New Appraisal Waiver Guidelines Could Save Buyers Thousands in 2025

As a homeowner, you've already taken one of the biggest and smartest steps toward building long-term wealth. But what happens when your current home no longer fits your needs? It’s more common than you’d think. In 2024, 76% of homebuyers were already homeowners. When you’ve put together the savings for a down payment and built equity by paying your mortgage every month, buying your next home becomes a lot easier. But even for experienced homeowners, the process of selling and buying at the same time can feel overwhelming. Whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or relocating, this guide will walk you through what actually happens when you sell your home to buy another one—plus the financing solutions that can help you use your existing equity without creating extra financial stress. What Happens to Your Current Mortgage When You Sell Your Home? If your mortgage is paid off by the time you list your home, you get to pocket the profit from the sale after closing costs, repairs, and any buyer contingencies are accounted for. If you still owe a balance on your mortgage, the proceeds from the sale will first go toward paying off your remaining loan. This happens during the closing process, and any remaining profit—also known as your equity—comes back to you. For example, if your home sells for $400,000 and your remaining mortgage balance is $250,000, you’ll walk away with the difference (minus closing costs and agent commissions). That’s nearly $150,000 in potential funds to use toward your next home purchase. If your home sells for less than what you owe (rare in today’s equity-rich market), you may need to bring money to the closing table or work with your lender on a solution. Your UMortgage Loan Originator can walk you through all scenarios so you’re never caught off guard. How to Use Your Current Equity to Move Up into Your Next Home Equity is your secret weapon when it comes to moving into your next home. It's why repeat buyers in 2024 put down a median of 23%—the highest in over two decades. When it’s time to make your next move, the equity in your current home can be used to: Make a down payment on your new home Cover closing costs (on both transactions) Reduce the size of your new mortgage This is especially helpful if you’re moving into a more expensive home. When you have access to funds upfront, you can avoid mortgage insurance, reduce your monthly payments, and potentially secure better loan terms. The key is timing. To unlock your equity, you usually need to sell your current home first or explore financing options that allow you to tap into that equity before the sale closes, which we'll cover next. Programs That Help Existing Homeowners Buy Their Next Home Selling and buying at the same time can feel like a juggling act. Luckily, UMortgage offers several solutions that can make it easier—especially if you want to buy before you sell. HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) A HELOC lets you borrow against your home’s equity while you still own it. Think of it like a credit card with a revolving line of credit. You can use the funds as a down payment on your new home, and then pay off the HELOC once your current home sells. This is a great option for homeowners with significant equity who plan to sell shortly after purchasing their new home. Bridge Loan A bridge loan is a short-term loan that “bridges” the gap between buying your new home and selling your current one. It typically uses your existing home as collateral and comes with terms between 6 months and 3 years. Bridge loans are typically used in one of two ways: To make a down payment on your new home: Great if you can’t afford two mortgages at once. To pay off your current mortgage and cover your next down payment: Best for homeowners with a relatively low mortgage balance. Because they come with higher interest rates than traditional mortgages, bridge loans work best for buyers with strong credit and a solid plan to sell quickly. If your home takes longer to sell than expected, you could end up managing two (or more) monthly payments. Home Sale Contingency A home sale contingency allows you to make an offer on a new home that’s dependent on your current home selling first. It protects you financially in case your existing home doesn’t sell in time. Just keep in mind that in a competitive market, sellers may favor buyers without contingencies. Your UMortgage Loan Originator can help you weigh the pros and cons. What to Consider Before You Sell Selling your home to buy a new one is one of the greatest wealth-building benefits of homeownership. But with so many moving parts, it’s important to plan ahead. Here’s where to start: Evaluate Your Equity & Finances Start by estimating how much equity you’ve built. Subtract your remaining mortgage balance from your home’s current value. Not sure what your home is worth today? Your UMortgage Loan Originator can provide a free home value assessment. Next, look at your full financial picture. Review your income, debts, and monthly expenses to determine what kind of mortgage you’ll qualify for on your next home. A mortgage pre-approval can give you clarity and a competitive edge. Set Your Timeline Try to align your sale and purchase timelines to minimize the gap between closings. This helps you avoid the hassle of temporary housing or paying two mortgages at once. A coordinated closing—where you sell and buy on the same day—is possible with the right planning and support team. Prep Your Home for Sale Making your home market-ready is one of the best ways to boost your sale price. Small upgrades like fresh paint, curb appeal improvements, and professional staging can make a big difference. Consider a pre-listing inspection to catch any potential deal-breaking issues early. While it might add to your upfront costs, it can save you time and stress once offers start rolling in. Moving Up Requires the Right Team Moving from one home to another is a big life event—but it’s also a major financial opportunity. The equity you’ve built can be a powerful stepping stone toward your next goal, whether it’s a bigger space, a better location, or a smarter investment. The key is having a plan and the right people in your corner. If you're ready to explore your options and discover what will help you maximize the wealth-building benefits of homeownership, get in touch with your UMortgage Loan Originator. They'll help you run the numbers, set a timeline, and create a plan that fits your needs so you can move up with confidence.

