Friday, December 12, 2008

A practical mortgage solution

Finally, a plan of sorts is being discussed to help the homeowner but that plan only addresses a small portion of the mortgage market, the new home buyer. It does nothing for the current homeowner struggling to make the payment each month. In three short paragraphs below a more comprehensive solution is proposed that will put hundreds of dollars in homeowner pockets every month and help lenders process and sell mortgages. The fastest and most effective means of dealing with the growing mortgage problems consists of basically three easy and quick steps that can be implemented in days, not weeks or months.

The government should purchase only a predetermined portion of any toxic or nonperforming mortgage package offered. This would save a part of the federal funds, give the existing lender an incentive to help solve the problem, would be easily implemented, and possibly save the government from actually managing vacant houses. For example, purchase 60% of any existing packaged portfolio of troubled properties valued at the face amount of the mortgages or the outstanding remaining equity balance, whichever is less. Any income would go first to pay the operating expense, secondly to repay some small interest to the government for participation, and thirdly to retire the entire portfolio in proportion to the percentage owned. When implemented with step two below, the government investment in each package is easily determined with no reverse auctions or appraisals necessary, does not completely bail out speculators or high risk lenders, removes a large, readily determined percentage of liabilities from lenders portfolios, and may leave in place some servicers and managers of the mortgages and properties. I doubt the government is really set up to manage vacant houses across the nation.

Reset the interest on all primary personal residential home loans made by commercial banks or conventional mortgage lenders who tender packages of mortgages (performing or non performing) to a fixed rate of 4% amortized over 30 years. This would adjust nearly all payments to a lower amount and would still give mortgage investors a return far above treasury rates. If they choose, homeowners could still make larger payments with the excess balance going toward reducing the loan amount. This would not require appraisals, renegotiations of loans, loan fees, credit reports, etc., or months of paper work: just a reamortization of the payments. It would be done across the board to every loan in any package offered beginning with the January payment. In reverse, lenders with performing books of loans could sell 40% to the government and retain 60% giving them additional money to loan as well as a majority position is performing assets. It would be popular with all but high interest lenders and would eliminate many of the complicated loan schemes being presented to borrowers. Once again the interest and term would be reset.



3. Allow anyone with an existing mortgage and good credit to refinance at 4.5% amortized over thirty years if the current lender does not offer to join the program or reset the rate. Refinancing would only be for the outstanding balance of the current loan and would not require appraisals, only a credit report and title insurance. Government sponsored loans for the purchase of a new home would also carry the same 4.5% rate. The program should run for a minimum of three years before expiring but the terms and rates of then existing loans would continue on.


Example: A mortgage loan of $300,000 at 6.5% interest amortized over 30 years requires a principal and interest payment of $1896.50 per month. At 4%, the payment is $1432.25 a savings to the homeowner of approximately $400 per month continuously with no reverse auctions, appraisals, radon checks, or excessive loan processing fees. A far better stimulus than a $600 one-time tax rebate.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Mortage solution for everyone

Since no one in government or media will listen, those of us who are taxpayers and homeowner can consider the following. If it makes sense to you, share it with your friends and congressmen.

Finally, a plan of sorts is being discussed to help the homeowner but that plan only addresses a small portion of the mortgage market, the new home buyer. It does nothing for the current homeowner struggling to make the payment each month. In three short paragraphs below a more comprehensive solution is proposed that will put hundreds of dollars in homeowner pockets every month and help lenders process and sell mortgages. The fastest and most effective means of dealing with the growing mortgage problems consists of basically three easy and quick steps that can be implemented in days, not weeks or months.

The government should purchase only a predetermined portion of any toxic or nonperforming mortgage package offered. This would save a part of the federal funds, give the existing lender an incentive to help solve the problem, would be easily implemented, and possibly save the government from actually managing vacant houses. For example, purchase 60% of any existing packaged portfolio of troubled properties valued at the face amount of the mortgages or the outstanding remaining equity balance, whichever is less. Any income would go first to pay the operating expense, secondly to repay some small interest to the government for participation, and thirdly to retire the entire portfolio in proportion to the percentage owned. When implemented with step two below, the government investment in each package is easily determined with no reverse auctions or appraisals necessary, does not completely bail out speculators or high risk lenders, removes a large, readily determined percentage of liabilities from lenders portfolios, and may leave in place some servicers and managers of the mortgages and properties. I doubt the government is really set up to manage vacant houses across the nation.

Reset the interest on all primary personal residential home loans made by commercial banks or conventional mortgage lenders who tender packages of mortgages (performing or non performing) to a fixed rate of 4% amortized over 30 years. This would adjust nearly all payments to a lower amount and would still give mortgage investors a return far above treasury rates. If they choose, homeowners could still make larger payments with the excess balance going toward reducing the loan amount. This would not require appraisals, renegotiations of loans, loan fees, credit reports, etc., or months of paper work: just a reamortization of the payments. It would be done across the board to every loan in any package offered beginning with the January payment. In reverse, lenders with performing books of loans could sell 40% to the government and retain 60% giving them additional money to loan as well as a majority position is performing assets. It would be popular with all but high interest lenders and would eliminate many of the complicated loan schemes being presented to borrowers. Once again the interest and term would be reset.



3. Allow anyone with an existing mortgage and good credit to refinance at 4.5% amortized over thirty years if the current lender does not offer to join the program or reset the rate. Refinancing would only be for the outstanding balance of the current loan and would not require appraisals, only a credit report and title insurance. Government sponsored loans for the purchase of a new home would also carry the same 4.5% rate. The program should run for a minimum of three years before expiring but the terms and rates of then existing loans would continue on.


Example: A mortgage loan of $300,000 at 6.5% interest amortized over 30 years requires a principal and interest payment of $1896.50 per month. At 4%, the payment is $1432.25 a savings to the homeowner of approximately $400 per month continuously with no reverse auctions, appraisals, radon checks, or excessive loan processing fees. A far better stimulus than a $600 one-time tax rebate. This would help many thousands of homeowners, both those in financial trouble and everyone else who is simply paying too much for a loan in todays economy.