FHA Loans Get More Expensive; LPMI Alternative

If Uncle Sam hasn’t made you dislike April 15 enough, the FHA will. As of April 15, new FHA loan guidelines go into effect which raise the cost of an FHA loan to borrowers.

How and where are the increases? In the Mortgage Insurance (MI) part of the equation.

How much is the increase? Let’s take a look at some examples…

Sales Price Loan Amount(Base) Old MI New MI

$200,000      $193,000     $144.75      $184.96 (+$40.21 per month)

$325,000       $313,625     $235.22      $300.56 (+$65.34 per month)

$450,000       $434,250     $325.69      $416.16 (+ 90.47 per month)

You may be wondering why the FHA is raising the cost of mortgage insurance (and the overall loan) to borrowers now. In my humble opinion…it’s part of their plan to recoup their past losses and protect themselves from future losses. The FHA is still licking their wounds (aka financial losses) from all of the foreclosures and general down market of the past 5 years.

It may also be a sign that the FHA and government in general believes that there is a recovery taking place and, therefore, the market (and borrowers) are able to absorb the added cost. (Whether they’re correct or not is not a debate I’m going to get into right now)

This isn’t good news if you’re an FHA borrower. But you may have an alternative.

It’s called Lender Paid Mortgage Insurance (LPMI). It’s a type of loan where, rather than paying monthly Mortgage Insurance, your interest rate is higher. There are pros and cons to LPMI though I think the pros outweigh the cons in most cases.

Here’s an overview of LPMI…

- LPMI is not an FHA loan product. It is a private lender program backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

- LPMI generally requires a 5 percent down payment rather than 3.5 percent for an FHA loan. There are some 3 percent down LPMI programs out there, but they are more expensive for the borrower than than an FHA loan under the new guidelines.

- Even though your interest rate is higher with LPMI, your overall monthly mortgage payment is typically less than an FHA loan with a lower interest rate with Mortgage Insurance.

- Mortgage Insurance may or may not be tax deductible – there are strict income and other guidelines that the borrower must meet. But mortgage interest is tax deductible.

New FHA loan versus LPMI loan

Here’s an example of an FHA loan under the new guidelines versus an LPMI loan on a $400K purchase ($30K down payment, $380K financed)…

New FHA – 4.75% interest rate (based on a 720 – 760 FICO/credit score)

$ 2,002.08 Principal and Interest
$ 348.33 Mortgage Insurance
$ 343.33 Taxes
$ 70.00 Homeowner’s Insurance
$ 2,763.74 Total

LPMI – 5.375% interest rate (based on a 720 – 760 FICO/credit score)

$ 2,127.89 Principal and Interest
$0 Mortgage Insurance
$ 343.33 Taxes
$ 70.00 Homeowner’s Insurance
$ 2,541.22 Total

The difference in the total monthly mortgage payment is $222.52. This does not include the tax benefits of writing off the additional interest with the LPMI option.

New FHA -4.75% interest rate (based on a 680 – 719 FICO/credit score)

$ 2,002.08 Principal and Interest
$ 348.33 Mortgage Insurance
$ 343.33 Taxes
$ 70.00 Homeowner’s Insurance
$ 2,763.74 Total

LPMI – 5.75% interest rate (based on a 680 – 719 FICO/credit score)

$ 2,217.57 Principal and Interest
$0 Mortgage Insurance
$ 343.33 Taxes
$ 70.00 Homeowner’s Insurance
$ 2,630.90 Total

The difference in the total monthly mortgage payment is $132.84. As in the previous example, this does not include the tax benefits of writing off the additional interest with the LPMI option.

New FHA loan versus LPMI loan versus your credit score

The amount you save with LPMI financing is significant if you have a very good to great credit score. But that amount quickly decreases the lower your credit score is. The reason for this is that private lenders want to attract those with very good to great credit and protect themselves from those with mediocre and bad credit.

If your credit score is below 680, the the LPMI is most likely not for you because it requires 6 points (6 percent of the total loan amount) for the lender to even consider you as a candidate for LPMI financing. If you fall into this category, then an FHA loan is probably going to be more cost effective for you.

Is an FHA loan or LPMI loan better for you?

This is a very general outline of the changes and a general comparison between an FHA loan and an LPMI loan. There are lots of other details that come into play and everyone’s situation is different. You should speak with an experienced and honest lender that knows all of the “fine print” so you can make an educated decision about what is best for you.

I got my lesson about the new FHA and LPMI loan guidelines from the lender I’ve been working with for over 8 years now -  Darran Anthony of First Home Mortgage in Leesburg, VA. Darran is very experienced, extremely knowledgeable and will tell it like it is. Give him a call or send him an email to see which financing option is best for you, whether it be FHA, LPMI or one of the other financing options available. Here is his contact info…

Darran Anthony, Branch Manager – First Home Mortgage, Leesburg, VA – 703.443.1150 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              703.443.1150      end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext 3410 – danthony@gofirsthome.com

Freddie Mac SmartBuy, Closing Cost Assistance Program Expires This Month

Since July, Freddie Mac has been offering to pay home buyers up to 3.5 percent for closing cost assistance and a 2 year home warranty through their HomeSteps SmartBuy program. This is a huge incentive that has come in handy for those with not a lot of cash lying around and/or wanting to use the money in other ways. But the program is soon coming to an end.

Freddie Mac’s HomeSteps SmartBuy program will expire October 30, 2009. In order to qualify, home buyers must make an initial offer on a HomeSteps home by October 30, 2009 with closing completed by December 31, 2009. It applies only to houses purchased as a primary residence.

If you submit an offer on a HomeSteps home after October 30, any closing cost assistance from Freddie Mac will have to be negotiated.

