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Down Payment Assistance Programs might be Alive & kicking??

By
Mortgage and Lending with Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

voice being heard

Well, maybe your voice has been heard.  Maybe it was the shot heard around the world. As news broke earlier today, in which there has been speculation that bill HR 3221, the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, would be overturned, bill HR 6694 made strides today. 

There are good signs stating that the down payment assistance programs, such as Nehemiah, AmeriDream, Genesis, and so many others, will be voted back in. It's not a done deal as of yet, but with the strong support from Congressman Barney Frank, who is the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has some promises on the table.  One such promise on the table is that HR 6694 would allow all borrowers with credit scores 680 and above, to be able to use the seller-funded DPA programs.  This is a huge start and a lot of this is from the support from people like you and I.

 

 

FHA & HUD

 This kind of news won't keep me from taking back Down Payment Assistance Programs in Washington D.C. tomorrow afternoon. We still need everyone's support, to make the Senate aware of the ramifications of eliminating such down payment assistance programs

Such elimination, in my opinion,  would put another severe strain on the already strained housing market. And it could add a ripple affect to those houses on the market, adding more days not sold. If you think about it, if you are moving up, someone needs to buy your home and that is usually a first time homebuyer

 

 

Conclusion :Some other things that HUD supports as a compromise to bill HR 6694 are :

  • Borrowers with credit scores from 620 to 680 could be subject to higher insurance premiums. (I personally wouldn't have a problem with this)
  • Borrowers with credit scores below 620 would be banned from using the down payment assistance program until mid 2009. ( I truly think that we could improve on this one. First off, why down to 620?  Secondly, even people with credit scores of 570 or such can still have decent credit, under FHA's credit guidelines.

 

For more on this story, you can read about it here, at Inman News. http://www.inman.com/news/2008/09/10/congress-weighs-reprieve-seller-funded-gifts

 

 

UPDATE as of 9/11 -   Mr. Belonger goes to Washington DC.

 

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Copyright © 2008 by Jeff Belonger

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Copyright © 2011 by Jeff Belonger of Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc

Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Jeff, let me know how it goes. I am so proud of you. Let's hope they do get voted back in. The credit score does seem low but it will still be available to many worthy borroweres.

Sep 09, 2008 11:39 PM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

Positive news.  Hopefully more stringent credit requirements will keep dishonest lenders at bay.

Sep 09, 2008 11:40 PM
William Collins
ERA Queen City Realty - Scotch Plains, NJ
Property and Asset Management

Jeff,

Thanks for the post. This is really promising news. Thanks for keeping ActiveRain in the loop!

Sep 10, 2008 12:05 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Hi Jeff - It was surprising to begin with that the Nehemiah, AmeriDream, Genesis programs were pulled. I suspect they will be back as well.

Sep 10, 2008 12:06 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Jeff,
Just wanted to stop by and let you know that we're behind you and cheering you on.  Sic em!

Sep 10, 2008 12:16 AM
Marc Grossman
Marc It Sold! - Longwood, FL
GRI, Greater Orlando Real Estate Broker

Jeff,  I read this article as well yesterday.  I agree with you that the elimination of these programs will create a strain on the housing market.  The problem that I see with the bill is that as of Oct. the ins. will not be risk-based and the other part is that they are already discussing loosening restraints on the assistance program as of next year.  It just concerns me that be doing so we, the taxpayers, are being set up to harness more risk. 

Sep 10, 2008 12:49 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

I just saw that late last night.  I think we owe it all to you and your Million Man March on DC.  Thanks for all you do....say yeah to the resurrection of the DPA.

 

Sep 10, 2008 01:52 AM
Joe Adams
Major Mortgage USA/Branch Manager - Montrose, CO

Jeff, great work keep it up, you have tons of support from the trenches

Sep 10, 2008 02:06 AM
Fred Chamberlin
Guild Mortgage Co - Oak Harbor WA - Oak Harbor, WA
Oak Harbor/Whidbeynulls, #1 Experienced FHA Mortgage Consultant

Great Job Jeff, thanks for taking this on for the rest of us.

Sep 10, 2008 02:49 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

If they're going to put a credit limit like 680 as a rule for these DPA, I might have to have a change of heart with being happy for them to disappear. 

Sep 10, 2008 04:18 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Jeff - THanks for the update. A lot of my recent sales have been using the DPA programs. Even though some of these people didn't have to have it, they could use their cash for other dept removal.

Sep 10, 2008 07:59 AM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

 

 

I want to thank everyone for their comments and support -  I have been very busy...  Mr. Belonger goes to Washington DC.  I will reply to all comments tonight.  Thanks, jeff

 

 

Sep 11, 2008 06:40 AM
Anonymous
Peggy Sue

Hi Jeff,

I enjoy your blogs, they're so informative. I actually commented on one of your related blogs "Are downpayment assistance programs really that bad?" I thought it was great.

I hope we hear more news soon regarding HR 6694 sooner rather than later, but this is encouraging. I have been checking www.dpagroundswell.org for updates, and listening to Scott Syphax's weekly Town Hall Meetings.

Sep 11, 2008 06:02 PM
#21
Gerry Suarez Jr.
New American Funding NMLS 6606 - Orlando, FL
FL Mortgage Guru

Jeff,

You and all those active supporters have done an excellent job of pushing this important issue. To all our AR members in Florida you can help by contacting your Senator and urging their support of the bill.

Contact information for
Senator Bill Nelson
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202 224 5274  Fax: 202 228 2183 Website: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact


Senator Mel Martinez
United States Senate
356 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202 224 3041  Toll Free: 866 630 7106  Fax: 202 228 5171
Website: http://martinez.senate.gov/public 

Every call, email or letter they receive will help our cause!

Gerry Suarez, Jr.

Your HUD Loan Pro!

Sep 12, 2008 05:30 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Jeff, I'm looking forward to a post on your D.C. trip and effort.  'Hope you had a good turnout

Sep 12, 2008 09:33 AM
Heather the Realtor Orlando, Lake Mary
LemonTree Realty - Orlando, FL
First Time Home Buyers, Bank Owned Homes

I got that email and was elated to see some progress was being made. I have my fingers crossed that the senate comes around and see what a mistake was to complete ban this program

Sep 12, 2008 09:55 AM
Tim and Pam Cash
Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN
Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

Jeff, excellent information.  I truly hope that they do something to assist buyers.  I fear that if they don't the situation will only grow worse.

Sep 12, 2008 10:20 AM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Very Cool Jeff. By the way nice new pic

Sep 12, 2008 10:54 PM
Jeff Belonger
Social Media - Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc - Cherry Hill, NJ
The FHA Expert - FHA Loans - FHA mortgages - USDA loans - VA Loans

 

I wanted to thank everyone for the polite compliments. Hopefully we'll start to hear more about this shortly...

thanks

 

 

Oct 28, 2008 09:00 AM
Robert Lowery NMLS 211598
Prosperity Mortgage - Perry Hall, MD

Well, I am definately a supporter of this program and the proposed changes.  I received some promising letters from Congress and it appears they are finally listening.

They didn't listen to us on the bailout, but maybe they will get it right this time.

Oct 28, 2008 03:30 PM