[Bruce]

What are Compensating Factors?

Compensating factors are strong borrower factors that minimize the lender’s risk. Compensating factors play an important role in manual underwriting for mortgage applicants, and mortgage underwriters have much discretion in manual underwriting.

Compensating factors are positive features of a borrower’s financial record that counterbalance higher-risk aspects in a mortgage application, such as a high debt-to-income ratio or low credit score.

Importance in Mortgage Lending:

Compensating factors can help borrowers qualify for a mortgage they may not be approved for otherwise. Some common factors include:

• Considerable Cash Reserves.
• Stable Employment History.
• Large Down Payment.
• Low Payment Shock

Lenders use these factors to allow loans that do not meet standard guidelines but ensure the borrower has additional financial strengths.

Common Compensating Factors Recognized by Mortgage Lenders:

Substantial Cash Reserves: Having saved multiple months’ worth of mortgage payments.

Large Down Payment: Contributing a higher percentage towards the purchase price lowers lender risk.

Stable Employment History: Consistent and long-term employment.

Longevity and History of Promotion: Borrowers with a history of getting consistent raises and promotions are considered compensating factors. For example, if a person went from a security guard to a police officer and were promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, colonel, and deputy chief, this would be considered a compensating factor.

Minimal Payment Shock: The new housing payment is similar to the current one.

Residual Income: Extra money left over after all bills have been paid.

Part-Time Job Not Used As Qualified Income: If a borrower has a second job, part-time income, or other income that has been seasoned for at least 12 months and not used as qualified income, that income will be considered a compensating factor.

Low Debt Utilization: Low balances on credit accounts.

No matter how weak certain sections of their application may appear. These compensating factors can help them secure one anyway.

[Bruce]

HUD guidelines on debt-to-income ratio is 46.9% on for front-end DTI and 56.9% back-end debt-to-income ratio on automated underwriting system approved borrowers. HUD allows manual underwriting on FHA loans for borrowers who get a refer/eligible per automated underwriting system. Or high debt-to-income ratio borrowers with an approve/eligible can be down graded to a manual underwrite by the mortgage underwriter using underwriter discretion. On manual underwriting, the debt-to-income ratio is 31% front-end and 43% back-end with no compensating factor. 37% front-end and 47% back-end debt-to-income ratio with one compensating factor. 40% front-end and 50% back-end with two compensating factors. Mortgage underwriters can allow higher debt-to-income ratio than the above using underwriter discretion. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maximum debt-to-income ratio is 50% on conforming loans for borrowers with 700 credit scores and higher. Borrowers with under 700 credit scores, the maximum debt-to-income ratio on conventional loans is 45%. There is no front-end debt-to-income ratio on conventional loans.

[Bruce]

What is a Mortgage Loan Application?

A mortgage loan application is complete when the lender has received six pieces of information:

• The applicant’s name
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Income
• Property address
• Estimated value of the property and loan amount

Once these are provided, the lender must deliver a Loan Estimate.

Loan Estimate (LE)

The Loan Estimate is a 3-page form explaining your mortgage’s key terms and costs.

Rules & Regulations

Lenders must provide applicants with a Loan Estimate within three business days of their application. The LE includes specifics about interest rates, monthly payments, closing costs, and possible rate changes.

Process

Submission: Submit the required information.

Loan Estimate Issuance: Delivered within three business days.

Review & Shop: Compare offers before moving forward.

This process promotes transparency and lets you understand your options before committing to anything.

[Bruce]

You were right to bring these up. The current housing market is tough for many potential buyers. Here are the points you made and what they mean:

Housing prices going up:

• Prices have doubled since 2019, which has made it much harder to afford them.
• This is not sustainable over time.

Mortgage rates being high:

• They’re at 7.5%, the highest they’ve been in a long time.
• So monthly payments are much more expensive.
• This reduces how much people can spend on houses.

Inflation being high:

• It’s eating away at what people can buy.
• Saving for a down payment is now even harder.

Homeowners insurance costs going up:

• They have increased by 500%, greatly contributing to owning a home.
• People don’t think about that when budgeting.

Property taxes increasing:

• These keep adding to what homeowners have to pay every year.
• It can hurt in places where homes are gaining value quickly.