Buying a home just got a little easier (and more affordable)! Starting in 2025, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expanding their appraisal waiver programs, which allow buyers to skip the traditional appraisal process. The updates mean buyers can qualify for waivers with loans up to 90% loan-to-value (LTV), and new inspection-based waivers will push that threshold to 97%. That means if you’re putting as little as 3% down, you could save time, hassle, and hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars. These programs have already saved buyers billions in fees and the upcoming changes promise even bigger benefits. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or simply looking to save, here’s what you need to know about how these new guidelines can help. What’s an Appraisal Waiver, and Why Should You Care? An appraisal waiver replaces the need for a traditional home appraisal with a high-tech, data-driven valuation. Instead of scheduling an appraiser to inspect the property (and paying hundreds of dollars), the waiver uses public records, historical data, and algorithms to estimate the home’s value. This innovation isn’t just convenient—it’s a big money-saver. Freddie Mac’s ACE (Automated Collateral Evaluation) program has already saved buyers $1.63 billion in fees, and Fannie Mae’s Value Acceptance has topped $2.5 billion in savings. Plus, skipping the appraisal can shave weeks off your closing timeline, which is especially helpful in competitive markets where speed matters. How This Helps Save Homebuyers Thousands Appraisals are, in most cases, an essential part of the homebuying process. By determining the true market value of a home, buyers can be protected from overpaying for a home. However, in highly competitive markets, things like appraisal gaps can cost borrowers thousands of dollars if multiple offers bring the asking price above the appraised value. By expanding the eligibility for waivers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are making it easier—and cheaper—for more buyers to get into their dream homes without having to worry about those potentially costly appraisal gaps. This is a game-changer for first-time buyers or anyone on a tight budget. Not only does it reduce upfront costs, but it also speeds up the timeline to close, helping you secure your new home faster. And with billions of dollars already saved, it’s clear these programs deliver real value. Whether you’re buying your first home or upgrading to your forever home, these expanded waiver options could save you time, money, and stress. What’s New in 2025? Big news: Starting in 2025, the eligibility for appraisal waivers is expanding. Loans with up to 90% LTV will qualify for standard appraisal waivers, up from the previous cap of 80%. Even better, inspection-based waivers—like Freddie Mac’s ACE+ PDR program—will allow loans with up to 97% LTV, so buyers with as little as 3% down can avoid appraisals entirely. Here’s how it works: With an inspection-based waiver, a quick on-site review of the property replaces the traditional appraisal. It’s faster, cheaper, and just as reliable. For buyers, this means fewer hoops to jump through and more money in your pocket to put toward your new home. If you want to use these benefits to expand your homebuying horizons in 2025, get connected with a UMortgage Loan Originator today to start your homebuying journey!

