New HARP Guidelines for Home Owners

Recently the Federal Home Finance Agency announced significant changes to its Home Affordable Refinance Program Monday. The HARP (Home Affordable Refinance Program) was initiated to help "underwater homeowners" get their home refinanced.

There are over a million homeowners nationwide - and many home owners here in Chantilly and the Northern Virginia area - who might be helped by these changes. Given the historically low interest rates, it is wise to know about this program.

There are four basic qualifying criteria:

1. Your current home loan must be guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
2. Your home must be a 1- to 4-unit property
3. You must have a perfect mortgage payment history going back 6 months
4. You may not have had more than one 30-day late payment on your mortgage going back 12 months

One of really big features of the updated program is that the government is waiving loan-to-value requirements on HARP loans. Homeowners' participation is no longer restricted by their home's appraised value. Actually, the new HARP doesn't even require an appraisal, in most situations.

Under the new HARP program guidelines, an underwater mortgages can be refinanced without LTV limit or penalty.

According to the government's official press release, lenders are expected to be offering the program as of December 1, 2011.

If you want to check it out, start by seeing if your loan is backed by Freddie or Fannie. Here is where you can go for that:

• Fannie Mae loan lookup : http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/
• Freddie Mac loan lookup : https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/

You can also call your lender directly.

If being underwater is not an issue, but you are looking for a few reputable lending sources, of course, let me know and I will be glad to provide you with a few referrals.

If you are home buying or home selling in the Northern Virginia area, please know I am always here for you!

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]