CalHFA FHA First Mortgage Loan Program

Fully amortized, 30 years fixed 

All loan files must be consistent with subordinate program guidelines in order for the loan to be applicable for purchase. CalHFA subordinate loan programs may only be used for down payment and/or closing costs. The Zero Interest Program (ZIP) is for closing costs only.

CalHFA will be offering expanded Temporary Buydown options for reservations made on or after July 31, 2023. In addition to the existing 2-1 Temporary Buydown, CalHFA will also offer a 1-1 and 1-0 Temporary Buydown, per Fannie Mae, FHA, USDA, VA and master servicer guidelines.

• Mortgage insurance is required for all loans that are 80.01% LTV or higher. Borrowers whose income is less than 80% AMI will receive the HFA Preferred Charter MI discounted coverage and MI rates (see below).
• Mortgage insurance must be ordered using Housing Finance Agency (HFA) MI rates Mortgage Insurance Options.
• Delegated MI is allowed up to 97%.
• Either borrower paid monthly, split premium or single premium mortgage insurance is acceptable. There is no lender paid premium option.
• Financed mortgage insurance premium must be included in the LTV and CLTV.

1. Submit a “Services” request through LQB or Bolt
2. Provide copy of the Certificate and the corresponding Note
3. Disclose the $500 re-issuance fee to eHousingPlus on the LE. Fee will be collected in escrow at closing.
4. Contact the MWF MCC Specialist with any questions.

The CalHFA FHA program is available for both first-time and non-first-time homebuyers, unless paired with subordinate financing and in that case, the borrower must be a first-time homebuyer.

• Homebuyer Education is required for at least one occupying first-time homebuyer.
• Homebuyer Education is not required for non-first-time homebuyer(s).
• All Homebuyer Education Certificates will expire the earlier of one (1) year from issuance or the expiration date on the certificate.
• The Homebuyer Education Course must be completed by one of the borrowers only if they are both first time homebuyers prior to application preferably, but at the latest, prior to the file being sent to CalHFA for review.
• If taking the in-person course, borrowers should take the class early on as it may take 10 days for a homebuyer education provider to prepare and mail the certificate.
  
  
• Virtual live or in-person Homebuyer Education through NeighborWorks America or through one of the HUD approved Housing Counseling Agencies.
• Online Homebuyer Education through eHome™: 
  • A one-on-one homebuyer counseling session in addition to the homebuyer education class is required if the eHome™ online course is taken.
  • The one-on-one counseling session may be done over the phone.
  • The one-on-one counseling session is not required if a face-to-face option through NeighborWorks or a HUD approved counseling agency is completed AND it meets the curriculum for a 8 hour class.

The income of all borrowers cannot exceed the published CalHFA income limits established for the county in which the property is located.

 See Income Limits

CalHFA uses the lender's credit qualifying income, calculated per GSE and Conventional guidelines. Income not used by MWF for credit qualifying will not be used by CalHFA.

Lakeview requires:

• Note: As of 6-17-22: Lakeview is temporarily suspending the tax transcripts requirements due to IRS delays. 
• IRS Transcripts are required only if there is income from a source other than W-2 and/or 1099 fixed income, but not required for commissioned income borrowers.
• (1040, 1099, W-2) for each borrower.
• If using tax returns for loan qualification, transcripts are required for each year used.
• The number of years of transcripts needed is based on DU.
• If amended returns filed, tax transcripts are required.
• Examples of cases where tax returns are required:
• Self-employment income
• Rental income
• Employed by family members
• Other income (i.e., dividends, capital gains, alimony, etc.)
• Paystubs are required for future income.
• 4506-C is required at closing for all transactions.

Determining the score to use for program qualification:

• The middle score of the lowest scoring borrower must be used.
• If only two scores, use the lowest score.
• If only one score, that score must be used. Non-traditional credit is not accepted. Borrowers with no score are not allowed.

CalHFA does not allow title only owners.

Non-borrowing spouses are not allowed to go on Title.