Buying a home is one of the most significant investments you can make. Once a homebuyer finds the home they want to submit an offer on, one of the most common questions is whether or not they should get an inspection. Getting an inspection on the home you want to buy has plenty of benefits. Some loan types require them and some don’t. We put together a comprehensive guide to help you make a confident decision regarding your potential inspection when you’re preparing to submit an offer on a home. What is a Home Inspection and How is it Different Than an Appraisal? A home inspection is an objective assessment of a property's overall condition, performed by a licensed professional. During the inspection, key components of the home—including the roof, foundation, electrical systems, plumbing, and HVAC—are thoroughly reviewed to ensure they are functioning properly and free of major issues. The primary goal of this process is to identify potential problems that could require repairs or impact the home's value. Unlike an appraisal, which focuses on determining a property's market value, a home inspection emphasizes safety and structural integrity. This distinction is crucial because it gives buyers a clear understanding of the true condition of the home they’re committing to before finalizing their purchase. While they might seem similar, an inspection is much different than an appraisal. First and foremost, professional appraisals are required for every mortgage type, including refinances. An appraisal evaluates the home's condition, features, location, and recent sales of comparable properties in the area. The primary purpose of an appraisal is to ensure that the lender is not lending more money than the home is worth, which protects the lender’s investment. While an appraisal determines the market value of a property, a home inspection assesses the home's physical condition. Appraisers perform a broad overview to establish value, checking factors like square footage, amenities, and general upkeep. Inspectors, on the other hand, dive deeper into the safety and functionality of the home's systems and structure, identifying any existing or potential issues. What Loan Types Require an Inspection? It’s important to note that most lenders do not directly require a home inspection for certain loan types. However, there are specific loan programs with unique conditions that encourage or necessitate this step. For example, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans require an appraisal with specific property standards. While technically not an inspection, this appraisal includes a health and safety review that flags potential issues. If the home does not meet these standards, repairs must be made for the loan to be approved. VA (Veterans Affairs) loans also require an appraisal that assesses the home for Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) to ensure it is safe, sound, and sanitary. Like FHA loans, while this appraisal is not a full home inspection, it may prompt buyers to pursue one to identify any underlying issues the VA appraiser did not cover. Conventional loans don’t mandate an inspection, but many lenders and experts recommend one on top of the required appraisal. While the inspection itself might not be a formal requirement to secure your mortgage, it's important to understand the standards that different loan types must follow to keep you in the loop and help you make informed decisions. What Are the Benefits of Getting an Inspection? Opting for a home inspection offers numerous advantages that make it well worth the investment. Overall, it helps buyers avoid surprises and expensive repairs. Discovering issues like faulty wiring, plumbing leaks, or foundation cracks before purchasing gives buyers the power to negotiate with the seller for repairs or price adjustments. This often leads to a better final deal and lowers financial risk post-closing. A home inspection also serves as an educational experience for buyers. During the process, inspectors can point out maintenance needs, provide advice on how to handle certain issues and share information that will help buyers maintain their homes more effectively. This proactive learning helps homeowners feel prepared and confident in their ability to manage their property. Another significant benefit is peace of mind. Even when no major problems are found, an inspection reassures buyers that the home they are investing in is safe and solid. For first-time homebuyers, this assurance can be particularly valuable, allowing them to proceed with fewer doubts. Inspections aren’t mandatory for every home purchase and in some cases, the lack of an inspection can strengthen your offer in a competitive market. However, most real estate professionals recommend that buyers include a home inspection contingency in their offer. This provision allows buyers to renegotiate or withdraw if major issues arise, protecting them from unforeseen, costly repairs and enhancing confidence in their purchase decision. By uncovering hidden issues early, buyers can negotiate repairs, adjust their offer, or walk away if necessary. This transparency helps prevent unexpected expenses after closing and provides peace of mind to new homeowners. While home inspections are an additional step and cost in the homebuying process, their value far exceeds the price. By uncovering hidden issues early, buyers can negotiate repairs, adjust their offer, or walk away if necessary. If you want to learn more about home inspections in the mortgage process or want to connect with a Loan Originator to guide you toward homeownership, follow this link and fill out the form to get started.