Homepath Renovation Mortgage Financing Guidelines

This Article On Homepath Renovation Mortgage Financing Guidelines Was UPDATED And PUBLISHED On July 19th, 2019

The HomePath Renovation Mortgage was extremely popular at one time.

This is where a home buyer can purchase a HomePath property which are properties that are owned by Fannie Mae
HomePath homes are homes that have been foreclosed upon and are now in the ownership of Fannie Mae and the property buyer is purchasing the property from the inventory of foreclosures Fannie Mae has
Fannie Mae used to offer the HomePath Renovation Financing program which was a Conventional Loan program where the home buyer can qualify for the acquisition of the property plus the loan program for construction costs of the property

In this article, we will discuss Homepath Renovation Mortgage Financing Guidelines.

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Homepath Renovation Versus FHA 203k Loans

It was similar to an FHA 203k Loan where the home buyer could purchase a home with a very small down payment and the lender will finance both the acquisition and construction costs of in one loan.

However, HomePath Loans had higher credit and debt to income ratio standards and requirements than FHA 203k Rehab Loans
Not all lenders participated in the HomePath Renovation Financing program
To qualify for the HomePath Renovation Mortgage, the home buyer needed to purchase a HomePath Property which was a list of a foreclosed home that was owned by Fannie Mae

Unfortunately, both HomePath Renovation Morgage and HomePath Loans are no longer in existence and has been discontinued since October of 2014.

HomePath Loans

Both HomePath Loans and the HomePath Renovation Financing is no longer available since October 2014.

HomePath Loans were conventional mortgages offered by Fannie Mae where for as little as 3% down payment
A home buyer could purchase a Fannie Mae owned foreclosed property with no private mortgage insurance required
Fannie Mae HomePath Loans also had the financing which was not just the acquisition of the property but also for the construction of the project all rolled into one loan

Both the regulator HomePath Loans and HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing only offered to home buyers who qualified for a Conventional Loan. Borrowers need to have met the guidelines of the HomePath Loans financing program.

Buying A Fannie Mae Fixer Upper

Again, HomePath Loans and HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing were discontinued back in October 2014:

However, Fannie Mae HomePath properties are still around
There are also alternatives to HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing via FHA 203k Rehab Loans
A home buyer can purchase a fixer-upper that may need total gut rehab or in need of a room addition with 3.5% down payment and no closing costs
Fannie Mae never required to use Fannie Mae HomePath Loans for Fannie Mae HomePath home buyers
Homebuyers can still purchase a HomePath home, which are properties owned by Fannie Mae, with other mortgage loan programs such as an FHA, VA, or standard conventional loans

Fannie Mae also permitted and still permits to purchase a Fannie Mae HomePath home with cash.

Fannie Mae HomePath Properties

Fannie Mae has still the HomePath Property Program available:

But no longer offer the HomePath Loan Program
Fannie Mae HomePath Properties are properties that are owned by Fannie Mae where Fannie needs to sell at the best possible value
One of the issues with any properties that have been foreclosed on is that it may not be in the greatest shape
All Fannie Mae HomePath Properties are homes that either has been foreclosed by Fannie Mae or properties with Fannie Mae borrowers that have been voluntarily surrendered by the homeowner to Fannie Mae either via a deed in lieu of foreclosure, abandonment, or short sale

Fannie Mae is the seller of these properties and many times Fannie Mae will just sell the properties as-is.

Buying Foreclosed Properties

Homebuyers tend to like buying Fannie Mae properties because they think they are getting a deal when buying a fixer-upper, foreclosed property, or short sold home.

This is often not the case
Fannie Mae has a reputation of not budging with price negotiations and taking their sweet time when it comes to responding with offers from home buyers
On another note is home buyers buying foreclosed properties often do not realize that REOs tend to need a lot of work
Both Fannie Mae standard HomePath Loans and HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing no longer exists
However, homebuyers can still purchase fixer-uppers as well as foreclosed homes that is Fannie Mae owned

Buyers can get acquisition and construction financing without the availability of the HomePath Renovation Mortgage Loan Program by going with the more popular FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loan.

HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing Versus FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loans

Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing is no longer in existence.

Homebuyers of Fannie Mae owned properties now can rely on FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loans as an option for an acquisition and construction loan with a low down payment and less than perfect credit
Many Borrowers often ask me what is the difference between Fannie Mae Renovation Mortgage Financing versus FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loans

I will compare and contrast the two different mortgage loan programs below:

Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing Versus HUD FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loan Programs:

Conventional Loan Program that covered the acquisition and construction costs of a Fannie Mae owned property
Owner-occupied, second homes, and investment properties are eligible
FHA 203k Rehab Loans are HUD-approved acquisition and construction loan program all in one loan for owner-occupied properties

Down Payment Requirements With Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing Versus FHA 203k Rehab Loans:

Fannie Mae required 3% down payment of the after the completed value of the subject property on all acquisition and construction Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Programs until this program ended
HUD requires 3.5% down payment on the after improved value on all FHA Loan Programs, both FHA 203k Rehab Streamline and Standard FHA 203k Full Rehab Mortgage Program

Types Of Financing Fannie Mae Allows Versus FHA:

Again, the Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing program is no longer available for quite some time
When it was effective, Fannie Mae allowed owner occupant properties, second home financing, and investment home financing
This was one major advantage of Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing Program versus FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Program
With FHA, only occupant properties are eligible

