Obama's MIP Reduction for 2017 Reversed by Incoming Trump Administration
FHA Homeowners Can Still Save an Average of $900 Annually From the 2015 Reduction. Further Estimated Reduction of $500 Suspended.
On January 9, 2017, the Federal Housing Administration operating under the Obama administration announced a further reduction in the FHA loan annual mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) for new loans. The change would affect most Title II FHA mortgage loans with a closing/disbursement date on or after January 27, 2017. Excluded were loans made for properties in the Hawaiian Homelands.
These new MIP rates would have reduced the annual premiums by a quarter of one percentage point, bringing them in line with what rates were prior to pre-housing crisis levels of 2008. This is referred to by many as the "collapse of the housing market." Homebuyers financing their homes with an FHA government-backed loan could have saved an additional $500 per year based on an average $200,000 mortgage with a term of at least 11 years.
Less than two weeks later in the first hour of Trump's presidency, the incoming administration suspended the rate reduction with its first executive action. The suspension of the 0.25 percentage point premium rate cut happened before the reduction had even taken effect.
Since FHA loans have a minimum down payment rate set as low as 3.5 percent, it is compulsory that borrowers pay the MIP. When someone purchases a home with an FHA mortgage, part of their mortgage payment includes a required annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP). The amount of the annual MIP is based on the loan-to-value ratio, base loan amount, and the term of the mortgage.
Loans backed by FHA are popular because the FICO score requirement of 580 is lower than what is required for conventional mortgages and the down payment can be as low as 3.5%. Buyers must still demonstrate their ability to qualify for a mortgage and pay it back on time.
See also: Current Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) Rates
SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
March 5, 2020 - If you are hoping to buy a home but do not have a long credit history, it’s easy to understand why you might be concerned about your ability to get a loan approved. Fortunately there are some things you can do to build your credit ahead of a home loan that will help.
March 4, 2020 - There are some misconceptions about down payment grants in general, but one of the biggest is that the FHA itself or the lender is somehow responsible for managing or offering these grants. You, the borrower, are responsible for locating the programs in your area.
March 1, 2020 - Are you on the fence about buying a home? There are many reasons why it’s a great idea to search for a home in 2020, such as owning instead of renting, the ability to freely customize your living space, or using a cash-out refinance to convert part of your home’s value into cash.
February 22, 2020 - There are agencies across the country operating on a local level to offer down payment help to qualified borrowers, many of whom are first-time home buyers. And many of these grant programs have no repayment requirements when terms and conditions are met.
February 18, 2020 - Some new to the real estate market might assume they are not qualified to be approved for a construction loan, but these loans have the same kinds of terms and conditions that other mortgages do and you don’t need to have special credit scores to qualify.