What This Means For Home Buyers:

Affordability Crisis:

• Prices and rates have put most homes out of reach for average people.
• Compared with what we make, monthly payments on a typical house are higher than they’ve ever been

Should I wait or should I buy?:

• Buyers fear waiting too long and finding worse conditions.
• Or acting now only to see prices drop later.
• You might miss out, versus you might overpay.

The Market Is Changing Up:

• Some areas where values rose fastest are starting to cool off.
• More stuff is available than before in many parts of town.

Should I think long-term or short-term?:

• Short-term market changes aren’t a big deal if someone plans to live somewhere forever.
• But if they want in/out quickly, that’s riskier.
• Long-term buyers vs short-term buyers/investors.

Advice For Potential Home Buyers:

Assess Your Situation First Thing:

• Job stability, savings, plans.
• Rent vs buy in your area.

Don’t Overextend Yourself: Use the old 28-30% housing cost-to-income ratio. Remember, increased insurance and taxes, too.

Timing Is Key: Some experts think prices in certain cities might soon fall back down. That said, market timing is mostly luck-based.

Look At Everything: Check out what first-timer home programs you might qualify for. Consider fixer uppers/less competitive markets.

Be Ready For A Bargain: Get your financial life together so you can act on it immediately when the right place arises. This means having a good credit score and being pre-approved for a loan.

Think Long Term: If it will be your forever house, don’t worry too much about what happens today or tomorrow.

Also, consider living in them instead of treating homes like investments only.

Stay Sharp:

• Keep an eye on what houses nearby are selling for/how fast.
• Interest rates could change at any time.
• New laws could hit housing anytime, too.
• Stay woke.
• It’s worth remembering that all real estate is local.
• National trends matter, but every city and neighborhood has its happenings.
• Make sure to research where exactly you want to buy.
• Talk to people who work in those areas before deciding.

It’s hard right now, but this game will reward you if you come in correctly. It always does. Make sure whatever you’re doing makes sense based on who you are and what you want. Not because somebody told you they knew where the market was headed.

[Bruce]

rMotgage lenders may use lender credit to help borrowers with their closing costs. This is what you need to know about them:

Definition: A lender credit is money the mortgage lender gives to pay for some or all of the borrower’s closing costs.

How it works: If you accept a higher interest rate on your mortgage, the lender agrees to cover part of your closing expenses. This means that while you’ll have lower upfront charges, monthly payments over the life of your loan will be more expensive.

Amount of credit: It can be anything from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand, depending on the size of the loan and the interest rate increase.

Interest rate trade-off: For every 0.25% your interest rate increases, expect around 1% of credit relative to the borrowing amount.

For example: On $200k borrowed at 3.5%, a 0.25% increase would give $2k in credits.

Benefits: Less money is required when finalizing the purchase. Assists people who are tight on cash but can handle slightly elevated monthly payments. This is especially helpful in hot markets where sellers like buyers with lower closing costs.

Considerations: Higher rates mean larger monthly sums paid out as well as more total interest across the loan lifetime. It is not ideal for those not intending to move from this property anytime soon.

Calculation example: Without lender credit:

Loan amount: $200,000

Interest rate: 3.5%

Monthly payment: $898

Closing costs: $5,000 (paid by borrower)

With lender credit:

Loan amount: $200,000

Interest rate: 3.75% (0.25% higher)

Monthly payment: $926 ($28 per month more)

Closing costs: $3,000 ($2,000 paid by lender)

When it’s most useful: When funds are low for closing.

In a seller’s market, reducing your closing costs strengthens the offer.

If you plan to sell or refinance within a few years.

How to get a lender credit: Ask the lender about credits.

Get offers from different lenders and compare.

Work out terms that give enough credit without sacrificing too much in rate.

Alternative to paying points: Lender credits are essentially the opposite of paying discount points

Instead of paying to lower your rate, you’re accepting a higher rate for upfront savings. Remember, choose what’s best for you based on how this fits into your financial situation, how long until the out date, and your ability to cover upfront costs. Always calculate eventual expenses versus immediate gains.