Types Of Properties Eligible:

Both Fannie Mae and FHA mortgage loans are limited to residential properties that are one to four units
There was no mortgage insurance required with Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage Financing
Need to meet all Fannie Mae Lending Guidelines with regards to credit scores and debt to income ratios
To qualify for an FHA 203k Rehab Loan, borrowers need to meet all FHA Guidelines with regards to credit, credit scores, and debt to income ratios
FHA 203k Rehab Loans does require all of the FHA mortgage insurance premium requirements as with standard FHA Loans
1.75% upfront FHA mortgage insurance plus a 0.85$ annual mortgage insurance premium is required
Fannie Mae allows for owner occupant, second homes, and investment financing
FHA only requires owner-occupant financing

FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loans:

FHA Mortgage Loan Program that covered the acquisition and construction costs of any owner-occupied one to a four-unit property with 3.5% down payment of the after the completed value of the subject property for owner occupant properties only
Second homes and investment properties do not qualify under the FHA 203k Rehab Loan Program
There is upfront and annual FHA mortgage insurance premium required
Need to meet all HUD 4000.1 FHA Handbook Guidelines

Types Of Fannie Mae Mortgage Loans

Fannie Mae Home Path Loans are Conventional Loans offered by Fannie Mae to purchase Fannie Mae owned properties.

Although Fannie Mae HomePath Loans has been discontinued, Fannie Mae still has Fannie Mae owned properties which are available to the public
This holds true as long as the home buyers can secure their own financing
Homebuyers can buy a Fannie Mae owned property with any type of loan program as well as cash
Why does Fannie Mae own properties?
The role of Fannie Mae is to set rules and regulations on three types of loan programs

Owner Occupied Primary Residence Home Loans:

A home buyer can only purchase owner-occupied homes with FHA Loans
Second-home financing and investment home financing is not allowed with FHA Loans
Owner-occupied properties are where the property buyer is attesting to the fact that he or she will be occupying the property they are buying

Down Payment Requirements Of Fannie Mae Versus FHA:

Minimum down payment requirements for owner occupant properties that are one unit dwellings are 3% down payment for first time home buyers
5% down payment for seasoned home buyers for Conventional Loans
Two to four-unit properties that are owner occupant properties require 15% down payment or more for Conventional Loans
HUD requires a 3.5% down payment on a home purchase for owner occupant properties

Second Home Financing:

Second-home buyers can only qualify for second home financing with a Conventional Loan either via Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac
Government loans such as FHA, VA, and USDA are for owner occupant property financing only
Second-home buyers can qualify for second home financing with a Fannie Mae Conventional Loan with 10% down payment
Second-home buyers need to meet all Fannie Mae Lending Guidelines with regards to credit and debt to income ratios
Fannie Mae has specific guidelines on what classifies as second home financing

Fannie Mae Second Home Requirements:

A property home buyer cannot qualify for second home financing if they own a primary home that is equivalent in price and size
The second home purchase cannot be close proximity to their primary home
A second home to qualify for second home financing needs to be at least 100 or more miles from the second home buyer’s primary residence
If it is closer than that, the second home either needs to be a waterfront property or in a resort area
Buyers cannot qualify for second home financing if the second home purchase is down the block from your primary home and the value and square footage are the same as your primary home

Investment Property Loans:

Investment property types need to be one to four-unit residential units
Cannot be mixed-used properties where one or more of the four units are zoned commercial-like storefronts
The minimum down payment requirement for Conventional Loans on investment property financing is 15% or higher
15% down payment on a single-family home and/or one-unit investment property
More than 20% down payment on multi-unit properties, with the maximum housing unit cap being 4 units

Other Investment Property Requirements:

Besides the down payment requirement, investment property borrowers need to meet all other Fannie Mae mortgage guidelines
Guidelines that need to be met are minimum credit score requirements, credit requirements, and reserve requirements as well as the lender overlays on the particular lender who they choose
Fannie Mae will only allow up to four financed properties to be eligible for cash-out refinancing loans
If a property owner has five to ten financed properties
Fannie Mae will require the borrower to have a minimum of a 720 credit score and can only do a rate and term refinance

Buying A Fannie Mae Fixer Upper With A FHA 203k Rehab Loan

Most foreclosure properties require work and all of Fannie Mae owned homes are an inventory of foreclosed homes that Fannie Mae owns.

The most common and popular acquisition and construction loan program where a home buyer can easily qualify for are an FHA 203K Rehab Loan
With an FHA 203k Mortgage Loan, the home buyer can purchase either a fixer-upper or a Fannie Mae HomePath property that needs works
Homebuyers can get both the acquisition and construction rehab funds all in one loan with only 3.5% down payment of the after improved value of the property
With an FHA 203k Rehab Mortgage Loan, there is no limit on how much you can budget for your renovation costs
This holds true as long as it appraises out and the borrower does not go beyond the maximum FHA Loan Limits of the county where they are purchasing their property
FHA 203k Rehab Loan Specialists and can help any home buyer who is interested in buying a fixer-upper and/or Fannie Mae HomePath Propertywith a 3.5% down payment of the after improved value of the property

If you have any questions in qualifying for an FHA 203k Loan, please contact Gustan Cho Associates at 800-900-8569 or email Gustan Cho at gcho@gustancho.com.