Mortgage Rates Close to ‘Bottoming,’ Koskinen Says (Update2)
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By Kim Chipman and Romaine Bostick
March 27 (Bloomberg) -- Mortgage rates are “probably as good as it’s going to get” and the housing market is likely to rebound sooner than some forecasts, Freddie Mac interim Chief Executive Officer John A. Koskinen said.
“Mortgage rates, if they go down at all further, it’s going to be incremental,” Koskinen told reporters today in Washington after he met with President Barack Obama. “Interest rates are probably close to bottoming out, and therefore we are telling people” to buy a house now.
The U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate as tracked by Freddie Mac fell to 4.85 percent, the lowest on record, on a government plan to increase purchases of mortgage bonds. The U.S. housing market, the worst since the Great Depression, may improve sooner than some economists’ forecasts as people who had put off home purchases take advantage of a “buyer’s market.”
“This is more attractive than they’ve ever been and about as attractive as they’re ever going to be,” Koskinen said of mortgage rates. ‘We are going to begin to see a lot of home purchases by people on the sidelines who are suddenly discovering ‘hey I can afford a house.’”
Read the entire Mortgage rate article here:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_7KVrbmxVnQ
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Mortgage rates at 52-year low
Mortgage rates at 52-year low
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dips to 5.19%, according to a report from Bankrate.com, the lowest rate since 1956.
By Catherine Clifford, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: March 26, 2009: 2:38 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home mortgage rates dropped to a 52-year low this week, according to a report released Thursday, in the wake of the government's announcement that it will buy more than $1 trillion in debt.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.19% this week, down from 5.29% in the week prior, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey.
The previous low was 5.28%, hit this January and in June 2003; the last time rates dipped lower than 5.19% was in 1956, according to Bankrate.com.
To put the plunge in mortgage rates into perspective, 30-year fixed home mortgage rates averaged 6.77% in late October. At that time, a $200,000 home loan would have meant a monthly payment of $1,299.86. Now, with the mortgage rates down at 5.19%, the monthly payment for the same loan would be $1,096.99. That works out to a savings of more than $200 per month.
Meanwhile, the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 4.80% from 4.86% in the the prior week. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate carried an average of 0.49 points.
The government announced last week that it would be buying more than $1 trillion in debt in order to increase liquidity and improve credit conditions. With the key lending rate already at a range of 0% to 0.25%, the Federal Open Market Committee - the policymaking committee of the Fed that sets interest rates - turned to less traditional means to encourage lending.
The Federal Reserve said that it would buy an additional $750 billion in mortgage-backed securities and $300 billion of long-term Treasurys. The so called "quantitative easing" policy essentially increases the money supply and is designed to push interest rates down, making borrowing cheaper.
Not much further to drop: Analysts say that while mortgage rates could edge a smidgen lower, they won't make any more dramatic plunges.
"At this point, what we are going to see is mortgage rates fluctuate at these levels," said Brian Bethune, chief financial analyst at IHS Global Insight. "I don't see them dropping significantly from where they are now."
Mortgage rates move in relation to the yield on the 10-year government bond. While there is not a direct correlation, they do move in the same direction. Bethune said that there are two factors that will prevent Treasury yields, and by extension mortgage rates, from dropping much further.
"One is the huge Treasury borrowing requirements," he said. As the government looks to fund its massive stimulus spending programs, it has had to issue a record amount of debt. The increased supply keeps a lid on the price of bonds and stabilizes yields.
"In addition, as we get closer to perceptions of a trough in the economy, the yields will tend to see upward pressure," said Bethune. Uncle Sam's debt is considered one of the safest places for investors to keep their cash. During times of market uncertainty, demand surges, the prices increase, and yields fall. But as market sentiment begins to believe the economy could be headed for recovery, demand for Treasurys will lessen, lifting yields.
Surge in refinance: The dramatic drop in mortgage rates has motivated home owners to refinance in great numbers, but the drop in mortgage rates has not spurred as large an increase in new home purchases, said Mike Larson, real estate analyst at Weiss Research.
