Job Gaps in Employment and Getting Approved for a Mortgage Loan in Kentucky for FHA and Fannie Mae Conventional loans

Gaps in Employment and getting approved for a KY FHA and Conventional Mortgage Loan A borrower who has no verifiable employment for 6 months or longer is deemed to have a gap in employment.  Fannie:  Fannie does not address gaps in employment in their guidelines.  We must ensure that DU’s income documentation can be met.  This will typically require the borrower’s most recent paystub and a W-2 from the most recent year.  FHA:  borrower must be employed at their current job for 6 months or more at the time of case number assignment and a 2 year work history prior to the gap can be documented. Can income from employment that has not begun be considered effective income? Expected income refers to income from cost-of-living adjustments, performance raises, a new job, or retirement that has not been, but will be received within 60 days of mortgage closing.  The Mortgagee must verify and document the existence and amount of expected income with the employer in writing and that it is guaranteed to begin within 60 days of mortgage closing.  Income is calculated in accordance with the standards for the type of income being received. The Mortgagee must also verify that the borrower will have sufficient income or cash reserves to support the mortgage payment and any other obligations between mortgage closing and the beginning of the receipt of the income.   For additional information see Handbook 4000.1 II.A.4.c.xii.(L) or II.A.5.b.xii.(L) available at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh How does FHA view borrowers who change jobs frequently? If the borrower has changed jobs more than three times in the previous 12-month period, or has changed lines of work, the Mortgagee must take additional steps to verify and document the stability of the borrower’s employment income. The Mortgagee must obtain: • transcripts of training and education demonstrating qualification for a new position; or • employment documentation evidencing continual increases in income and/or benefits.  For additional information see Handbook 4000.1 II.A.4.c.xi.(A) or II.A.5.b.xi.(A) available at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh How does FHA view borrowers who change jobs frequently? If the borrower has changed jobs more than three times in the previous 12-month period, or has changed lines of work, the Mortgagee must take additional steps to verify and document the stability of the borrower’s employment income. The Mortgagee must obtain: • transcripts of training and education demonstrating qualification for a new position; or • employment documentation evidencing continual increases in income and/or benefits.  For additional information see Handbook 4000.1 II.A.4.c.xi.(A) or II.A.5.b.xi.(A) available at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/administration/hudclips/handbooks/hsgh Joel Lobb  Mortgage Loan Officer 1 -  Email - kentuckyloan@gmail.com  2.   Call/Text - 502-905-3708

Job Requirements and Employment History for a Kentucky VA loan Approval.

Mortgage Employment or Job History Requirements for a VA Loan Approval in Kentucky

Gaps in Employment A borrower who has no verifiable employment for 6 months or longer is deemed to have a gap in employment.   VA:  VA does not address gaps in employment and generally does not consider non military employment less than 12 months as stable and reliable. Any exceptions based on the loan as a whole is underwriter discretion. Medical or Temporary Leave Income The borrower has taken a temporary leave of absence from work typically for medical leave such as maternity, illness, surgery, or on the job injury.  This leave is short term in nature and the borrower is still employed with their same employer prior to the leave of absence.    VA: Borrower’s on temporary leave are not eligible for a loan transaction.    Frequent Job Changes Frequent job changes may indicate instability in a borrower’s income.  VA: the borrower must demonstrate the ability to maintain an income at a constant level over the recent 2-year period even if he or she has worked for a variety of employers. Seasonal Employment Seasonal Employment refers to employment that is not year round typically due to weather conditions.  Seasonal Employment can be full time or part time.   VA:  Borrower must have worked the same job (or same line of seasonal work) for the past 2 years and the borrower’s employer must state there is a reasonable expectation that the borrower will be rehired for the next season.  Tax returns will be required if unemployment compensation will be used to qualify the borrower.  *Income calculation will follow calculation guidelines.  These guidelines are for employment history and profile only.

Have Questions or Need Expert Advice? Text, email, or call me below:

Joel Lobb
Mortgage Loan Officer
Individual NMLS ID #57916





email: kentuckyloan@gmail.com

Text/call: 502-905-3708

http://www.mylouisvillekentuckymortgage.com/

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Kentucky FHA Job Gap Guidelines Explained

Job History and Income Requirements

Kentucky Government Mortgage FHA

Question:

Can you help me understand how Kentucky Mortgage loans backed by FHA treats job gaps?

