6.5M borrowers stand to benefit from refi

July 18th, 2015 by Dickerson Nieman

Between traditional and HARP programs, approximately 6.5 million borrowers could likely both qualify for and benefit from refinancing, according to the latest Black Knight Financial Services Mortgage Monitor Report. Black Knight Data & Analytics Senior Vice President Ben Graboske explained that these refinance opportunities could result in significant monthly savings for qualifying borrowers. "By looking at current interest rates on existing 30-year mortgages and applying broad-based underwriting criteria, we found that approximately 6.1 million borrowers make good candidates for traditional refinancing," said Graboske. "An additional 450,000 meet HARP-eligibility guidelines. For both groups, the potential monthly savings could be substantial. Some 500,000 American homeowners with a mortgage could save $500 or more each month by refinancing at today's rates. "Three million could save at least $200 per month. All told, in the aggregate we're looking at about $1.5 billion dollars that American homeowners could be saving every month. It's important to remember how rate-sensitive this population is, too; if rates go up just half a percentage point, 2.6 million people fall out of that refinanceable population," he said. Leveraging data from the Black Knight Home Price Index, along with Census Bureau income figures, Black Knight also looked into the current state of home affordability. Even after two and a half years of consistent home price increases, payment-to-income ratios are still below pre-bubble levels nationally and far beneath those at the peak of the market. "Today, the principle and interest payment on a median-priced home is equivalent to 21% of median gross monthly income nationally," Graboske said. "In the years before the housing bubble that ratio was closer to 25-26 percent, and at the height of the market in 2006, it peaked as high as 33%. The monthly payment on a median-priced home is $400 less today than it was in 2006. But, if we look at an example scenario where interest rates rise by 75 basis points a year and home prices appreciate by 3% annually, the payment-to-income ratio would be at 27% by 2017. "In this scenario, the payment on the median-priced home would increase by $116 per month over the next year and $241 per month by March 2017. Overall, the impact of increasing interest rates on home affordability warrants ongoing attention," he said. "With all else being equal, a one percent increase in interest rates would impact affordability as much as a 13% jump in home prices." Read the full report here. Other key results include:

Total U.S. loan delinquency rate: 4.96%
Month-over-month change in delinquency rate: 3.95%
Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 1.49%
Month-over-month change in foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: -1.28 %
States with highest percentage of non-current loans: MS, NJ, LA, NY, ME
States with the lowest percentage of non-current loans: MT, MN, SD, CO, ND
States with highest percentage of seriously delinquent loans: MS, RI, LA, AL, AR

Article curated from Housing Wire

Categories: Real Estate Buying Tips

6.5M borrowers stand to benefit from refi

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