| Banks See Spike In Refinancing Applications
MADISON, Wis. -- Refinancing applications have surged 17 percent after interest rates dropped three-quarters of a point in the past week -- and they could go lower. VIDEO: Watch The Report But financial experts said it is important to know when it's best to refinance and if the type of loan a consumer has is even affected by this week's federal rate cut. Don Bertucci, AnchorBank's senior vice president of residential lending, said the last few days have been hectic. He said the phones have been ringing and the online applications have been coming in, all in response to this week's rate cut by the federal reserve. So, what does the 0.75 percent rate cut mean for residents? "It would affect mostly second mortgages or home equity lines of credit, where the rate is adjustable," Bertucci said.
New alarm: Option-ARM 'liar's loans'
The no-worries lending that inflated the housing bubble is resulting in a flood of soured option-ARM loans, adjustable-rate mortgages that allow borrowers to pay so little every month that their loan balances rise rather than fall, sometimes sharply.
Numbers from industry trackers suggest that these borrowers, most of whom boast respectable and often top-tier credit scores and appear to have substantial incomes and home equity, are starting to create a second tide of defaults for lenders swamped by the meltdown in subprime loans made to people with bad credit or overstretched finances.
Countrywide Financial Corp., the top option-ARM lender, will be hit hard. Already reeling from the subprime mess, Countrywide was rescued from possible bankruptcy this month by Bank of America Corp., which agreed to acquire it for about $4 billion.
Fannie Faces Trouble From Mortgage Insurers
The private mortgage insurance industry is under severe pressure from rising delinquencies and mounting losses. Now questions are swirling about how a potential blow-up in that sector will affect Fannie Mae (FNM - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr). As the largest purchaser of U.S. mortgages, Fannie Mae provides an essential backstop to the housing market. The government-sponsored entity, like its brother Freddie Mac (FRE - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), purchases mostly standard 80% loan-to-value mortgages -- those for which the homebuyer puts down 20% equity. Due to a quirk in its charter, Fannie Mae is allowed to purchase mortgages with loan-to-value, or LTV, ratios greater than 80% -- and as high as 100%. Generally, these are allowed only if the homeowner purchases mortgage insurance to cover the amount of the loan above 80%.
|
