Thursday, January 31, 2013

from CNN.COM

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Government-insured mortgages are about to get more expensive. The Federal Housing Administration, which is the largest insurer of low-down payment mortgages, announced Wednesday that it will raise premiums by 10 basis points, or 0.1%, on most of the new mortgages it insures. Translation: A borrower opting for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage who puts 5% or more down will now pay an annual insurance premium of 1.3% of their outstanding balance. And someone who puts less than 5% down will pay a premium of 1.35%. The agency said it will also raise premiums for borrowers with jumbo loans -- or loans of $625,000 or more -- by 5 basis points, or 0.05%, and increase the minimum down payment requirement on these loans to 5% from 3.5%.