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FHA Wont Allow Cancellation Of Mortgage Insurance Anymore; Increases Premium

FHA recently announced changes to mortgage insurance premium for home loans insured by the agency. The new guidelines will make FHA loans more expensive. You will also need to pay mortgage insurance for the life of the loan in most cases. Changes to FHA Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium The below chart shows the changes coming to FHA mortgage insurance premium. This goes into effect for loan applications on or after March 1, 2023. Can I cancel FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium? For all mortgages regardless of their amortization terms, any mortgage involving an original…
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Another Week, Another Increase In California Mortgage Rates

According to Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly mortgage application survey, California mortgage rates has now increased seven of the last eight weeks. Most of the big banks are now advertising Annual Percentage Rates (APR) just under 4%. 30 Year and 15 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) was up six basis points to 3.73%. The rate for 15-year Fixed Rate Mortgages also increased, by five basis points to 3%.The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for high balance loans…
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Mortgage Rates Skyrocket – Crosses 4% Mark At Some Banks

Mortgage Rates have skyrocketed to their highest levels since August 2012, prompting some banks to increase the rate to 4% and beyond. On Friday, MBS (the mortgage backed securities that directly influence mortgage rates) tanked 62 basis points. That came after 26 basis points drop on Thursday. More bad news continued on Monday when long-term rate-indicative 10-year Treasury note yields touched 2 percent for the first time since April 2012. When MBS prices are falling, that means investors are paying less for mortgages. This causes closing costs, rates, or both to move higher.…
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California 30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Climb For Third Consecutive Week

According to Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) weekly survey, California mortgage rates increased again last week. The rates have now increased for five out of last six weeks. This is the third consecutive week that 30 year fixed rates have gone up. Overall the rates have gone up by .25% after hitting the lowest levels in November, 2012. Conforming, High-Balance and FHA 30 Year Fixed Rates The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) increased to 3.62 percent from 3.61 percent, with points increasing to 0.43…
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Conforming Jumbo and FHA Mortgage Rates Rise For Second Consecutive Week

According to Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) latest weekly survey, mortgage rates for conforming jumbo (also called High Balance Loans) and FHA loans increased again last week. This is second week in a row that the rates have gone up. And if that was not enough, by the end of Thursday, mortgage backed securities tanked by 50 basis points, further worsening the rates. 30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Per MBA survey, The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) remained unchanged at 3.61%, with 0.38 points. The…
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7 Things You Need To Know About Qualified Mortgage (Ability To Repay Rule)

What is a Qualified Mortgage rule? Qualified Mortgage (QM) rule, also called Ability To Repay rule is part of implementing the Dodd-Frank act. QM rule implemented by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), is the first ever attempt at defining and establishing a basic standard for qualifying borrowers for mortgage loans. Loans that qualify as “Qualified Mortgage will get a full legal shield from the CFPB mandating that judges rule in lenders favor if the borrowers contest foreclosures. I also talked about it in a post I wrote on Oct 24. 2012. On January…
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California Mortgage Rates Rise To The Highest Levels Since November – Now At 3.61%

According to Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage rates for California, Washington, Oregon and rest of the country rose sharply in the first week of 2013. The rates are now at the highest levels since November. Fannie Mae 3% coupon (mortgage backed securities) tanked by 69 bps last week. This usually has inverse relation to the rates - mortgage backed securities going down in price means higher interest rates. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) increased to 3.61% with 0.41 points (origination fees). This rate is…
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Is HARP-3 For California Homeowners On It’s Way? #MyRefi

Refinancing help for underwater California homeowners whose loan is not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may soon become a reality. Unofficially billed as HARP-3, it is one of the top priorities of Obama government. Obama government is considering expanding the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to include homeowners who are underwater but whose mortgage is not backed by government sponsored enterprise (GSE) namely, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. According to Core Logic, at the end of June 2012, about 22% of all homes or around 10.8 million homes were underwater meaning…
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Why 30 Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Should Be At 2.75% And Why They Aren’t?

Ben Bernanke must be tearing his hair (whatever is left of it). He has increased Fed's balance sheet to an all time high of almost $3 trillion mostly through bond purchases. But the mortgage rates haven't declined as much he would have hoped. He is frustrated that the lower yield on mortgage backed securities are not being passed on to the borrowers in form of lower mortgage rates. In fact, he called the trend "unfortunate" and Federal Reserve Bank of New York held a workshop to examine the issue. Imagine 30 year fixed…
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