5 Reasons To Hurry Up And Get Your FHA Mortgage

5 Reasons To Hurry Up And Get Your FHA Mortgage Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:00 AM PDT With the likely installation of QRM looming, it is clear that FHA mortgages will clearly become more popular merely because of the lesser down payment requirements. And as we have all learned, when the demand for something goes up, and the supply remains constant, prices go UP…that is, it becomes more expensive. Talking Point One The FHA is permitted each year to insure a specific dollar amount of loans by Congress. I find it unlikely that anyone has factored the increased demand for FHA that QRM will create. Further, getting Congress to allocate more money to HUD in these days of deficits is not a sure thing. I could see a fourth quarter of 2011 with little financing available (or much more expensive financing) to people with less than 20% down. Talking Point Two We hear, almost daily, that FHA is only semi-solvent…that they don’t have sufficient reserves. Foolishly, the MIP schedule was altered to give them less cash today (lowering the Up Front MIP) and increasing the longer term collection of monies (the Monthly MIP). To me, that almost insures another MIP change this year…one in which the UFMIP is hiked to get more money in the reserves now, making mortgages more expensive. Talking Point Three The FHA is floating rumors about tightening guidelines. Maybe it will be an increase in minimum down payment from 3.5% to 5%. Maybe a cut in seller paid closing costs from 6% to 3%. Maybe both. Regardless, it is going to get harder to qualify. Understand with increased demand and steady supply, lenders will be choosier. Talking Point Four Rates are creeping up anyway. With inflation making a strong comeback (fueled by high gas prices), the Fed will look to hike rates to control inflation. Talking Point Five The current loan limits are going to be slashed. Presently, FHA will insure loans up to $729,250 in high cost areas. That number is huge when compared to historic loan limits and was instituted when desperate times called for desperate measures. And while we still might be semi-desperate, look for those loan limits to be lowered by at least $100,000 come the end of the year (when Congress sets them for the next year). For buyers, waiting can be expensive, or worse. You might not even get a loan. For sellers, more expensive loans and less buyers who qualify, will force you to lower your prices even further. ACT NOW!

Will the Cost of Buying Increase Even If Prices Fall? Posted: 20 Apr 2011 04:00 AM PDT We have discussed the proposed modifications to the mortgage process several times in this blog already. We want to make sure our readers understand the potential impact to the cost of financing a home these changes will have. The cost of buying a home may increase even if prices continue to soften. The total cost of a home is determined by two factors: § the price of the property  § the expense of financing the purchase (assuming you are not paying all cash) Check with a local real estate professional to determine where prices are headed in your region for the type of home you are considering. However, even if prices are predicted to soften further in your area, the COST of the home may rise because of increased expenses in financing. These expenses could increase rather dramatically. Interest Rates Interest rates have remained at historic lows for over a year. As the economy improves, there will be less need for the government to keep rates low. Many are predicting interest rates will increase from 1/2 point to 3/4 of a point before the end of the year. We may also see an additional increase in rate for loans deemed ‘less qualified’. New Mortgage Standards The government has proposed a new definition for a ‘qualified residential mortgage’. The new standard would set a bar much higher than we have today. Anyone not meeting these requirements would not be eligible for the ‘best’ rates available. What could be the difference in interest rate? In a white paper released last week by a group that included the Center for Responsible Lending and the National Association of Realtors:  Some private estimates have concluded that 5 percent risk retention could result in a three-percentage point rise in interest rates for loans funded through securitization. In other words, today’s 5 percent market would become an 8 percent interest-rate market. Even if the rates for these loans are only one percentage point higher than the best rate, the additional cost to a buyer could be dramatic. Impact of Interest Rates on Mortgage Payment The interest rate you receive obviously plays a big role in determining your monthly mortgage payment. How big a role? Here is a chart showing how your payment is impacted even if home prices fall: Bottom Line You may have delayed your home purchase decision because of concern over where PRICES may be headed. To make the best financial decision for you and your family, also take into consideration where the overall COST of the purchase may be headed.