Beacon Lending Home Loans in Denver Colorado

Lower Down Payment Alternative to FHA Mortgage

It is no question that FHA is getting worse and worse to deal with. On April 1st, 2012 what used to be a 5 year requirement for already expensive mortgage insurance, will be changing to a 30 year requirement for FHA loans. Forget the 78% LTV requirement, or having 20% equity in your home. It simply does not matter. What does matter is that YOU, the home buyer are educated about your options, as you prepare to navigate the increasingly complex mortgage maze. The following example is of a real client who would like to put an offer on a home him and his wife found this week.

Purchase Price is $335,000

Down Payment FHA 3.5% minimum – $11,725

Rate – 3.75% Principal and Interest – $1523.34

Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium – $336.74——————-Starting April 1st, 2013, will be on there for 30 years. Only way to eliminate is another refinance to conventional loan at 80% LTV or better

Payment – $1860.08

Regardless of this borrowers down payment and wanting to get into this property, clearly the Mortgage Insurance Premium with FHA is a major Red Flag. This is money you are throwing out the window. Now granted, if you are a low FICO score borrower, have a spotty credit history, and are in a period of getting your life back on track, this might be the only option you have for a couple of years. Conventionally, however if you have great credit, and no prior bankruptcies in the last couple of years, or foreclosures in the last couple of years, you should really look at the alternative. The following is an alternative option to an FHA mortgage with even less of a down payment.

Purchase Price is $335,000

Down Payment Conventional 3% minimum- $10,050

Rate – 4.75% Principal and Interest – $1724.75

Payment – $1724.25

FHA used to be an amazing way to get home-buyers into properties at low rates, and low down payments, and it still is, however it is by no way, the end all, be all. Mortgage Insurance rates on FHA loans have gone up at least 7 times in the last 5 years, and will be going up AGAIN on April 1st. This example is to just show you that there ARE options out there other then FHA loans.

So here are the benefits of this conventional alternative.

1. Save $135.83 a month

2. Avoid MI payment which is not tax deductible

3. Keep $1675 in your bank, avoid the additional .5% down payment, going with FHA

The only caveat here to pay attention to here, is that these loans want high credit score borrowers for these programs. Less down payment, no mortgage insurance, but of course more risk. You will need to be a credit worthy borrower to participate for this loan, however it is not something that you cannot achieve. Time cures all with everything, and I would rather spend a month helping a home buyer fix their credit, then throw them into an FHA loan, when they could have gotten something better.

About the Author

Brian Quigley
Brian Quigley
 NMLS# #244003

Brian Quigley has been in the Denver mortgage industry since 2003. Customer satisfaction has been his top priority while guiding clients through the home loan qualification process. He is proficient in all types of mortgage financing including FHA/VA, Conventional, USDA, Jumbo, Portfolio, 1031 Exchanges, Reverse Mortgages, Refinancing, Construction loans, and FHA 203K loans.

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Adam Armstrong
Getting the lowest rate was the most important thing to me. I shopped 5 other lenders/brokers for my refinance. Brian was able to beat the other lenders by a significant margin....
Brent Galas
Brian, was very easy to work with for my refinance even thru this Covid time. All documents were easy to upload electronically and his processor was detailed for what was needed...
Jerred Lane
Brian has raised the bar to a whole new level. With time being precious, there are not many who have a lot of time to spare; he kept everything on point and on track.

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