SAN ANTONIO (San Antonio Express-News) – New Federal Housing Administration (FHA) rules will effect many first-time homebuyers as well as many current homeowners.
One rule, which took effect yesterday, disqualifies first-time homebuyers with more than $1,000 in medical or other collections from getting an FHA-backed loan. To qualify for the loan, the buyer must pay off the debt or show that three months of payments have been made.
Meanwhile, all homeowners who have FHA loans will have to pay more in mortgage insurance starting next Monday.
They’ll have to pay 1.25 percent of their mortgage balance annually, up from 1.15 percent previously. And up-front mortgage insurance, which is paid at closing, will increase from 1 percent to 1.75 percent of the loan.