"We are still not seeing a huge impact on home buying," he said. "All else being equal, it will help the market," said Larson. "But it is not the huge impact you are seeing on the refinance side."
Bankrate.com compiles national averages every Wednesday by surveying the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 housing markets. For historical data, Bankrate.com cites the National Bureau of Economic Research.
First Published: March 26, 2009: 12:25 PM ET
Find this article at:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/26/real_estate/mortgage_rates/index.htm?section=money_latest
* Please note that if you have a Massachusetts mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dips to 5.19%, according to a report from Bankrate.com, the lowest rate since 1956.
By Catherine Clifford, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: March 26, 2009: 2:38 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home mortgage rates dropped to a 52-year low this week, according to a report released Thursday, in the wake of the government's announcement that it will buy more than $1 trillion in debt.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.19% this week, down from 5.29% in the week prior, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey.
The previous low was 5.28%, hit this January and in June 2003; the last time rates dipped lower than 5.19% was in 1956, according to Bankrate.com.
To put the plunge in mortgage rates into perspective, 30-year fixed home mortgage rates averaged 6.77% in late October. At that time, a $200,000 home loan would have meant a monthly payment of $1,299.86. Now, with the mortgage rates down at 5.19%, the monthly payment for the same loan would be $1,096.99. That works out to a savings of more than $200 per month.
Meanwhile, the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 4.80% from 4.86% in the the prior week. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate carried an average of 0.49 points.
The government announced last week that it would be buying more than $1 trillion in debt in order to increase liquidity and improve credit conditions. With the key lending rate already at a range of 0% to 0.25%, the Federal Open Market Committee - the policymaking committee of the Fed that sets interest rates - turned to less traditional means to encourage lending.
The Federal Reserve said that it would buy an additional $750 billion in mortgage-backed securities and $300 billion of long-term Treasurys. The so called "quantitative easing" policy essentially increases the money supply and is designed to push interest rates down, making borrowing cheaper.
Not much further to drop: Analysts say that while mortgage rates could edge a smidgen lower, they won't make any more dramatic plunges.
"At this point, what we are going to see is mortgage rates fluctuate at these levels," said Brian Bethune, chief financial analyst at IHS Global Insight. "I don't see them dropping significantly from where they are now."
Mortgage rates move in relation to the yield on the 10-year government bond. While there is not a direct correlation, they do move in the same direction. Bethune said that there are two factors that will prevent Treasury yields, and by extension mortgage rates, from dropping much further.
"One is the huge Treasury borrowing requirements," he said. As the government looks to fund its massive stimulus spending programs, it has had to issue a record amount of debt. The increased supply keeps a lid on the price of bonds and stabilizes yields.
"In addition, as we get closer to perceptions of a trough in the economy, the yields will tend to see upward pressure," said Bethune. Uncle Sam's debt is considered one of the safest places for investors to keep their cash. During times of market uncertainty, demand surges, the prices increase, and yields fall. But as market sentiment begins to believe the economy could be headed for recovery, demand for Treasurys will lessen, lifting yields.
Surge in refinance: The dramatic drop in mortgage rates has motivated home owners to refinance in great numbers, but the drop in mortgage rates has not spurred as large an increase in new home purchases, said Mike Larson, real estate analyst at Weiss Research.
"We are still not seeing a huge impact on home buying," he said. "All else being equal, it will help the market," said Larson. "But it is not the huge impact you are seeing on the refinance side."
Bankrate.com compiles national averages every Wednesday by surveying the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 housing markets. For historical data, Bankrate.com cites the National Bureau of Economic Research.
