Finance
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is an Alt-A Mortgage?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

An Alt-A mortgage could be described as mortgage for those with lower than good credit scores, and yet not low enough scores to justify a subprime rate. They are thus riskier lending than prime mortgages and not as risky as subprime loans. They’re also seldom available since the subprime mortgage crisis in the US, and lending restrictions have tightened to avoid people defaulting on mortgages.

There are several common features of the Alt-A mortgage. People who applied for them had more limited documentation requirements than did people applying for A-paper mortgages. Moreover, credit scores were usually less than 680, and people might possess a higher debt to income ratio than 35%. Another element of this type of mortgage was limitation on down payment, and many of these mortgages were structured with piggyback loans that would help people meet the down payment by taking out a second on third loan. This helped to avoid paying personal mortgage insurance (PMI).

Alt-A mortgages are for borrowers who have less than perfect credit but not low enough for a sub-prime rate.
Alt-A mortgages are for borrowers who have less than perfect credit but not low enough for a sub-prime rate.

These mortgages shouldn’t be lumped in with NINJA loans. NINJA loans, where documentation was never checked or was even falsified by lenders or borrowers, were usually subprime loans. Mortgage companies that offered Alt-A loans retained rights to check income tax returns and verify income.

Borrowers who obtained an Alt-A mortgage usually paid higher interest than prime rates, but these interest rates were less high than those offered with subprime loans. Some people with Alt-A mortgages were even able to get interest rates that were very close to prime. Nevertheless, rate of default was higher because not all facts about income and assets were fully checked.

The economic recession beginning in 2007 meant higher unemployment. Alt-A mortgage owners were already paying larger mortgage payments, while not building as much equity in their homes as prime borrowers did. If they lost jobs meeting mortgage payments could become very difficult. Declining home values also meant that numerous Alt-A borrowers were quickly upside down in their loans, and owed more money than their homes were worth. Typically the option of refinancing to lower payments wasn’t possible if homeowners had little to no equity in their homes.

Even when people retained their jobs, with increased expenses for products like food and gas, some customers simply could not meet their payments anymore and rate of defaults increased. After many borrowers had defaulted on subprime loans, banks and lenders experienced a second wave of default on Alt-A mortgages. By 2008, the Alt-A mortgage business had collapsed and many of the original lenders offering these loans closed their businesses.

With greater restrictions on lending and credit score, it’s very difficult, if not nearly impossible, to obtain an Alt-A mortgage today. This is considered unfortunate by some because there are still customers with less than perfect credit who might be able to qualify for Alt-A mortgages and remain faithful in paying their monthly payments. However assessing risk of default has dramatically changed since early 2007. In fact, inability to lend money to customers who would qualify for slightly under prime rates has created some of the issues with decreasing prices in homes. There are far fewer customers able to qualify for home loans, and thus fewer potential new home buyers to drive up housing prices.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon132450

There are full information articles on line you could study. You can see what qualifies you for what type of loan. Become an informed consumer and you'll know why they are turning you down. Even your credit problem can go away with studying what it takes to improve it. Sometimes you just have to pull the credit report to see if it is accurate.

So much to learn. Federal law changes regarding mortgage applications contains an extreme amount of disclosures you can learn about because you should know exactly why you're being turned down; it can't just be "credit less than perfect". plus, there are now counselors you can go to (centers to explain and educate you on the lending procedures and processes. Another suggestion is to put in applications on line that are free of charge to compare. Just thinking out loud, but as a former teacher, I am so inclined to say that "educating yourself on the process, procedures, and different types can't hurt."

koko39

Hello, I wanted to know how can we qualify for a home loan even though our credit is less than perfect. We have plenty of money to pay for a mortgage, but no mortgage company would approve us. Please advise.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Alt-A mortgages are for borrowers who have less than perfect credit but not low enough for a sub-prime rate.
      By: Brian Jackson
      Alt-A mortgages are for borrowers who have less than perfect credit but not low enough for a sub-prime rate.