• Income limits – General income limit of 80% of area median income (AMI) to align with Fannie Mae’s housing goals. Eligibility is also provided for properties located in low-income census tracts with no borrower income limits, and up to 100% of AMI for properties located in high minority census tracts or designated disaster areas.
• First-time homebuyer – The requirement that at least one borrower must be a first time home buyer has been removed for one-unit principal residence loans with LTV ratios greater than 95% up to 97%.
• Non-occupant co-borrowers – Now permitted for qualifying purposes.
• Rental income – Rental income from an accessory unit may be considered in qualifying the borrower.
• Manufactured housing – One-unit manufactured home properties will be permitted as an eligible property type for principal residence transactions. The maximum LTV and CLTV ratios for manufactured housing apply.
• Renovation – HomeStyle Renovation mortgages will be permitted for principal residence transactions. The maximum LTV and CLTV ratios for HomeStyle Renovation apply.

Requirements:

• An accessory unit is a separate dwelling (as identified by the appraisal) with a kitchen and bathroom
• Income generated from an accessory unit can be considered as rental income under HomeReady in accordance with standard rental income guidelines

An accessory unit is a separate dwelling independent of the primary dwelling unit that must be identified by the appraisal report. It includes a fully functioning kitchen and bathroom. Income generated from an accessory unit can be considered as rental income under HomeReady in accordance with the standard rental income guidelines.

Fannie Mae’s HomeReady loan program, introduced at the end of last year as their enhanced affordable lending product aimed at low to moderate income borrowers, is now accepting, with proper documentation, earnings from accessory units and borders as a part of qualifying income.

See our scenarios for examples

Requirements:

• Up to 30% of qualifying income can come from boarder income
• Borrower must provide documentation for at least 9 of the most recent 12 months (averaged over 12 months) and documentation of shared residency for the past 12 months

The rental payments a borrower receives from one or more individuals who reside with the borrower may be considered as acceptable qualifying income as well. This applies for a one-unit property. 30% of the total gross income used to qualify the borrower for the mortgage may be from boarder revenue if: the individual(s) has lived with and paid rent to the borrower for the last 12 months, the boarder can provide appropriate documentation to demonstrate a history of shared residency (a copy of an official document(s) showing the boarder’s address as being the same as the borrower’s), and documentation of rental income for at least 9 of the most recent 12 months (averaged over 12 months).