CHANGES TO KENTUCKY FHA STREAMLINE REFINANCE TRANSACTIONS.

In order to be in compliance with HUD Mortgagee Letter 2009-32, the following changes
to Kentucky  FHA Streamline Refinances will be effective for new case numbers assigned on or
after November 17, 2009. Please review the new maximum insurable mortgage
calculations below.

**** Revised Streamline Refinance Transactions WITHOUT an Appraisal ****
The maximum insurable mortgage cannot exceed:
• The outstanding principal balance* (from payoff) minus the applicable
refund of the UFMIP,
PLUS
• The new UFMIP that will be charged on the refinance.
**Closing cost cannot be included in the new maximum loan amount.
****Revised Streamline Transaction WITH an Appraisal****
The maximum insurable mortgage is the lower of:
1) Outstanding principal balance* minus the applicable refund of UFMIP, plus
closing costs, prepaid items to establish the escrow account and the new
UFMIP that will be charge on the refinance;
OR
2.) 97.75 percent of the appraised value of the property plus the new UFMIP that
will be charged on the refinance.
Discount points may not be included in the new mortgage. If the borrower
has agreed to pay discount points, the lender must verify the borrower has the
assets to pay them along with any other financing costs that are not included in
the new mortgage amount.
* Outstanding principle balance for the above calculations is defined as the principle balance of the loan
and may include interest charged by the servicing lender when the payoff is not received on the first day of
the month but may not include delinquent interest, late charges or escrow shortages.

The following changes apply for Kentucky FHA Streamline loans with or without appraisal:
A.) Seasoning – At the time of loan application, the borrower must have made at least 6
payments on the FHA-insured mortgage being refinanced.

B.) Payment History – Current mortgage must be 0x30 in the last 12 months or for the life of the loan if loan is < 12 months old and > 6 months old. ) If borrower has less than 12 month history on current loan and has a previous consecutive mortgage, that mortgage must be 0x30 up to the 12 months required.

C.) Net Tangible Benefit – The lender must determine that there is a net tangible benefit
as a result of the streamline refinance transaction, with or without an appraisal. The
transaction must meet FHA  net tangible
benefit.

For FHA Net tangible benefit is defined as:
1.) A reduction in the total mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and
insurances, HOA fees, ground rents special assessments and all
subordinate liens): The new total mortgage payment is 5% lower than the
total mortgage payment for the mortgage being refinanced. Example: Total
mortgage payment on the existing FHA mortgage is $895; the total mortgage
payment for the new FHA mortgage must be $850 or less.
2.) Refinancing from an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed rate
mortgage: The interest rate on the new fixed mortgage will be no greater
than 2 percentage points above the current rate of the one-year arm. For
hybrid ARMs, the total mortgage payment on the new fixed rate mortgage may
not increase by more than 20%. Example: total mortgage payment on the
hybrid ARM is $895; the total mortgage payment for the new fixed rate
mortgage must be $1,074 or less.
3.) Reducing the term of the mortgage: For transactions that include a
reduction in the mortgage term, that loan must be underwritten and closed as
a rate and term (no cash-out) refinance transaction.
D.) Employment – Streamline refinances must now include evidence of employment and
include a verbal (must be on 1003).
E.) Assets – If there are any closing cost to be paid at close, verification of funds to close
must be included in the file submission.
F.) The file must also include the pay-off statement.
G.) Maximum Combined Loan to Value –
Kentucky Mortgage guidelines will remain at
100% CLTV.)
• For streamline refinance transactions WITHOUT an appraisal, the CLTV is
based on the original appraised value of the property.
• For streamline refinance transactions WITH an appraisal, the CLTV is based on
the new appraised value. H.)TOTAL Scorecard – Lenders should not use TOTAL on streamline refinance
transactions. If a lender uses TOTAL, that loan must be underwritten and closed
as a rate and term (no cash-out) refinance transaction.
I.) Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) – Mortgagees may no longer use
an abbreviated version of the URLA. Due to various disclosure requirements and
our long-standing belief that borrowers are best served when certifications they must
make are divulged as early as possible in the loan application process, the
application for mortgage insurance must be signed and dated by the borrower(s)
before the loan is underwritten. Mortgagees are permitted to process and underwrite
the loan after the borrowers and interviewer complete the initial URLA and initial
form HUD-92900A, HUD/VA Addendum to Uniform Residential Loan
Application.

Click here for revised FHA Refinance Grid.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement,