FHA to Increase Fees Once Again…

Effective April 1^st…funny April Fool’s joke….NOT!  FHA announced this past Monday that the cost of government-insured mortgages will increase slightly for some new homebuyers.  The rise in up-front fees on mortgages was deemed necessary to build up dwindling capital.

FHA is increasing what is known as the Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium “Upfront MIP” from 1.00% of the loan amount to 1.75% of the loan amount.  This fee is added directly to the total loan along with the monthly mortgage insurance premium.

So, on a $200,000 loan amount, based on today’s rate of 1.00%, you would pay $2,000 in MIP; with the new increase of 1.75% you would be paying $3,500 to the loan amount; an increase of $1500.  Then you add in a monthly mortgage insurance premium of 1.1% per thousand which costs $183 per month.

Although the FHA’s acting commissioner, Carole Galante, states this will raise the average homeowners payment by only $5 per month, FHA consumers are already paying about $183 more a month than those consumers that don’t pay any mortgage insurance.  Such programs as the Masshousing Loan that allows a 3% down payment with no mortgage insurance can save homeowners thousands of dollars over the course of the term of the mortgage.

The FHA fees which were just raised in the last year affected current FHA holders by preventing them from refinancing to lower rates.  The increased fees have become so high; it did not make sense for many homeowners to drop their rate a full percent.  This latest move will result in much higher costs to buyers.  A mortgage rate of 4.00% will be a net rate of 5.400% when you factor in the mortgage insurance. This is a difference in $170 per month higher payment for FHA clients compared to those who may obtain the Masshousing Loan with No Mortgage Insurance

Several economists when interviewed in regards to this latest increase agreed this would have a negative impact on the already struggling housing market.  First time home buyers represent a large percentage of the market and with these additional costs it will discourage many new buyers from entering the housing market in areas that need it most.

The FHA program was designed to be a very affordable alternative for those with a low down payment and credit that was considered less than perfect.  The FHA mortgage is still a very good option for those with credit scores under 680, but new alternatives are becoming available every day and consumers should look at all their options.

When shopping for a mortgage, make sure your lender offers Masshousing, FHA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, this will allow to compare all the programs available to ensure you are getting the best possible option and the most cost effective mortgage.

Please contact me with any questions you may have regarding this article:  bill@billnickerson.com

Mortgage Rates Go Up?

So, you’ve probably heard in the news….rates are at historic lows and that the government extended the payroll tax cut.  Do you have idea how they relate to each other and how they ultimately affect you?  Check out the KCM Blog below to find out the details.

The KCM Blog: Two Things You May Have Missed

February 16, 2012

Before the end of the year, Congress and the President agreed to extend the payroll tax cut. In that bill, there were two items of interest for those involved in real estate.

1.) The hike in the Guarantee Fees charged by the GSEs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The 10 basis point increase in the fees has translated to a .375% to .5% increase in mortgage rates for conventional loans. Many customers who started their loans a couple of months ago are being “surprised” with higher than expected rates. Heck, everything you read in the papers says rates are at historic lows and will likely stay there through 2014. Many consumers feel as if their lender is being unscrupulous. However, your lender has fallen victim to the increase in Guarantee Fees and how the secondary market is passing on the cost. What looks like possible lender greed is just a passing on of the increased expense imposed by the government. Sadly, the increased revenue isn’t even being used to help aid an ailing Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It is being turned over to the US Treasury to cover the temporary extension of the payroll tax cut.

2.) Permission for HUD to increase the insurance premiums they charge on FHA loans.

If you remember, HUD charges two insurance premiums – a monthly one and an up-front one that is usually added into the loan. Most recently, they reduced the up-front mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) and dramatically raised the monthly fee (MMIP). It is widely anticipated that, maybe as soon as April, we will see a hike in the UFMIP with no adjustment to the MMIP. While this will help shore up the reserves in the insurance fund, it will simultaneously make buying a home more expensive. No one knows the effective date or amount of the increase. Buyers should look to buy before the increase in fees.

We always hear how our government officials tuck away things in their bills. In this case, while the headlines during the holidays praised Washington for preserving the payroll tax cut, they may have hurt us more in the long run.