FHA policy changes will impact home buyers

Last Week (January 20, 2010) FHA announced policy changes that will impact home buyers beginning in April, 2010, raising costs associated with FHA loans.

Here are some highlights that effect the FHA buyer's pocketbook:

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) will increase by 0.5% (50 bps) to 2.25%. This is a front-end loan cost.  FHA also seeks to increase the maximum annual MIP that FHA can charge, in order to shift some of the premium increase from up-front to annual MIP (My read:  More money to close; possibly higher MIP premiums -higher house payment).

FHA applicants with FICO scores of less than 580 will be required to make a 10% down payment vs.  the normal 3.5% FHA down payment.

Reduce allowable seller contribution to 3% from 6% (My Read:  Many FHA buyers have been “cash poor” and, in the past have needed up to 6% of sales price in assistance from the seller to get the deal closed – this is a pretty big piece of cash that buyers will have to come up with from other sources.)

So, If you are in the market for a home now, and you are planning on using FHA financing, you can save yourself some money by closing before April.  Talk with your agent about how these changes impact your personal situation.

Here are the policy changes as stated in the FHA release

1. Mortgage insurance premium (MIP) will be increased to build up capital reserves and bring back private lending
   • The first step will be to raise the up-front MIP by 50 bps to 2.25% and request legislative authority to increase the maximum annual MIP that the FHA can charge.
   • If this authority is granted, then the second step will be to shift some of the premium increase from the up-front MIP to the annual MIP.
   • This shift will allow for the capital reserves to increase with less impact to the consumer, because the annual MIP is paid over the life of the loan instead of at the time of closing
   • The initial up-front increase is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and will go into effect in the spring.
2. Update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers.
   • New borrowers will now be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA’s 3.5% down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10%.
   • This allows the FHA to better balance its risk and continue to provide access for those borrowers who have historically performed well.
   • This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February and, after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.
3. Reduce allowable seller concessions from 6% to 3%
   • The current level exposes the FHA to excess risk by creating incentives to inflate appraised value. This change will bring FHA into conformity with industry standards on seller concessions.
   • This change will be posted in the Federal Register in February, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in the early summer.
4. Increase enforcement on FHA lenders
   • Publicly report lender performance rankings to complement currently available Neighborhood Watch data – Will be available on the HUD website on February 1.
     • This is an operational change to make information more user-friendly and hold lenders more accountable; it does not require new regulatory action as Neighborhood Watch data is currently publicly available.
   • Enhance monitoring of lender performance and compliance with FHA guidelines and standards.
     • Implement Credit Watch termination through lender underwriting ID in addition to originating ID.
     • This change is included in a Mortgagee Letter to be released tomorrow, January 21st, and is effective immediately.
   • Implement statutory authority through regulation of section 256 of the National Housing Act to enforce indemnification provisions for lenders using delegated insuring process
     • Specifications of this change will be posted in March, and after a notice and comment period, would go into effect in early summer.
   • HUD is pursuing legislative authority to increase enforcement on FHA lenders. Specific authority includes:
     • Amendment of section 256 of the National Housing Act to apply indemnification provisions to all Direct Endorsement lenders. This would require all approved mortgagees to assume liability for all of the loans that they originate and underwrite
     • Legislative authority permitting HUD maximum flexibility to establish separate “areas” for purposes of review and termination under the Credit Watch initiative. This would provide authority to withdraw originating and underwriting approval for a lender nationwide on the basis of the performance of its regional branches

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Joe Spake

Realtor at InCity Realty

Joe Spake is a Real Estate Broker and Consultant, specializing in Midtown, Downtown, and East Memphis residential properties. His interests include architecture, community activism, music, photography and cooking. Get more great real estate information on Joe's Facebook Page. Call 901-870-3440 or Email Joe@spake.com

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