Fha Mortgage Loans Cary | NC FHA Expert

FHA PMI Changes 4/18/2011 – Again

FHA Announced that they will be changing their Mortgage Insurance Premiums (sometimes called MIP or PMI) again effective April 18, 2011. This change, like so many others is not going to make the program any cheaper!

FHA does not underwrite mortgages - they insure them against default, just like Private Mortgage Insurance Companies. Because of this, they set their own guidelines for underwriting the file, and they set their own rates.

There are currently two types of Mortgage Insurance or PMI associated with every FHA loan we make.

Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (sometimes referred to as UFMIP): The current rate on this premium is currently 1 percent of the loan amount. At THIS TIME, if you sell the property or refinance it – you will NOT get a refund of the fee as you did in year’s past.

Annual or MONTHLY Mortgage Insurance (I’ve seen it referred to both ways because pay for it MONTHLY – but it’s calculated on an annual basis): The NEW rate for this FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium varies depending upon your downpayment – and the length of your loan

Annual Premiums for Loans Longer than 15 Years

(So 20 and 30 year mortgage loans)
If you borrow 95.000% of the value of the home or Less 110 BPS
If you borrow MORE than 95 percent of the value of the home 115 BPS

Annual Premiums for Loans 15 Years or Less

If you borrow 95.000% of the value of the home or Less 25 BPS

If you borrow MORE than 95 percent of the value of the home 50 BPS

How do I know what the BPS means to my monthly payment??

In the simplest of terms (for these purposes) here’s how you calculate it:

Sales Price is $300,000

3.5% Downpayment makes your Loan Amount $289,500

Multiply $289,500 by 1.15% which equals $3,329.25 per month. Divide that by 12 months – and your Mortgage Insurance payment is roughly $277 a month.

If you apply for a mortgage PRIOR to April 17, 2011 (meaning the CURRENT rate), your monthly Mortgage Insurance payment is $229 on that mortgage. Here’s the letter from FHA about all of this.

My personal feeling is that these premiums are too high… but that is what the government is aiming for. They want more Banks and PRIVATE Mortgage Insurance Companies to be in the mortgage arena. The good news is that house prices are SOOOO low – that even with the higher mortgage insurance premiums – there’s good value available!

If you have questions about purchasing a home and qualifying for a FHA mortgage loan in NC – please call Steve and Eleanor Thorne! 919-649-5058

Could FHA Force Green Homeownership?

Are we going to Force Green Living?

President Obama, and most of the rest of us are thinking Green is Good, and in an Executive Order issued earlier this month, he required that all Federal Agencies must do everything possible to:

“increase energy efficiency; measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from direct and indirect activities;… eliminate waste, recycle and prevent pollution…”

No Federal Agency, no Fannie or Freddie have put requirements on homeownership at this point – however it does cause one to pause. How far do we go?

HUD is required to report back to the White House it’s Greenhouse Gas Emmission reduction suggestions by January. Since there is pressure to show large increases in energy efficiency and corresponding decreases in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions… could this move HUD toward imposing “green” standards on federally-assisted programs like FHA?

How else is the Department going to show significant reduction efforts?

I think I’d keep this on the Radar. This could have a HUGE impact on HUD programs, especially FHA single-family and multifamily insurance programs! Think the Minimum Property Standards could be changing??

Lead Paint – move over! We could be requiring additional insulation, solar hot water heaters, upgraded windows!

If you are considering a purchase in Cary or Raleigh, NC and want to talk about being pre-qualified, please call Steve and Eleanor Thorne, 919-649-5058