Non-United States Citizens must be lawfully present in the United States (or otherwise meet the requirements of CalHFA & Lakeview). To verify if your borrower’s documentation meets the requirements, send the following information to [email protected]:

• Admission category (Employment based, non-immigrant, asylum, etc.)
• Description (DACA, family member of permanent residents or US Citizens, Refugee, etc.)
• Visa type (SR 2,3, SN-4, etc.)
• Valid EAD card code (C09, A16, A03, etc.)
• I-94 Class of Admission code (if applicable)

• Non-occupant co-borrowers are not allowed.
• Non-occupant co-signers are not allowed.

1-Unit SFR, Condo and Manufactured Homes, Guest Houses, Granny/In-Law Units are eligible for CalHFA financing under the following conditions:

• Must be zoned for Single Family occupancy.
• Cannot be zoned 2-4 units.
• Must meet investor guidelines and city/county zoning ordinances.
• May not be income-producing and must be for personal use only.

2-4 Units, Co-ops, Second Homes and Investment Properties.
FHA single unit condo approvals are not permitted

MWF does not allow Leasehold Estate Properties and Community Land Trust Properties.

Singlewide manufactured homes are not eligible for financing.

Home Warranty:

• CalHFA requires that all first-time homebuyer(s) obtain a one-year home warranty protection policy, excluding new construction. 

1st Mortgage Clause:

Mountain West Financial, Inc.
1255 W. Colton Ave. #132
Redlands, CA 92374

2nd Mortgage Clause and 3rd (if applicable) Mortgage Clause: California Housing Finance Agency It’s successor and/or assigns Single Family Servicing – MS 980 500 Capitol Mall, Suite 400 Sacramento, CA 95814

Hazard: The maximum allowable deductible for all property types is 5% of the face amount of the insurance policy.

Flood: Maximum deductible available from the NFIP (currently $10,000).

• Impounds are always required on FHA HPML loans.
• Impound rollover not allowed.

CalHFA requires an appraisal on all first mortgage loans. Representation and Warranty (Day 1 Certainty) relief will be allowed, if the loan receives:

(i) Collateral Underwriter® risk score of 2.5 or less;

(ii) meets all other eligibility requirements, and

(iii) MWF remains responsible for description of subject and property eligibility.

For Standard and MH Advantage manufactured homes, a minimum of 2 similar MH comparable sales are required; third comparable may be site-built or modular home.

For all other property types, the process will remain the same as a standard mortgage loan file. MH Advantage appraisals must include photos of the MH Advantage Sticker, HUD Data Plate, HUD Certification Labels, and the site showing all driveways, sidewalks, and detached structures located on the site. AMC is to verify through appraisal photos, the presence of a driveway leading to the home (or to the garage or carport, if one is present). The driveway must consist of blacktop, pavers, bricks, concrete, cement, or gravel, and the presence of a sidewalk connecting either the driveway, or a detached garage or carport, to a door or attached porch of the home. The sidewalk must consist of blacktop, pavers, flagstone, bricks, concrete, or cement.

Required for MWF Corporate.

MWF has an executed agreement with CalHFA.

MWF training and successful completion of certification quiz is required. See MWF Training then select “Grow Your Business”, then select "Certification Training”.

Agency training is not required, but highly recommended. CalHFA live training classes are $15 per registrant.
See CalHFA’s training calendar.

CalHFA limits the TOTAL combined customary lender origination fees to the greater of 3% of the total loan amount or $3,000. This includes processing and underwriting fees.

Borrower-paid origination fee will be determined by broker (not to exceed 3%) and will include the underwriting and processing fees. The origination fee may not be greater than the standard compensation plus processing fee.

If the total fees exceed 3.00%, the broker must reduce the origination fee accordingly.

If the borrower is charged more than 3.00% in total, the broker is responsible for reimbursement to the borrower.

Extension, 1^st Mortgage Extension Fee / Subordinate Extension Fee as of May 20,2022: 

• 15 days, 0.25%, 0%
• 30 days, 0.50%, 0%
• 45 days, 0.75%, 0%

Loans under the CalHFA program are not eligible for MWF’s re-lock and extension policies. Extensions are available in 15 day increments only. The extension fee must be charged to the borrower or seller and must be requested prior to the issuance of the CD.