If you’re interested in purchasing a Freddie Mac HomeSteps home or have any questions about the SmartBuy program, click here to contact me.

Click here to search for available Freddie Mac HomeSteps SmartBuy homes in the area.

How to Buy a New Home and Still Have Representation

If you’re thinking about buying a new home from a builder, check out this question posted by new home buyers on Trulia:

My husband and I put an offer on a new house without representation from a Realtor. We have signed a builder’s contract. Can we still get a Realtor to represent us to go over everything until closing?

My response:

Yes, you can hire a Realtor to represent you at any time. But you will have to pay them out of your own pocket. The builder will not pay your Realtor any commission because you did not have them with you at the very beginning of the process and the transaction.

I’d be happy to chat with you more about this, but it’s a better phone call than an email or comment. What’s the best number to reach you on?

On a related note, you may want to read this post regarding a new home builder taking home buyers to the cleaners (to the tune of $50 million) - http://loudounscene.com/2009/07/beazer-homes-to-pay-50m-to-victimized-home-buyers.html

Here are excerpts from other responses:

I used to work New Homes for a decade. Keep in mind when you a prospective buyer enters the Sales Office of a new home commuity and you are asked to fill out and sign the little registration card, that is so the builder knows how the buyer came to the community. Builders have a formula they use to figure out the pricing of a community. Using historical information, they budget in the price the number of homes that will be sold with Realtor representation and if the advertising campaigns work well,and the road signage works well, sometimes they make out better with more buyers wandering in without representation. It’s business. They are trying to sell and make a profit. My advice for others out looking, if you have a Realtor or feel you want Realtor representation, just write on the card you have a Realtor. That way you will have that option at a later date if you feel you need it.

Remember Builders are no different than glorified For Sale By Owner situations. The person onsite works for the builder. Period. There responsiblity is to sell the homes on that site.

- Peggy James

Yes, you can, but the builder is under no obligation to pay them a commission. So if you want to pay them or they want to do it because they love you, its all good.

- Fred Wolfe

I sell new construction and new home communities with builders/developers of New Construction and New Home Developments and have so for years like many real estate professionals doing so.

This [registering of the buyer's agent/broker] must be done with broker/agent and potential buyer on the very first visit in the Sales office with the Sales Representative for the new home development on the floor during time of walk in to preview models of the new home community.

After first initial registration, the would be buyer can go back a number of times with their friends and family to preview models again in consideration of their purchase in that community once already registered with their agent representing them.

No money is out of pocket with the buyer. The commission earned to the buyers agent/broker is paid by the New Home Developer to the broker and broker/agent representing the buyer and the buyer is allowed to have his own agent represent him in the purchase of the new home development. The new home builder developer of that community represents then the seller which is the Builder of the new home development, and the agent/broker represents the new home community buyer for that developer.

- Sandra Allman

Don’t put yourself in the same situation as these new home buyers. Be prepared and you can have representation throughout the entire process and transaction – without having to pull extra money out of your pocket.

And the great thing is that being prepared is simple:

1. Before you start looking around, interview and hire a knowledgeable Buyer’s Agent experienced with new homes and builders in the area
2. Bring your Buyer’s Agent with you on your first visit and/or have them go out and preview new construction home sites and models on your behalf ahead of time

If you need to speak with an agent that knows the ins and outs of new homes and builders, email or call me. I would be glad to help.

Related Articles

Brookfield Homes starts up sales once again at Goose Creek Bend

Brambleton Launches “Immediate Delivery/Spec Home” Blog Site

Gulick Group Lowers Base Prices, Revises Products in Brambleton

New Home Buyers: What You Don’t Know Can Cost You

Beazer Homes to Pay $50M to Victimized Home Buyers

Loudoun Increases Cost of New Homes for Builders and Buyers

While neighboring counties and their officials are trying to help developers, builders and consumers weather the recession, Loudoun County is doing the opposite. In doing the opposite, Loudoun is taking money right out of the pockets of buyers, sellers and homeowners.

Here is what neighboring counties are doing:

• The Montgomery County Council is considering delaying a proposed 3.5 percent increase in impact fees
• In Prince George’s, the County Council has lengthened the life of development approvals and held off increasing impact taxes
• Fairfax County has reduced the amount a developer must put up in surety bonds to guarantee a project’s completion
• In the District of Columbia, lawmakers are allowing regulators to lengthen from two to five years the time developers have to begin work on projects in southwest Washington

What is Loudoun County doing?

• Loudoun just raised proffers (the amount of money a builder must the county to build a home) by as much as 22 percent – $59,470 per single family home. The increases per type of property are $5,000 per apartment/condo; $11,000 per town home; $13,000 per single family home)

Who bears the brunt of these decreases and increases?

In the end, it’s consumers.

Here’s why…

If it becomes less expensive for a builder to build a home, the builder may offer greater incentives and/or lower base prices to create increased demand for their homes. The consumer wins and sales pick up.

If it becomes more expensive for a builder to build a home, the builder will most likely increase the base price and/or decrease incentives to make up for the additional cost. The consumer loses and sales slow down.

Sales picking up is better for homeowners and sellers. Sales slowing down is bad for homeowners and sellers.

Loudoun claims that the increase in proffers in necessary to pay for schools and public facilities. Ok…I get it. You need to pay for those things.

But why must those costs fall solely on the shoulders of home buyers? And why would Loudoun “OK” an increase in proffers (aka increase in the cost of buying a home) at a time when everyone and their mother is trying to lower the cost of buying and selling a home in order to stimulate the housing market?

Seems a bit backwards to me…

P.S. Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) was the only board member to oppose the motion.

On a side note, the increase in proffers is only for Eastern Loudoun. The proffers in Western Loudoun remained relatively unchanged. Hmmm…interesting.