First Published: March 26, 2009: 12:25 PM ET
Find this article at:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/26/real_estate/mortgage_rates/index.htm?section=money_latest
* Please note that if you have a Massachusetts mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Mortgage Rate Alerts
Mortgage Rate Alerts
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Don't miss your rate again
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mortgage Market Commentary
Mortgage Market Commentary
Strong demand for last week's Treasury auctions was a major reason why mortgage rates gained 19bps despite the rising stock market. Investors will be keeping an eye on the level of foreign interest in buying U.S. debt. If demand for U.S. Treasuries falls, then interest rates on mortgages will likely move higher. Today the Treasury International Capital data will offer the latest on foreign demand for U.S. securities, especially the Chinese, the largest holder of U.S. debt, including MBS. The big economic news this week will be the Fed Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday. Cutting rates is no longer an option, but the Fed may announce additional measures to stimulate the economy. The most significant economic data this week will be the monthly inflation reports; Producer Price Index (PPI) on Tuesday and Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. Higher inflation leads to higher mortgage rates. Other reports this week include, Industrial Production on Monday, Housing Starts on Tuesday, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) weekly applications on Wednesday and Jobless Claims, Leading Indicators & Philadelphia Fed index on Thursday. Also on Thursday the Treasury announces the amount of 2yr & 5yr notes to be auctioned. Fed Chief Bernanke speaks on Friday, rounding out the week.
Strong demand for last week's Treasury auctions was a major reason why mortgage rates gained 19bps despite the rising stock market. Investors will be keeping an eye on the level of foreign interest in buying U.S. debt. If demand for U.S. Treasuries falls, then interest rates on mortgages will likely move higher. Today the Treasury International Capital data will offer the latest on foreign demand for U.S. securities, especially the Chinese, the largest holder of U.S. debt, including MBS. The big economic news this week will be the Fed Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday. Cutting rates is no longer an option, but the Fed may announce additional measures to stimulate the economy. The most significant economic data this week will be the monthly inflation reports; Producer Price Index (PPI) on Tuesday and Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. Higher inflation leads to higher mortgage rates. Other reports this week include, Industrial Production on Monday, Housing Starts on Tuesday, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) weekly applications on Wednesday and Jobless Claims, Leading Indicators & Philadelphia Fed index on Thursday. Also on Thursday the Treasury announces the amount of 2yr & 5yr notes to be auctioned. Fed Chief Bernanke speaks on Friday, rounding out the week.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Mortgage Rate Advice
Rate Lock Advisory - Thursday Mar. 12th
Thursday's bond market has opened flat despite early stock gains and stronger than expected economic news. The Dow is currently up 99 points while the Nasdaq is up 14 points. The bond market is currently up 2/32, but we will likely see an improvement in this morning's mortgage rates of approximately .375 of a discount point due to strength in bonds late yesterday.
The Commerce Department posted February's Retail Sales data this morning, revealing a 0.1% decline in sales. This was stronger than the 0.4% that was expected. Today's release also revised January's sales figures higher 0.8%, meaning that sales at the retail level of the economy were stronger than expected the past two months. That is considered to be bad news for the bond market and mortgage rates, but the market seems to be shrugging off the data.
Also this morning, the Labor Department announced that 654,000 new claims for benefits were filed last week. This was a little higher than expected, but this weekly report usually does not carry much influence on the markets and mortgage rates unless it varies greatly from forecasts.
The 30-year Bond auction is being held today. Results will be posted at 1:00 PM, as yesterday's 10-year Note sale. Yesterday's sale was met with a strong demand from investors, which helped rally bonds during afternoon trading. The 10-year Note is more relevant to mortgage rates than the 30-year Bond, but a weak or strong sale today can lead to selling to selling or buying of bonds on a broader scale. So, if we get another strong interest in the sale, we may see bonds rally again this afternoon.
There are two economic reports scheduled to be posted tomorrow morning. The first is the release of January's Goods and Services Trade Balance. This report gives us the size of the U.S. trade deficit. It is the week's least important piece of news and likely will not influence mortgage rates much. It is expected to show a trade deficit of $38.2 billion.
The second report of the morning is the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for March at 9:45 AM. This index gives us a measurement of consumer willingness to spend. If confidence is rising, then consumers are more apt to make large purchases. This helps fuel consumer spending and economic growth. A drop in confidence will probably hurt the stock markets and boost bond prices, leading to lower mortgage rates. If the index rises, indicating that confidence is rising and spending will likely rise, we may see mortgage rates move higher late tomorrow morning. It is expected to show a reading of 56.3.
If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Float if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.
