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NO DOWN PAYMENT? FOR MODERATE PRICED HOME BUYERS - THINK ABOUT THE USDA 102% LOAN.

By
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

WHEN YOU HEAR TALK ABOUT THE EVIL 100%, ASK THE LOAN OFFICER IF THEY ARE USDA APPROVED?

Often we hear, this or that isn't a good loan, usually a government loan, investigation will ofen show that that mortgage is not USDA or VA or FHA approved.

GET THE FACTS:  "Despite the lack of a required down payment, USDA loans historically have the lowest default rate among government-insured loans. The current first-year default rate for USDA loans is 2.5 percent, compared with 7.5 percent for VA and 10 percent for FHA".  More. . . . .

IT'S A HOME.  The problem with the housing market isn't the little guy that needs a shelter for himself and his family. 

NO, IT'S A HOUSING MARKET.  The problem with the housing market is that the big guys turned housing into a "market".

YOU FEED MY PAC AND I WON'T TRIM YOUR HEDGE!  The problem with the housing market is the Wall Street Gangs that turned housing into a securities market and the government law makers and regulators who were bribed to enable them to do so.

HOME OWNERS AREN'T THE MARKET MAKERS.  If "putting some skin in the game" will save the housing market, how to you explain the millions of home owners who put 5-10-20% down and watched "the market" wipe out their investment in their home? 

SPECIAL TODAY, HOUSING PARTS!!  The secondary market that offered loans with high qualifying ratios, little to no documentation, no brainer automatic underwriting, investors that were hungry for loans to chop up and sell as securities to hungry investors who wanted more, more, more were the cause. 

If the demand for more and easier MBSs hadn't existed by the Wall Street Gangs, normal underwriting would have protected the investors, the buyers and the lenders.  Of course, the tax payer has paid out about $3.5Trillion to cover the Wall Street losses. 

PARTS

                                                                              Originally published on June 13, 2007

THE PROBLEM WAS THE 100% LOANS??  Shucks, we've got an entire millions of home owners who did invest 5-10-20% CASH down payments and now they they owe more than the value of their home.  How did that work out for them?  They'd have been better off to save their cash.  At least they'd have cash in the bank to make their payments. 

Blaming the little guy is easy.  They can't fight back. 

Blaming the USDA loans is easy too.  Just let them rent.  Which is what an additional 6-8% of the consumer is going to have to do.  They just went through a foreclosure or short sale.  They couldn't buy an outhouse.  They'll be feeding the investor class with rent money. 

Now that the government has made 100% financing almost impossible, investors are eating the foreclosures up like candy and rents are going up like elevators in a New York skyscraper.  $Cha-ching!! 

THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WON'T BE BACK for a long time.  The little guy will have his revenge. 

The 20 Million or so of home owners who can't sell now won't be buying real estate or making any new mortgage loans for years to come

The 10 Million who have been foreclosed will not be in the housing market or making any new mortgage loans for years to come.

The 20 Million who are making high mortgage payments won't be buying automobiles, sofas, tuition, vacations or anything but shelter and necessities for years to come.

Yeah!  Blaming the little guy is easy.  They can't fight back. 

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

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Comments(39)

Jim Valentine
RE/MAX Realty Affiliates - Gardnerville, NV

Lenn - We have closed and are closing USDA loans and they are a great thing. It isn't the 100% aspect that is the problem, it is the integrity of the borrower.  The stated income 100% loans were what got us here, not the earnest borrower looking to move to the rurals.  Prices are low - part of the problems with the many defaults.  Whether you have 100% LTV, or 80% LTV, when the market drops 40-50% you are still upside down.  Its a matter of job security and integrity whether or not you stick.  It is an individual decision - not a "class" decision.  Thanks for sticking up for the little guy - the homes mean so much more to them than the big guy.  I'm sure you've seen the sheer joy in their faces when they really buy a home.

