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What are Lender Overlays?

Lender overlays are additional qualification standards that lenders impose on home buyers, over and above the minimums established by the official mortgage guidelines.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Longer Definition: Lender Overlays

Lender overlays are a lender’s additional underwriting requirements not included within a mortgage program’s official mortgage guidelines.

Lender overlays, sometimes called investor overlays, are at a mortgage lender’s discretion. They vary between loan types. Some lenders use them aggressively. Others use them not at all.

Lender overlays are designed to minimize a lender’s risk and can include heightened approval standards related to credit score, debt-to-income ratios, and documentation. Home buyers must satisfy a lender’s overlays to get a mortgage approved.

Examples of common mortgage overlays a home buyer might see include:

Conventional Mortgage

  • Official guideline: Home buyers can use a signed job offer letter as proof of income
  • Lender overlay: Home buyers must receive a paycheck as proof of income

FHA Mortgage

  • Official guideline: Home buyers with a 500 FICO can be FHA-approved
  • Lender overlay: All home buyers must have a 580 FICO score to be FHA-approved

VA Mortgage

  • Official guideline: A credit score is not required to get VA mortgage approved
  • Lender overlay: A minimum 620 FICO score is required to get a VA mortgage approved

Because lender overlays vary among lenders, it’s common for first-time home buyers to have their mortgage application declined by a lender, then resubmitted and accepted, with no changes whatsoever, with a different mortgage lender.

Lender Overlays: A Real World Example

First-Time Home Buyer Stories: Lender Overlays

Imagine a first-time home buyer with a 610 credit score applying for an FHA-backed mortgage at their local credit union. They submit their application, their supporting paperwork, and sign the required documentation. The credit union then denies the mortgage application due to credit.

The home buyer knows that FHA mortgages allow credit scores of 500 or higher, so they call the credit union, which explains that their underwriters apply a lender overlay on credit scores and only approve FHA loans for buyers whose FICOs are 640 or higher.

Undeterred, the home buyer researches and finds a different mortgage lender that abides by the FHA’s official guidelines and gets their mortgage approved.

Common Questions About Lender Overlays

Why do lenders have overlays?

Lenders use overlays to reduce their risk. Setting standards higher than the minimum federal guidelines adds an extra layer of security against default.

Do lender overlays vary widely between lenders?

Yes, there’s significant variation. Some lenders might closely follow federal guidelines, while others set much higher standards.

How do lender overlays affect first-time home buyers?

For first-time home buyers, lender overlays mean additional hurdles. Buyers may need to comparison shop to find a lender whose overlays align with their financial situation.

Can I negotiate lender overlays?

Lender overlays are generally non-negotiable as they are part of the lender’s risk management strategy. It’s more about finding the right lender for your financial profile.

How can I prepare for lender overlays?

The best approach is to have a strong financial profile: good credit, stable income, and a manageable debt-to-income ratio. Also, research various lenders to understand their unique overlays.

Citations

This article, "What are Lender Overlays?" draws on the author's professional mortgage experiences and references information found at these authoritative websites:

Changelog

  • April 10, 2024: Updated link to Fannie Mae guidelines
  • November 22, 2023: Original publish date

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       Lender overlays are additional qualification standards that lenders impose on home buyers, over and above the minimums established by the official mortgage guidelines.

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