©Mortgage Commentary 2009
* Please note that if you have a mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
Thursday's bond market has opened flat despite early stock gains and stronger than expected economic news. The Dow is currently up 99 points while the Nasdaq is up 14 points. The bond market is currently up 2/32, but we will likely see an improvement in this morning's mortgage rates of approximately .375 of a discount point due to strength in bonds late yesterday.
The Commerce Department posted February's Retail Sales data this morning, revealing a 0.1% decline in sales. This was stronger than the 0.4% that was expected. Today's release also revised January's sales figures higher 0.8%, meaning that sales at the retail level of the economy were stronger than expected the past two months. That is considered to be bad news for the bond market and mortgage rates, but the market seems to be shrugging off the data.
Also this morning, the Labor Department announced that 654,000 new claims for benefits were filed last week. This was a little higher than expected, but this weekly report usually does not carry much influence on the markets and mortgage rates unless it varies greatly from forecasts.
The 30-year Bond auction is being held today. Results will be posted at 1:00 PM, as yesterday's 10-year Note sale. Yesterday's sale was met with a strong demand from investors, which helped rally bonds during afternoon trading. The 10-year Note is more relevant to mortgage rates than the 30-year Bond, but a weak or strong sale today can lead to selling to selling or buying of bonds on a broader scale. So, if we get another strong interest in the sale, we may see bonds rally again this afternoon.
There are two economic reports scheduled to be posted tomorrow morning. The first is the release of January's Goods and Services Trade Balance. This report gives us the size of the U.S. trade deficit. It is the week's least important piece of news and likely will not influence mortgage rates much. It is expected to show a trade deficit of $38.2 billion.
The second report of the morning is the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment for March at 9:45 AM. This index gives us a measurement of consumer willingness to spend. If confidence is rising, then consumers are more apt to make large purchases. This helps fuel consumer spending and economic growth. A drop in confidence will probably hurt the stock markets and boost bond prices, leading to lower mortgage rates. If the index rises, indicating that confidence is rising and spending will likely rise, we may see mortgage rates move higher late tomorrow morning. It is expected to show a reading of 56.3.
If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Float if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Float if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.
©Mortgage Commentary 2009
* Please note that if you have a mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
Mortgage Article on Bloomberg
Lock in Mortgage Rate Before It’s Too Late: Jane Bryant Quinn
Share | Email | Print | A A A
Commentary by Jane Bryant Quinn
March 11 (Bloomberg) -- So who is actually getting some?
I mean those beautiful fixed-rate mortgages advertised at 5.5 percent or less. Maybe, in a virtual world, an avatar can drop into a virtual bank and close a loan at that rate, but here in real life, achieving it is close to a miracle.
You might get 5.5 percent if you put 20 percent down, borrow $417,000 or less, boast a high credit score (730 to 750, out of 850 total, as determined by your credit history), carry low debt relative to your reliable income (confirmed by two years’ worth of tax returns and probably not counting bonuses), buy in an area where home prices are relatively stable (wherever that is) and use a community bank, not a national bank.
If you slip even a little bit on any of the criteria above, you will be charged a higher interest rate and higher fees, as well. Mortgages are far more expensive than they appear, especially for people borrowing large amounts or trying to refinance.
To start with, none of the easy, bubble mortgages are around anymore. No “stated income” loans where you don’t have to document your earnings. No option adjustable-rate mortgages, where you could choose to pay less than the interest due. Virtually no piggyback loans, where the lender supplies a first and second mortgage in the same package, up to 100 percent of the purchase price. You might still get an interest-only loan, but it’s not cheap.
Fannie, Freddie
The principal actors in the market today are the nationalized housing-finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchase mortgage loans. In third place stands the Federal Housing Administration, which insures loans originated by private lenders. All together, the government sector accounts for 87 percent of the mortgages currently being made, says Guy Cecala, chief executive officer and publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance Publications in Bethesda, Maryland. Purely private financing is expensive and scarce.
The government backs only loans of a certain size, known as conforming loans. The lowest available interest rate is generally on a traditional Fannie or Freddie mortgage for as much as $417,000, with a higher limit in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Next step up would be a jumbo conforming loan of as much as $729,750, available in the most expensive counties in the U.S. and costing anywhere from a quarter point to a full percentage point more.
