Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Changes coming to FHA effective October 4th 2010

On August 12, 2010, the President signed into law a bill that authorizes HUD to increase the annual mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans, effective October 4, 2010.
For those unfamiliar with FHA loans, the mortgage insurance on these loans is divided into two types:
1)      The Up-Front Mortgage Insurance premium (UFMIP) collected at closing and normally financed into the loan, and,
2)      The annual mortgage insurance premium which is collected as part of your monthly mortgage payment. 
HUD has always had the authority to change the UFMIP and has done so regularly, but they needed special approval by Congress to change the annual premium. The President’s signature finalized the approval HUD had requested.
FHA survives based on the mortgage insurance it collects.  This is not a tax increase of any sort.  FHA needed to do something to increase its reserves.  However, given the role FHA plays in the housing industry, especially for lower-income buyers and entry-level housing, the proposed changes (which go into effect on October 4) will make it harder for future borrowers to qualify for FHA loans.  At the very least, FHA mortgages will be more expensive.
Currently the UFMIP on FHA loans is 2.25% while the annual premium for 30-year fixed mortgages with less than 5% down payment is 0.55%.  Effective for new loans after October 4, 2010 (loans with FHA case numbers assigned after this date), the UFMIP will be lowered to 1%, while the corresponding annual premium will increase to 0.90%.  I have broken it down here:
Monthly Mortgage Payment Comparison
CurrentAfter October 4
Base loan amount $        100,000 $             100,000
Total loan amount $        102,250 $             101,000
Principal & Interest (PI) $          548.90 $               542.19
Mortgage Insurance (MI) $            45.53 $                 74.50
PIMI $          594.43 $               616.69
Difference $                 22.26
*5% interest rate used.  MI based on rate for 3.5% down payment
The monthly mortgage payment for FHA borrowers will now be 3.75% higher than under the previous premium structure.  Since an important qualifying factor for potential borrowers is the ratio of their debt to their gross income, these FHA changes will just make it a little harder to qualify.
Taken another way, the changes will cost the borrower more in the long run.  For anyone planning on staying in their home longer than four years, FHA will collect more total mortgage insurance premiums.
Comparison
CurrentAfter October 4Difference
UFMIP $  2,250 $    1,000 $     (1,250)
Annual MIP $     550 $        900 $           350
The annual MIP is recalculated every year based on the current principal balance, so it will decrease slightly every year until it is cancelled.  As you can see though, after four years, the savings from the lower UFMIP percentage is eliminated.

For additional information contact:
 Michelle Bennett
Mortgage Consultant
15531 Ventura Blvd Ste.100
Encino CA 91436
Ofc: 818.380.5218
Cell:818.861.9798
Fax: 818.380.5101
e:MichelleBennett914@gmail.com

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