[Bruce]

This is a serious allegation regarding property tax assessments in Jackson City, Missouri. Here’s an overview of the situation and some potential steps for homeowners:

1. Understanding the issue:
2. Property tax assessment fraud involves deliberately inflating property values to increase tax revenue.
3. This can result in homeowners paying unfairly high property taxes.
4. Potential impacts:
5. Higher property taxes for homeowners
6. Reduced affordability in the area
7. Potential legal issues for the city if proven
8. Steps for homeowners: a) Verify the assessment:
9. Compare your property’s assessed value to similar properties in the area
10. Check for any errors in the property description or classification

b) File an appeal:

11. Most jurisdictions have a formal appeal process for property tax assessments
12. Gather evidence to support your claim of overvaluation

c) Seek professional help:

13. Consider hiring a property tax consultant or real estate attorney
14. They can help navigate the appeal process and provide expert testimony if needed

d) Contact local representatives:

15. Reach out to city council members or county commissioners
16. Organize with other affected homeowners to bring attention to the issue

e) Report to higher authorities:

17. If fraud is suspected, contact the Missouri State Auditor’s Office
18. Consider reaching out to state-level elected representatives
19. Legal considerations:
20. If widespread fraud is proven, it could lead to class-action lawsuits
21. Individual homeowners might have grounds for legal action if they can prove deliberate overvaluation
22. Long-term solutions:
23. Advocate for more transparent assessment processes
24. Push for regular audits of the assessor’s office
25. Support measures to improve oversight of property tax assessments
26. Media attention:
27. Consider contacting local media to investigate and report on the issue
28. Increased public awareness can put pressure on officials to address the problem

Remember, while it’s important to address unfair assessments, it’s also crucial to ensure that any allegations of fraud are well-substantiated. Homeowners should focus on gathering concrete evidence and following proper legal and administrative channels to address their concerns.

If you’re personally affected by this situation, consider consulting with a local real estate attorney or property tax expert who can provide advice tailored to your specific circumstances and the local laws in Jackson City, Missouri.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  Sapna Sharma.

[Bruce]

What industry are you able to lend ?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Sapna Sharma.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by  Sapna Sharma.

[Bruce]

The Chicago area has seen various variations in property tax reassessments from county to county. Some saw big jumps, while others remained calm.

Cook County: For the first time in 30 years, Cook County’s South and Southwest suburbs have been hit with enormous property tax increases during this reassessment period. In these areas, the business share of total taxes fell by 4%, shifting it onto residential properties, whose owners now pay over four times more than their counterparts in similarly valued homes elsewhere in Chicago (e.g., Ford Heights). The average bill has climbed to $6,117 after adding up all taxed properties within its boundaries, representing about $706 million in additional revenue for local governments across the board​ (WTTW News)​​ (Cook County Assessor)​.

Moderate Increases:

Kane County: Homeowners living there experienced moderate increases, but no specific information on the percentage was given.

Kendall County: Unlike Cook County, where different factors were at play, leading to higher assessments, the equalization factors increased by Kendall did not change from 1.0000, meaning nothing much changed concerning property tax assessment for this year (Hoodline).

DeKalb County: Proposed tax hikes over the rollback millage rate showed an increase of 11.08% due to increased demand for local services delivery coupled with infrastructural development needs​ (Dekalb County, GA)​​.

General Trends:

DuPage McHenry Will Grundy Lake Counties: These counties are usually assessed every few years. Although the reviewed sources did not provide exact details about their recent changes, it is worth noting that such periodic reviews can result from shifts in either market values or budgets required to meet operational costs at various levels, including schools, districts, municipalities, etcetera.

Commercial Property Owners’ Successful Appeals Shifted Tax Burden toward Residential Properties. The primary reason homeowners have borne a heavier burden during these difficult financial times is that commercial property owners successfully appealed their assessed values, thus shifting taxes away from businesses onto houses instead​ (Cook County Assessor).

Rising housing prices coupled with post-pandemic realignment brought about reopening after COVID-19 closures forced many people out into cheaper neighborhoods. Supply exceeded demand, driving up costs again as investors sought rentals rather than flips to make quick profits. However, wages stagnated behind inflationary pressures pushed up by easy money policies adopted globally since the 2008 financial crisis began unraveling slowly but surely, exposing structural weaknesses built up over decades. Unsustainable booms and bust cycles always end badly eventually, so buckle down and prepare yourself because winter is coming!