And that’s just for starters. Fannie and Freddie add a quarter-point “adverse market delivery charge” because of declining home prices. They have also initiated “risk-based pricing,” which raises fees on people with less than a perfect borrowing profile. You will pay more if your credit score falls below about 720, you are buying a condominium or you are putting less than 15 percent down.
Prohibitive Fees
“You might qualify for a mortgage, technically, but the interest rate and fees may make it prohibitive to take,” Cecala says. Loans larger than the Fannie/Freddie limits, booked by private lenders, might cost 2 percentage points over the conforming rate. On refinancing, the fees can eat up any monthly savings you expected.
Another cost is private mortgage insurance, which you need if you put less than 20 percent down. Premiums are up, in most parts of the country, and the lenders are restricting coverage in various ways. For example, PMI Group in Walnut Creek, California, won’t insure cash-out refinances, second homes or investment properties. In Florida, it won’t touch attached housing such as condominiums. MGIC Investment Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stopped insuring second-home loans this week.
Higher Down Payments
Mortgage insurance is scarce for buyers who want to put only 5 percent down. In declining housing markets, meaning practically all of them, the insurers might want 10 percent or 15 percent down. Genworth Financial Inc., based in Richmond, Virginia, demands credit scores of 720 and up in the most bruising markets -- Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada.
Cash-poor borrowers are turning to the FHA, which accepts down payments as low as 3.5 percent. Not surprisingly, the FHA accounted for 31 percent of the market at the end of 2008 compared with 2 percent in 2006.
Still, these loans aren’t cheap. You pay an upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75 percent, which can be tacked on to the loan, plus a monthly premium tied to the size of your down payment. Interest-rate quotes vary tremendously, says mortgage expert Jack Guttentag, founder of the Web site mtgprofessor.com and professor of finance emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Some lenders mark up their FHA loans much more than others. It’s hard to know if you’re getting a good price.
Lock Interest Rate
Only loans for veterans, insured by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, and U.S. Agriculture Department loans in rural areas require no down payment and no mortgage insurance.
It’s taking longer to close a loan. Lenders, burned by their own sloppy practices, have gone back to checking what you say on the application and that takes time. For example, they are routinely checking your income claims against your tax return, says Jim Pair, president-elect of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.
Once you strike a deal on a mortgage, protect yourself by locking up the interest rate for the length of time it will probably take for the loan to close. Rates can change as much as a quarter-point in a single day. Don’t accept a verbal lock, Guttentag warns. Get it in writing, with rate, points and fees disclosed. A broker might say you are locked, in hope of nipping a higher fee if rates decline. If he or she is wrong, you are the one who pays.
(Jane Bryant Quinn, a leading personal finance writer and author of “Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People,” is a Bloomberg News columnist. She is a director of Bloomberg LP, parent of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer of this column: Jane Bryant Quinn in New York at jbquinn@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 00:01 EDT
* Please note that if you have a mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
Share | Email | Print | A A A
Commentary by Jane Bryant Quinn
March 11 (Bloomberg) -- So who is actually getting some?
I mean those beautiful fixed-rate mortgages advertised at 5.5 percent or less. Maybe, in a virtual world, an avatar can drop into a virtual bank and close a loan at that rate, but here in real life, achieving it is close to a miracle.
You might get 5.5 percent if you put 20 percent down, borrow $417,000 or less, boast a high credit score (730 to 750, out of 850 total, as determined by your credit history), carry low debt relative to your reliable income (confirmed by two years’ worth of tax returns and probably not counting bonuses), buy in an area where home prices are relatively stable (wherever that is) and use a community bank, not a national bank.
If you slip even a little bit on any of the criteria above, you will be charged a higher interest rate and higher fees, as well. Mortgages are far more expensive than they appear, especially for people borrowing large amounts or trying to refinance.
