dynamics of mortgage finance is far more complicated than offering a "window of opportunity" to consumers who have multiple barriers to mortgage fiannce.  These new "rules" are far more exclusive than they are inclusive. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

                                         

"I see that you sold your previous home by Short Sale.  You'll have to increase the down payment for your new home purchase from 10% to 20%. 

Based on your savings rate, you should be able to buy a home in about 5 years."