Answer:

A borrower must have a full 2-year history of employment/school/military service immediately prior to application. If there are any extended gaps within that 2-year period then the “Addressing Gaps in Employment” guideline is triggered, even if the gap did not occur immediately prior to the current job.

Reference:

FHA ML 2022-09 – this version has not yet been updated in the 4000.1 handbook , but must be used.

(B) Addressing Gaps in Employment

For Borrowers with gaps in employment of six months or more (an extended absence), the Mortgagee may consider the Borrower’s current income as Effective

Income if it can verify and document:

• that the Borrower has been employed in the current line of work for at least six months at the time of case number assignment; and
• a two-year work history prior to the absence from employment using standard or alternative employment verification.

Job Gap—The application will call for you to document your last two years of employment history. If you have had several jobs, or job gaps of more than 6 months, you will need to document why you were off work and why you made the changes in your job. The underwriter is looking for stability in your pay and job. If you were in school recently, then the underwrite may want to see transcripts to verify this.

Kentucky FHA Mortgage Program

The FHA Program does not technically have an minimum employment history requirement but lenders are required to verify applicants' employment history for the prior two years
Applicants are required to explain any employment gaps of at least one month
Explainable employment gaps of six months or more are also permitted

Self-employed borrowers are typically required to demonstrate a two year job history
A self-employed job history of between one and two years is permitted if the applicant was previously employed in a similar line of work for at least two years
A combination of one year of employment in a similar field plus one year of education or training in that field is also permitted for self-employed borrowers

An uninterrupted two year history of part-time employment is typically required although part-time work history of less than two years may be considered as long as the lender determines that the work is likely to continue
Income from seasonal employment is also permitted as long as the applicant has a two year work history and expects to be rehired for future seasons

A two year employment history is required for bonus, commission or overtime income to be considered
An employment history of less than two years is allowed if the lender justifies and documents the reason for including the income
Lenders are also required to explain any significant declines in bonus, commission or overtime income
Significant fluctuations in bonus, commission or overtime income may require the lender to use an average period of longer than two years to calculate the applicant's income

Kentucky FHA Loans Are Offering New Flexibilities for Borrowers Previously Affected by Covid-19

FHA Offering New Flexibilities for Borrowers Previously Affected by Covid-19

FHA has announced that the guidelines are being updated when calculating effective income after a reduction or loss of income for borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes are effective for all case numbers on or after 09/05/2022, but may be implemented immediately.

ML 2022-09 reflects policies that will be incorporated into the 4000.1, providing updates for the following:

Primary Employment

Part-Time Employment

Overtime, Bonus or Tip Income

Employed by Family-Owned Business

Commission Income

Self-Employment Income

Additional Required Analysis of Stability of Employment Income

Additionally, flexibility when calculating income for borrowers who experienced a gap in employment and/or a reduction of loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been updated allowing a borrower to be employed in the same line of work for at least six months at the time of case assignment.

https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_22_129

Kentucky First Time Home Buyer Programs For Home Mortgage Loans: Job History Requirements for a Kentucky Convention...

Kentucky Conventional Mortgage

Two year is standard but shorter employment histories may be permitted for applicants with stable jobs and incomes or other positive factors
Explainable employment gaps of six months or more are also permitted as long as the applicant has been back to work for at least six months and has a two year employment history prior to the work gap

Self-employed borrowers are typically required to demonstrate a two year job history
A self-employed job history of between one and two years is permitted if the applicant was previously employed in a similar field and earns a similar or greater income as evidenced by the borrower's tax returns
Self-employed applicants are also required to provide business tax returns for two years unless the business is at least five years old

A continuous two year history of part-time employment is typically required although part-time work history of one-to-two years may be permitted for stronger applicants
A two year history of seasonal work in the same job or line of work is required
Lenders are also required to verify with the applicant's employer that the applicant will be rehired for the next employment season
Borrowers with seasonal employment are permitted to use unemployment compensation as income as long as the compensation is due to regular, seasonal employment breaks

A two year employment history is recommended for bonus, commission or overtime income to be considered but guidelines permit an income history of one-to-two years for borrowers with strong employment, financial and credit profiles

