Mortgages Unlimited of Minnesota is please to announce the
Making Home Affordable Refinance Program

One of the initiatives in this program is aimed at helping responsible homeowners "refinance" their loans to take advantage of historically low interest rates.

Here are some common Questions and Answers about the Refinancing Initiative in the program.

Who is eligible?
You may be eligible if:

• You own and currently occupy a one- to four-unit home.
• Your mortgage is owned or controlled by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
• You are current on your mortgage payments.
• The amount you owe on your first mortgage is about the same or slightly less than the current value of your house.
• And, you have a stable income sufficient to support the new mortgage payments.

How do I know if my loan is owned or controlled by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac?
Simply call or email me. I'll help you determine if your mortgage is backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

I owe more than my property is worth. Do I still qualify to refinance under the Making Home Affordable Program?
Potentially eligible loans will include those where the first mortgage will not exceed 125% of the current market value of the property. For example, if your property is worth $200,000 but you owe $225,000 or less, you may qualify. The current value of your property will be determined after you apply with an appraisal.

NOTE: WE WILL NOT ALLOW OVER 105%. If you are over 105%, you must contact the company you currently make payment to.

If I am delinquent on my mortgage, do I still qualify for the Refinance Initiative?
No. But the good news is, you may qualify for the Modification Initiative. Contact the company you currently make payment at to discuss your situation and review your options.

I have both a first and a second mortgage. Do I still qualify to refinance under Making Home Affordable?
Maybe. As long as the amount due on the first mortgage is less than 125% of the value of the property, borrowers with more than one mortgage may be eligible for the Refinance Initiative. 

NOTE: This programs guidelines have changed dramatically since inception. If you previously tried refinancing and were denied, please contact us to APPLY AGAIN! (we lend in MN, and WI only)

Will refinancing lower my payments?
That depends. If your interest rate is much higher than the current market rate, you would likely see an immediate reduction in your payment amount.

However, lowering your monthly payments isn't the only criteria to think about. If you have an adjustable mortgage (ARM) or are paying interest only on your mortgage, you may not see your payment go down. BUT... you will be able to avoid future mortgage payment increases and may save a great deal over the life of the loan.

What are the terms of the refinance and what will the interest rate be?
All loans refinanced under the plan will have a 30- or 15- year term with a fixed interest rate. The interest rate will be based on market rates at the time of the refinance. Currently, interest rates are at historical lows, which makes this a good time to examine your refinancing options.

Will refinancing reduce the amount that I owe on my loan?
No. Refinancing will not reduce the principal amount you owe. However, refinancing should save you money by reducing the amount of interest that you repay over the life of the loan.

Can I get cash out to pay other debts?
No. Only transaction costs, such as the cost of an appraisal or title report may be included in the refinanced amount.

How do I apply for the Refinance Initiative?
Call 651-70-LOAN1 651-705-6261 or E-mail us today to discuss your specific situation and to examine your options. If this plan is right for you, we can begin working on your refinance immediately. You can help us help you by filling out out ONLINE APPLICATION. Remember, we lend in MN and WI only. 

As part of the discussion, we may need to look at the following information:

• Recent pay stubs to help determine your gross (before tax) household income.
• Your most recent income tax return.
• Information about any second mortgage on your house.
• Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on all of your credit cards.
• Account balances and monthly payments on all other debts, such as student loans and car loans.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss how this may specifically impact you, I'd be happy to sit down with you. Just call or E-Mail me to set up an appointment.

If you are a homeowner who is current on your mortgage payments but unable to refinance to a lower interest rate because your home value has decreased, you may be able to refinance.

Do I qualify for a Making Home Affordable refinance? Answer these questions:

1. Is your home your primary residence?
2. Do you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan? If you don’t know contact:
   • Fannie Mae,
     • 1-800-7FANNIE (8am to 8pm EST).
     • www.fanniemae.com/homeaffordable
   • Freddie Mac 
     • 1-800-FREDDIE (8am to 8pm EST)
     • www.freddiemac.com/avoidforeclosure/
3. Are you current on your mortgage payments?
    
   • “Current” means that you haven’t been more than 30-days late on your mortgage payment in the last 12 months.
4. Do you believe that the amount you owe on your first mortgage is about the same or less than the current value of your house?