May 23, 2009 03:43 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTORĀ®/Broker/Designer

Lenn... YOU MISSED THE ENTIRE POINT OF JASON'S POST!!!!

Please, go back and read it slooooowwwwwllllyyyy this time. He is promoting the product as a smart choice for many americans. Goodness Lenn, you should know what an ass goof-off he can be by now. He was being ironic. Simple as that.

Aside from that slip, you nailed it when you say the renting class is now living in investor prisons. It's so sad, but so true. Rather than living in NY skyscrapers, Jason is simply suggesting moving back on the farm ;)

May 23, 2009 03:46 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Andrea.  I can't figure Sardi's post either.  If he believes that USDA loans are bad, why offer them?

Lenn - A lot of times you've said that you have no idea what I'm saying in the prose I put out there.  When I read your comment this morning, I had little in the way of an idea on what you meant.  I commented back, just because.  Then, of course, I came upon this post.  I don't think you read mine.  You may have perused it, but you didn't read it.  I was advocating USDA Loans, not admonishing them as some unholy beast that was unleashed into the mortgage world.  I'm a staunch advocate for the "little guy".  You know why?  One of the reasons is that I am one... for now.  You don't need to like my humor Lenn, just try to understand it before you start pontificating about things that have little merit in the way of my ideology in this biz.  Read it before you write about it.  I should know such.  I've written many things before I actually read the inspiration behind them.

 

May 23, 2009 03:49 AM
Regina P. Brown
MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA
M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Lenn, good post.  I agree that the housing market increase/decrease is driven primarily by greed, not by housing (or need thereof).  A sad commentary on our economy.

May 23, 2009 04:52 AM
Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Lenn, Besides the misundestanding of Jason's post I completely agree with you that the USDA loan is a great loan product. The are very popular in my market and have been for years.
May 23, 2009 05:09 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Right on, Lenn! This is a topic I feel passionate about and you expressed my feelings perfectly.

May 23, 2009 06:14 AM
Ken Montville
RE/MAX United Real Estate - College Park, MD
The MD Suburbs of DC

There are a ton of responsible home owners that are now trapped in their homes unable to sell because of the declining values bought on by the "Wall Street Gangs". It's a real shame.

May 23, 2009 06:51 AM
Alexander Harb
Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX
Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

I believe this post should be featured, Lenn...and I am flagging it as such......

You put a LOT of good points to the fore.....

The people who made those stupid loans AND the ones who made those
loans into investment packages should be SHOT...

AWESOME post, Lenn!!

May 23, 2009 07:03 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Lenn,

Solid points all across. Yep, if the mortgage-backed securities business concocted by Wall Street had been better controlled, this mess wouldn't have happened at all.

May 23, 2009 07:30 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn, I followed you link and read Jason's Post, you two are on the same page. The risk of writing a Post in the manor that Jason did, is that people will misunderstand the point that is being made, I almost did that myself, take another look at it.

I have always been an advocate of 100% financing as long as it was accompanied by some reserves in the bank.  It is clearly in my opinion to have money in the bank as a back up then put everything down on a downpayment.

We still have VA, and CHFA, besides USDA here in Connecticut that we can offer 100% financing with.  First Time Homebuyers make up the largest percentage of my loans, so I make use of these programs, as well as FHA (because of its low downpayment requirement)  every chance I can.

May 23, 2009 09:33 AM
Laraine Shape
Comey & Shepherd Realtors - Glendale, OH
Selling Cincinnati...one kitchen at a time

Lenn - "THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WON'T BE BACK for a long time."  Lenn Harley.  Um...what's your point, lady?  We made a ton of money and will continue to do so for years to come, just as we always have.  Be patient.  Before you know it we'll be unveiling our global "cure" for the housing and economic problems we're faced with today.  And don't be surprised if it includes international finance police and a global currency!  Won't that be fun?  Sincerely, Big Bankers.  Laraine

May 23, 2009 10:25 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

I have not read Sardi's post as some other commenters. Fascnating comment thread, read every comment. Donlt think I would disagree on any of the points, but enjoyed your skill in making it interesting to others to read and comment

May 23, 2009 03:31 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jon.  I misread Jason's post.  No excuses.