Kentucky FHA Mortgage Program

The FHA Program does not technically have an minimum employment history requirement but lenders are required to verify applicants' employment history for the prior two years
Applicants are required to explain any employment gaps of at least one month
Explainable employment gaps of six months or more are also permitted

Self-employed borrowers are typically required to demonstrate a two year job history
A self-employed job history of between one and two years is permitted if the applicant was previously employed in a similar line of work for at least two years
A combination of one year of employment in a similar field plus one year of education or training in that field is also permitted for self-employed borrowers

An uninterrupted two year history of part-time employment is typically required although part-time work history of less than two years may be considered as long as the lender determines that the work is likely to continue
Income from seasonal employment is also permitted as long as the applicant has a two year work history and expects to be rehired for future seasons

A two year employment history is required for bonus, commission or overtime income to be considered
An employment history of less than two years is allowed if the lender justifies and documents the reason for including the income
Lenders are also required to explain any significant declines in bonus, commission or overtime income
Significant fluctuations in bonus, commission or overtime income may require the lender to use an average period of longer than two years to calculate the applicant's income

Kentucky USDA Mortgage Program

The USDA Home Loan Program does not technically have an minimum employment history requirement but lenders are required to verify applicants' employment history for the prior two years and confirm that the applicant's income is stable

Applicants are required to explain any employment gaps of at least one month
Explainable employment gaps of six months or more are also permitted as long as the applicant can document the reason for the gap, has been back to work for at least six months and has a two year employment history prior to the work gap

Self-employed borrowers are typically required to demonstrate a two year job history as documented by the applicant's tax returns

A self-employed job history of between one and two years is permitted if the applicant was previously employed in a similar line of work for at least two years or one year of work plus one year of formal education or training

The lender is required to confirm that the self-employment income is expected to continue for at least three years

A self-employed history of less than one year is not permitted

An uninterrupted two year history in the same position is typically required for part-time employment although a part-time work history of less than two years may be considered if the lender verifies with the employer that the work is likely to continue at the same compensation level

Income from seasonal employment is permitted as long as the applicant has a two year work history and expects to be rehired for future seasons

The lender is required to determine that part-time and seasonal income is expected to continue for the next three years

Income from part-time or seasonal work must be reported on the borrower's tax returns to be considered by a lender

A consecutive two year payment history and determination by the lender that the income is expected to continue for the next three years is required for bonus, commission or overtime income to be considered
Bonus, commission or overtime income earned for less than a year is not permitted without significant compensating factors such as a change in the applicant's compensation structure

Lenders are required to explain any significant declines in bonus, commission or overtime income
Significant variations in bonus, commission or overtime income may require the lender to use an average period of more than two years to calculate the applicant's income

Kentucky VA Mortgage Program

The VA Program requires lenders to verify an applicant's employment history for the prior two years although there is no minimum employment history guideline

Applicants with an employment history of less than a year may be considered if the lender determines and documents that the applicant has a high probability of continuing his or her job
The applicant's employment history is evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Active military personal who are within 12 months of their release date are required to reenlist or provide verification of a job offer after their release from the military

Self-employed borrowers are typically required to demonstrate a two year job history unless the applicant was previously employed in a similar line of work or received specialized training in that field

A self-employed history of less than one year is highly uncommon

A continuous and verified two year history of part-time employment is generally required
The applicant's income from part-time work should be steady and predictable and the lender is required to determine that the work will continue in the future

The lender is also required to confirm that applicants can handle the part-time job along with the demands of their primary job

A two year work history is required for bonus, commission and overtime income to be considered by the lender unless the borrower has extensive experience or training in their field of work

The lender must determine that the income is predictable and likely to continue in the future
Bonus, commission and overtime income with less than a two year work history is rarely permitted and requires extensive documentation by the lender

Joel Lobb (NMLS#57916)
Senior  Loan Officer

American Mortgage Solutions, Inc.

10602 Timberwood Circle Suite 3

Louisville, KY 40223

Company ID #1364 | MB73346

Text/call 502-905-3708

kentuckyloan@gmail.com

If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.

Disclaimer: No statement on this site is a commitment to make a loan. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet Loan-to-Value requirements, and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines and are subject to change without notice based on applicant's eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over the life of a loan. Reduction in payments may reflect a longer loan term. Terms of any loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant  Equal Opportunity Lender. NMLS#57916http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/