Good Friday! There are some (big) changes to the FHA program beginning on September 7^th, 2010. 

FHA is lowering their Up Front Mortgage Insurance (Financed on top of the loan) from 2.25% down to 1%. Yes, this sounds great doesn't it? Not so much, they are raising the monthly mortgage insurance from .55% to .90%. It may not sound like much, so let's take a look at the example below:

 

How does this affect our clients? 

$200,000 Purchase price

4.5% Interest Rate 

PRE- September 7^th

Principal interest and mortgage insurance payment: $1,127.16

 

AFTER- September 7^th

Principal interest and mortgage insurance payment: $1,172.45

 

As you can see the payments will rise by $45.29 in this example.

  

If you have a borrower looking for a home now (or on the fence waiting), it's important

to let them know about these changes. This can alter their "approved for" amount by as much as $10,000!

 

It's important to work with someone who understands how these changes will affect you and your clients.

Please let me know if I can help in any way.

Have a wonderful Weekend! 

Travis

 

Below you will find the actual letter sent out from David Stevens.

 

  

August 5, 2010 LINKS

Over the past week, Congress has taken quick action and passed H.R. 5981.

The bill gives FHA the authority to adjust its annual mortgage insurance

premium, yielding approximately $300 million per month in value to the FHA

Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund at a time when its reserves are perilously

low.

As I have previously stated in my testimony before Congress, FHA will lower its

upfront premium simultaneously with the increase to the annual premium¹. It

is our intention that effective on September 7 insurance premium will be

adjusted down to 100 basis points on all amortization terms and the annual

mortgage insurance premium will increase to 85--‐90 basis points on amortization

terms greater than 15 years². A Mortgagee Letter will be forthcoming once

President Obama signs the bill into Law schedule, I wanted to immediately

inform the industry of our plans so the lending community can begin preparing

for the operational and system structure on all new case numbers by September 7, 2010.

 

With this authority, FHA is in a better position to address the increased

demands of the marketplace and return the MMI fund to congressionally

mandated levels without disruption to the housing market. While we appreciate

and applaud this recent action, there is still work to be done. HUD remains steadfast

in its commitment to comprehensive FHA reform legislation, similar to the FHA

Reform Act passed earlier this year by the and risk management efforts.

We hope Congress will take swift action to pass management efforts will not be

complete without the ability to monitor lender performance and ensure compliance

with our rules.

Although the transition timeframe is short, implementation by September is

critical. Thank you in advance for the efforts of you and your organization to

make this change happen on such short notice. We appreciate your hard work

and continued partnership.

 

¹The upfront and annual premium changes do not apply to the following FHA Programs: Title I,

HECM, HOPE for Homeowners (H4H), Section 247 (Hawaiian Homelands), Section 248 (Indian

Reservations), Section 223 (e) (declining neighborhoods), Section 238(c) (Military Impact areas in

Georgia and New York).