Full Disclosure Package to include all Federal, State, and CalHFA forms:

• Initial 1003 executed by borrower and MLO.
• All CalHFA Submission Forms are included in the ConformX disclosure package.

Required Forms:

• CalHFA Borrower Affidavit
• ZIP Interest Rate Disclosure
• CalHFA does not look at tax returns and requires a VOR only if a mortgage appears on the credit report or if borrowers mark, they are not a FTHB on the 1003.

• CalHFA will start collecting additional borrower data via our new CalHFA State Reporting Disclosure form. This form will be required on all new reservations starting on January 2, 2023. The additional data is mandated by state law and will help us better serve our military and veteran community as well as first-generation homebuyers.

   

  For the official release please visit Program Bulletin #2022-11 - New CalHFA State Reporting Disclosure

• CalHFA will require lenders to use the newest version of the CalHFA State Reporting Disclosure. The revised form updates the consent language to include mailing address. CalHFA encourages lenders to use the updated form starting immediately and the new form will be required for all reservations starting August 1, 2023. Loans with reservation dates on or after August 1, 2023 submitted to CalHFA with the old form will be subject to suspension.

CalHFA will start collecting additional borrower data via our new CalHFA State Reporting Disclosure form. This form will be required on all new reservations starting on January 2, 2023. The additional data is mandated by state law and will help us better serve our military and veteran community as well as first-generation homebuyers.

CalHFA will require lenders to use the newest version of the CalHFA State Reporting Disclosure. The revised form updates the consent language to include mailing address. CalHFA encourages lenders to use the updated form starting immediately and the new form will be required for all reservations starting August 1, 2023. Loans with reservation dates on or after August 1, 2023 submitted to CalHFA with the old form will be subject to suspension.

FHA: CalHFA will accept the most recent version of:

• Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter® (DU) with the FHA Scorecard option.
• Freddie Mac’s Loan Product Advisor (LPA) with the FHA Scorecard option.

• Maximum DTI ratio: 43%
• Minimum Credit Score: 660

The underwriter will condition the file for:

• MI Cert 
• CalHFA approval
• Borrower Affidavit

• Lease Estate Properties and Community Land Trust Properties are not allowed.
• CalHFA Limited 203K program is not offered.
• CalHFA VA program is not offered at this time since VA limits the origination fee to 1.00%.
• See CalHFA and Lakeview Overlays.
• No Escrow Holdbacks.

All loan files must be consistent with subordinate program guidelines in order for the loan to be applicable for purchase. CalHFA subordinate loan programs may only be used for down payment and/or closing costs. The Zero Interest Program (ZIP) is for closing costs only.

MRI must be met/ borrower may not receive cash back on CalHFA programs. EMD refunds are acceptable but cannot exceed sourced EMD.
Lender represents, warrants, and guarantees
that no funds from any CalHFA down payment or closing cost assistance loan or grant has been used to pay off debt or as cash back to the borrower. Lender further represents, warrants, and guarantees that Lender at all times has and will continue to comply with all Guidelines and Policies, including any amendments to said Guidelines and Policies.

A request for loan documents for the 2nd TD MUST be sent to your Closer.

Documents Required on 1st Mortgage:

• Note
• Deed of Trust
• Applicable Riders to Deed of Trust
• Lenders Instructions
• Closing Disclosure
• 1st Payment Letter
• The Full Doc Package is required

See: Lakeview Correspondent Lending.

For the subordinate(s) file see:   CalHFA Loan Purchase Submission Checklist.

4-8-22: Final Document (TPOL and Recorded Mortgage) shipments are to be sent to the below address:

Indecomm Global Services

Mail Stop: FD-BV-9902

1427 Energy Park Drive

St. Paul, MN 55108

Main: (877) 922-5432

[email protected]

Molly K. Ellis, Training and Outreach Manager - Single Family: (916) 326-8680 [email protected]

Lakeview Loan Servicing:
(855) 253-8439
Underwriting Questions [email protected]