[Bruce]

Important Information and Strategies Regarding Illinois Property Taxes.

Illinois Property Tax Cap

Illinois does not impose a statewide cap on how much property taxes can rise yearly, but some counties and municipalities have their limits. For example, in certain areas, the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) restricts increases in property tax extensions to either 5% or the inflation rate, whichever is lower.

Age-Based Property Tax Exemptions

In Illinois, seniors are entitled to exemptions from property taxes, which only partially eliminate those taxes. The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption reduces the equalized assessed value of a home owned by persons aged 65 years or older. Under the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Exemption, the assessed value can be frozen if household income falls below certain levels.

Although there is no age at which all types of property tax are stopped, individuals may significantly reduce their financial obligations towards such payments.

Fighting Against High Property Tax Reassessment

To contest an assessment made on your property by Cook County Board’s Assessor, please follow these steps:

• Review Assessment Notice: Check that everything mentioned within it is correct.
• File an Appeal: Lodge your appeal with either the Cook County Assessor’s Office or the Board of Review before the deadline expires.
• Gathering Evidence: Take recent sale prices of comparable properties along with descriptions and pictures as proof.
• Professional Help: If necessary, hire a consultant specializing in real estate law who will guide you through this process​ (Home Buying Institute).

Effects Of A 41 Percent Increase By The Cook County Assessor’s Office

A huge jump like 41 percent might mean massive changes in what will eventually appear on our bills unless something else happens. This includes such as adjusting rates accordingly when necessary. This could otherwise lead us into trouble since we would be forced to pay more than we should have otherwise.

For instance, let’s say that my house was previously valued at $200k. It’s worth $282k after reassessment, so I will have a higher tax bill because the state doesn’t care whether I can afford it.

Why Do Property Values And Taxes Go Up?

There are various reasons behind these phenomena. This includes increased market values caused by high demand coupled with favorable conditions for buyers and sellers alike. Local governments are spending much money, mainly on taxes, against their jurisdictions’ real estate holdings. Periodic reviews are done periodically, and appraisers update records reflecting changes over time regarding fair market value estimates applicable throughout the area served by said assessor office(s) involved today.

Chicago Suburbs Homeowners Impact

The reassessment should see significant property tax bills increase from homeowners around cities such as Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This is because they reflect rising costs associated with providing public services needed due mainly to growing populations residing therein together with other factors too numerous mention here but obvious nonetheless.

Options If You Can’t Afford The Increase

Some counties allow people who cannot afford steep hikes in their annual tax payment options to be available through a limited scope. Options include installing installment plans. Installment plans work when one pays off debt gradually over time instead of all at once upfront. Additionally, perks provided under various programs specifically targeting low-income households should be explored before considering selling off valuable assets acquired through hard work over many years. The only option left would involve moving out altogether. Moving out isn’t an ideal situation for anybody who wants to find themselves facing ever again after realizing what happened next door neighbors last summer. Last summer when prices skyrocketed overnight without warning signs anywhere near-visible and anywhere near during daylight hours. Either way, we possibly avoid becoming victims ourselves. As long we keep our eyes peeled and watch closely for any changes happening around constantly vigilant and always ready to act fast before it’s too late​.

Avoiding Paying Property Taxes In Illinois is Completely Impossible.

However, There Are Ways To Manage the Burden. One example is moving somewhere cheaper and lifestyle changes.

National Property Tax Comparison

Few states can match Illinois’ property tax rates, the primary source of funds for local services and education​​.

Owner-Occupant vs. Investment Property Taxes

Owner-occupant: Can qualify for homestead exemptions and other relief.

Investment property: Typically taxed at a higher rate without owner-occupant exemptions.

In Summary of Reassessment of Property Values in Illinois

For homeowners in Cook County and other high-tax areas of Illinois, understanding property taxes is important. Awareness of reassessment procedures, available exemptions, and appeal options will help reduce your overall tax burden.

It’s best to consult with a lawyer or professional specializing in property taxes to get specific advice tailored to your case.