To start with, none of the easy, bubble mortgages are around anymore. No “stated income” loans where you don’t have to document your earnings. No option adjustable-rate mortgages, where you could choose to pay less than the interest due. Virtually no piggyback loans, where the lender supplies a first and second mortgage in the same package, up to 100 percent of the purchase price. You might still get an interest-only loan, but it’s not cheap.
Fannie, Freddie
The principal actors in the market today are the nationalized housing-finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchase mortgage loans. In third place stands the Federal Housing Administration, which insures loans originated by private lenders. All together, the government sector accounts for 87 percent of the mortgages currently being made, says Guy Cecala, chief executive officer and publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance Publications in Bethesda, Maryland. Purely private financing is expensive and scarce.
The government backs only loans of a certain size, known as conforming loans. The lowest available interest rate is generally on a traditional Fannie or Freddie mortgage for as much as $417,000, with a higher limit in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Next step up would be a jumbo conforming loan of as much as $729,750, available in the most expensive counties in the U.S. and costing anywhere from a quarter point to a full percentage point more.
And that’s just for starters. Fannie and Freddie add a quarter-point “adverse market delivery charge” because of declining home prices. They have also initiated “risk-based pricing,” which raises fees on people with less than a perfect borrowing profile. You will pay more if your credit score falls below about 720, you are buying a condominium or you are putting less than 15 percent down.
Prohibitive Fees
“You might qualify for a mortgage, technically, but the interest rate and fees may make it prohibitive to take,” Cecala says. Loans larger than the Fannie/Freddie limits, booked by private lenders, might cost 2 percentage points over the conforming rate. On refinancing, the fees can eat up any monthly savings you expected.
Another cost is private mortgage insurance, which you need if you put less than 20 percent down. Premiums are up, in most parts of the country, and the lenders are restricting coverage in various ways. For example, PMI Group in Walnut Creek, California, won’t insure cash-out refinances, second homes or investment properties. In Florida, it won’t touch attached housing such as condominiums. MGIC Investment Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, stopped insuring second-home loans this week.
Higher Down Payments
Mortgage insurance is scarce for buyers who want to put only 5 percent down. In declining housing markets, meaning practically all of them, the insurers might want 10 percent or 15 percent down. Genworth Financial Inc., based in Richmond, Virginia, demands credit scores of 720 and up in the most bruising markets -- Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada.
Cash-poor borrowers are turning to the FHA, which accepts down payments as low as 3.5 percent. Not surprisingly, the FHA accounted for 31 percent of the market at the end of 2008 compared with 2 percent in 2006.
Still, these loans aren’t cheap. You pay an upfront mortgage insurance premium of 1.75 percent, which can be tacked on to the loan, plus a monthly premium tied to the size of your down payment. Interest-rate quotes vary tremendously, says mortgage expert Jack Guttentag, founder of the Web site mtgprofessor.com and professor of finance emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Some lenders mark up their FHA loans much more than others. It’s hard to know if you’re getting a good price.
Lock Interest Rate
Only loans for veterans, insured by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, and U.S. Agriculture Department loans in rural areas require no down payment and no mortgage insurance.
It’s taking longer to close a loan. Lenders, burned by their own sloppy practices, have gone back to checking what you say on the application and that takes time. For example, they are routinely checking your income claims against your tax return, says Jim Pair, president-elect of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.
Once you strike a deal on a mortgage, protect yourself by locking up the interest rate for the length of time it will probably take for the loan to close. Rates can change as much as a quarter-point in a single day. Don’t accept a verbal lock, Guttentag warns. Get it in writing, with rate, points and fees disclosed. A broker might say you are locked, in hope of nipping a higher fee if rates decline. If he or she is wrong, you are the one who pays.
(Jane Bryant Quinn, a leading personal finance writer and author of “Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People,” is a Bloomberg News columnist. She is a director of Bloomberg LP, parent of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the writer of this column: Jane Bryant Quinn in New York at jbquinn@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: March 11, 2009 00:01 EDT
* Please note that if you have a mortgage interest rate and monthly payment you are comfortable with you may want to consider locking that rate. It is very difficult to predict the market in these very volatile times. Most lenders have a rate renegotiation policy. Contact me for details.
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