Elevations Credit Union

Product Mix

Conventional loans are assumed to be 20% downpayment and either fixed/adjustable rate. FHA loans start at 3.5% downpayment and are targeted towards first time homebuyers who will be owner-occupants. USDA loans target agrarian uses such as farms. VA loans are available to members of the military. FHA, USDA and VA loans are typically subsidized by the government so as to have more favorable terms for the borrower.

Loan Reason

Home purchase and refinance loans are typically offered by even the most prudent banks. Cash out refi loans typically carry higher fees-- they allow homeowners to get loans against the equity (appreciated value) of their home, but can be used irresponsibly. Lendors with a high ratio of cash out refi loans may be exposed in the event of an economic downturn, and may be more aggressive with their fee schedules.

Interest Rate & Spreads

Loan Sizing

Different banks have different objectives. Some banks focus solely on high net worth individuals. Others focus on FHA loans for lower income applicants. Knowing what a bank specializes in allows better optimization given the applicant's financial situation.

LTV Distribution

LTV, or loan-to-value, is the amount loaned relative to a home's value. Lower LTV lending implies a larger downpayment-- reducing risk to the lendor. FHA loans will nearly always have a higher LTV due to the lower downpayment requirements. Higher LTVs may also mean a bank is charging higher fees or interest rates to compensate for their risk exposure.

Applicant Income

Approval Rates

A high approval rate means banks are more selective in who they market to or that they are loosey-goosey with who they lend to. Low approval rates may mean a lendor is more stringent in their lending standards.

Pick Rate

A bank's pick rate is how often they are chosen by an applicant once approved. A high pick rate typically means the bank has some sort of advantage-- either the best terms (rates/fees), fastest closing time or even the best customer service. Banks with <75% pick rate may need further investigation as to why they are not more competitive.

Origination Fees

Banks make money on their float/interest spread (fees charged to borrowers vs fees they pay for their capital), for servicing loans, as well as charging origination fees when a loan is disbursed. Modern low-cost efficient lendors can have fees totaling less than $500 for many mortgages-- as low as $250 in some cases. Average lendors will be in the $1k-2k range and high cost lendors will be even more. The costs incurred by the bank will be similar no matter the loan amount, so this is to be viewed as a profit center for most banks.

Occupancy Type Mix