Starting January 27th, FHA will lower their monthly mortgage insurance to .6% from .85%. On a $200,000 mortgage that would be a reduction of approximately $41 a month. It looks like we are starting to see the housing and mortgage market remove the roadblocks of first time home buyers. Although FHA is not solely a first time home buyer program, it does help first time home buyers get into the housing market by offering a 3.5% down payment option.
This is the 2nd sign we’ve seen this year that the powers that be look like they are all in for kick starting the housing market and getting the economy moving. Yesterday I posted a blog about Freddie Mac offering a new 1% down program and now FHA reduces their monthly mortgage insurance. These both look like positives signs. I will continue to keep you abreast of any new changes that occur in the mortgage and housing markets.