© 2024 Arizent. All rights reserved.

It's Official: FHA Hike of 75 bps Will Come April 1

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is following through with its pledge to increase upfront and annual insurance premiums on its forward single-family business. 

Unveiled late Monday, the increases are designed to strengthen FHA's capital position and "have minimal impact on the market and borrowers," according to FHA acting commissioner Carol Galante. She noted that FHA streamline refinances are exempt from these premium hikes. 

Starting April 1, FHA will hike its upfront premium by 75 basis points to 175 basis points on all single-family loans, including Jumbos.

FHA is also hiking the annual premium on loan balances of up to $625,500 on April 1.  On higher balance loans or Jumbos, FHA is planning to implement a 35 basis point hike in the annual premium on June 1.

The federal mortgage insurance agency currently charges a 115 bp annual premium when the loan-to-value ratio is above 95%.

These premiums are expected to slow FHA originations from $218 billion in the current 2012 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 to $150 billion in full-year 2013.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
RMBS
MORE FROM ASSET SECURITIZATION REPORT