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Home equity lending has been a staple of community banks and credit unions for many years, having been a valuable source of funds for life events for families across generations. These loans are offered in varying loan types, whether open-end HELOCs or fixed-term loans, with different guidelines around credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and combined loan-to-values (CLTVs). The exact loan types and guidelines offered are determined by the lender’s risk tolerance for the product. One of the most challenging aspects of structuring a home equity program is identifying your maximum combined loan-to-value limit. Utilizing a credit default insurance program can make that decision easier. 

In every town, city, and state across our country community lenders play a vital part in the mortgage economy. Their pivotal role has been highlighted yet again in 2020 as they help families and businesses face the unique challenges this year has presented to all Americans. While they exist in every community, no two community lenders are the same. For that reason, no two mortgage portfolios are exactly alike. 

In late 2019, community lenders had no idea what kind of challenges they would face during the upcoming year. While many lenders set their budgets for upcoming years in the fourth quarter, it was impossible to predict the current environment that we would be in today. As the novel coronavirus swept through the news and the United States, financial institutions took (and continue to take) a vital role in maintaining the wellbeing of Americans.

If you are in the mortgage lending business, not only have you been dealing with all the issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but many of you have been dealing with record loan volumes as well. While purchases have been scattered about, borrowers looking to refinance during these historic low rates have been applying in droves. Fannie Mae recently announced they expected $1.5 trillion in refinances in 2020. This would represent a 51% increase from 2019.

As our country is still grappling with how the Coronavirus pandemic is shaping a new normal for society, many industries are recognizing that changes must be made to certain facets of their operations. This is certainly true within the world of financial institutions and lending in many different ways. Between dealing with the overwhelming number of applications from the Payment Protection Program and having to adjust lending operations with many working remotely the last thing a lender wants to hear now is that the Blanket VSI that protects their auto lending portfolio is being adjusted. 

GAP coverage, also known as Guaranteed Asset Protection or Guaranteed Auto Protection has been available to consumers and lenders since the early 1990s. However, due to the current economic conditions its benefits to consumers and lenders have never been more crucial than it is now. There are many reasons for loan officers to consider making GAP a recommendation to their borrowers.