Laraine.  Mmmmm.  I've heard suggestions about that "global currency".  I've heard suggestions about that "one world government" from the same sources.

George.  Thanks.  You're doing the right thing helping folks acquire real estate ownership.  They'll thank you for years.

Esko.  If we saw it, why did the government throw the home owners under the bus????

Alexander.  Thanks.  Not many features for me.  I rely on my wonderful subscribers.

 

May 23, 2009 09:35 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Ken.  Thank you.  Thank you.  If only we were in charge.

Maria.  Thanks.  I've been beating this drum for two years now.

Bryant.  Indeed, I completely misread Jason's post.  I've apologized.  No more I can do. 

Regina.  Indeed.  The lack of regulation just gave the market to the Wall Street Gangs and we are witnessing the damage that can cause when they're let loose.

 

May 23, 2009 09:39 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jason.  I did read your post and it flew right over my head.  I've apologized publicly.  No more I can do. 

Jennifer.  You are right.  I did go back and reread it.  I was wrong.  I've apologized. 

Jim.  Indeed.  Folks who never thought they could enjoy their own home are the most pleased when they do.

Maureen.  Most of our area is not elegible.  However, they are very popular on the Eastern Shore of MD and in some rural counties closer to DC.

C.  If home sellers are represented by good listing agents who can read comps, no one is going to strip them of equity.  Many investment buyers out there are trying to do just that.  Don't let them.

Missy.  Take longer and require more paperwork is worth the work when it's the only loan that will work.

Don.  I was wrong about the message in Jason's post.  I changed the info in mine and focused on the real causes of the mortgage mess.

Patricia.  HA!  The first time I went up in an elevator in a skyscraper in NY, I thought we'd go right through the roof.  I didn't believe the thing could possibly stop.  I was used to the crawling elevators in DC. 

Mike.  Right you are.  I misread Jason's post.  Probably not the first time.

Julie.  You make a good point.  USDA loans are not for folks with poor credit.

Gail.  Easy.  The loan officers do all the work.  Actually, few in my market even do them.  The ones who do . . . . . .

 

 

 

May 23, 2009 09:51 PM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTORĀ®/Broker/Designer

It's ok Lenn, we just figured you had hit the sauce a bit early ;-) But then it's a holiday weekend, so why not??

May 24, 2009 12:28 AM
Ann Heitland
Retired from RE/MAX Peak Properties - Flagstaff, AZ
Retired from Flagstaff Real Estate Sales

Inspite of all the "yelling," this is a thoughtful, analytic post. Thanks.

May 24, 2009 07:50 AM
Laurie Mindnich
Centennial, CO

Lenn, I read an article recently slamming the 0/low down programs. It was in a highly regarded magazine. All I could think was, do you REALLY believe, after all the years of successful FHA and VA loans, that qualified borrowers have suddenly "changed"? Out of nowhere, they're suddenly irresponsible? Clearly, the author was misinformed, jumping on a bandwagon with no comprehension of the REAL culprit (lack of income verified via stated, fine print, ratios out the window, etc., etc. ETC.). Excellent assessment on your part, as usual- you had your eye on this WELL before the "media experts".

May 26, 2009 08:44 AM
Amanda Evans
DFW Living - Fort Worth, TX
Real Estate Broker - Fort Worth Texas

I think we should all hit the sauce. 

May 26, 2009 02:02 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Jennifer.  I don't know what time I posted that article.  My brain functions better at some times of the day.

Laurie.  Indeed.  When I hear that tired old "skin in the game" I want to ask the writer if they know the default rates of VA or USDA loans.  Of course, they do not.

Ann.  Thanks.  I try.

Amanda.  When???

May 27, 2009 11:21 PM