FHA Revises Condominium Requirements

After a long-awaited update, the FHA is finally issuing a change to condominium guidelines. It was announced Wednesday that spot approvals are back, and steps are being taken in order to loosen eligibility requirements. With these revised guidelines, FHA is expecting the update to qualify an additional 20,000-60,000 condo units per year.

Changes that will come with the new guidelines include extending the re-certification deadline for approved condo projects from two years to three and loosening restrictions on owner-occupancy rules allowing projects to just be 50% owner-occupied. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Ben Carson, is hopeful the updated guidelines will open doors and allow more opportunities for homeownership. “FHA is publishing a new rule in the Federal Register that we believe will offer significantly more options for individuals and families to buy a home, specifically the kind of home more and more people are looking for in order to achieve homeownership, and of course that is a condominium,” Carson stated. Out of the 150,000 condo projects across the country, just 6.5% have approved financing through FHA.

The National Associations of Realtors has been advocating for change in FHA requirements for over a decade and stated they are thrilled with the change and the opportunities that will now be available to prospective homebuyers. NAR President John Smaby stated, “This ruling, which culminates years of collaboration between HUD and NAR, will help reverse recent declines in condo sales and ensure the FHA is fulfilling its primary mission to the American people.”

The updated guidelines will take effect on October 15, 2019.

What is Mortgage Insurance and Can I Cancel it?

What is mortgage insurance?

Mortgage insurance protects the lender in the event the borrower defaults on the loan. Defaults include failure to make payments because of death, medical bills and job loss. Mortgage insurance can be provided by a private mortgage insurance company (PMI) or by a government agency such as FHA or VA.

How can I benefit from mortgage insurance on government-backed loans?

The FHA provides borrowers with the opportunity to purchase their home with a smaller down payment and/or lower credit score (compared to conventional loans) in return for the borrower paying mortgage insurance.

How do I pay for private mortgage insurance? Can this be added into my mortgage payment?

Yes! There are different types of mortgage insurance that allow you to pay in different ways.

  • Monthly
    • No upfront premium
    • Versatile and maximum flexibility
    • May be canceled
    • Paid with monthly mortgage payment
  • Single
    • Premium paid upfront
    • Refundable and nonrefundable options
    • Paid by borrower, seller, builder or 3rd party
    • May be financed into loan amount
    • Portion may be refundable when cancelled
  • Split
    • Upfront premium combined with lower monthly renewal
    • Upfront premium may be paid by borrower, 3rd party or financed
    • May be cancelled
  • Lender-Paid
    • Paid by lender or 3rd party
    • Cost paid via higher interest rate and/or fees

I see that a few of these private mortgage insurance options offer the opportunity to cancel.  How and when can I cancel? 

You may ask your servicer to cancel the private mortgage insurance (PMI) once you have paid down the mortgage balance to 80% of the home’s original appraised value.  When the balance drops to 78%, the mortgage servicer is required to eliminate the PMI.

Also, insurance on the loan may be cancelled if a new appraisal is ordered through the servicer and demonstrates one of the following Loan-To-Value requirements:

  • A Loan-To-Original-Value ratio of 80% or less
  • A Loan-To-Current-Value ratio of 75% or less for loans ages between 2 and 5 years
  • A Loan-To-Current-Value ratio of 80% or less for loans aged greater than 5 years

If the age of the loan is less than 2 years, principal reduction payment must be made to bring unpaid principal balance down to 80% of the original property value.  In addition, a new appraisal must be ordered to verify the property has maintained its original value.

Additional requirements to cancel mortgage insurance:

  • The borrower submits a written cancellation request
  • The borrower has a good payment history
  • The borrower is current with payments
  • The borrower satisfies any requirement of the mortgage holder, such as:
    • Evidence that the value of the property has not declined below the original value
    • Certification that the borrower’s equity in the property is not subject to a subordinate lien

Want more information on mortgage insurance and how to cancel? Contact a First Home Mortgage loan officer today! Click Here

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