I got notice late yesterday that beginning March 1st, loans above 97.01% will no longer be eligible for PMI.
3% down payment may be the name of the game going forward.... and FHA Loans have never looked so sexy!!
Monthly PMI on Gov't loans is 1/2 of what you are charged on conventional loans. Yet, many consumers have opted for 100% financing because they do not have money for the down payment. Not to be confused with the client who 'elected' 100% Financing, these people who are paying twice as much for PMI are doing so for a reason. They simply cannot put any of their own money down on a real estate transaction. And that lack of cash reserves equates to more people walking away from their mortgage obligations when times get tough.
See the full text letter from PMI Mortgage Insurance Company.
http://www.pmi-us.com/guidelinechanges/media/pmi_miguidelinechangesltr.pdf
Is this the end? The good old days are over? Well, that remains to be seen..... but it looks like the PMI companies are tired of paying off when homeowners simply walk away from their obligations.
Other changes include reduced Loan-to-Value (LTV) for reduced documentation loans and loans for homes in Declining Markets.
Stay tuned for future developments!!!
Tom Burris
DallasLoanGuy.com
Dallas, TX
"A Home Loan for Every Texan"
http://www.dallasloanguy.com/![]()
Texas Home Loans
I write about Texas Home Loans , live in the Dallas, TX area and lend across the entire Great State of Texas!! Subscribe to My Blog and stay informed about current lending changes!!
One thing that I haven't seen in the comments is that with the Federal Govt not going after people who get foreclosed on for capital gains.... has made it easier for people to walk away. <= The banks call it "Jingle Mail" when their borrowers just mail in the keys!!!


Thanks Tom for the heads up on this.
100% loans will always be needed to get people in homes. That helps drive the real estate market and the economy.
Cheers, KIM.
I believe PMI is the main reason we have the mortgage crisis we have. If banks did not have this crutch available to them they would have used better practices and that would have curtailed the foreclosure issues.
How about a 680 to get over 90% and strick limitations with LPMI. This March, thousands of potential home owners will no longer qualify.
Sell, Lock, Underwrite NOW
Happy Selling!
Tony Grego - Indiana Mortgage Broker
Just a footnote to say that in Canada the 100% program is going strong and getting better without any of the ramifications that the Americans have experienced as a result of the sub-prime crunch.
For more information: 100% Mortgage Program just got better.....fully discounted rates!
Sorry about the blatant advert but I think those that can qualify should know we are not experiencing the same issues here in Canada.
Regards, DAVE
Tom... this is awesome... meaning, thanks for sharing this. I already knew that they would clamp down. I guess we'll see more MI companies follow.
In regards to Lenn's statement... sure, FHA will have risk based pricing, but the rate would still be cheaper than the conventional MI rates and the actual interest rates.
Overall, I partially agree with Team DiMuria's statement... not total blame, but partial blame. I agree, I am glad that this was featured, because I mentioned that we would see changes and said this 3 months ago.
I have to agree with the majority here....it's about time things got cleaned up as far as loans are concerned. There are still a multitude of programs for folks, it's not unreasonable to expect that buyers come up with some down payment.....after all, you need two months' payments to get a rental, why should it be any less for homeownership?
This has been a long time coming!
Stacey McVey
Real Living Realty One
Hudson OHIO
Tom good info.
It won't be bad for people to have to put money down on a home. When a person can buy a home with less money than it takes to move into an apartment something needs to be changed. But watch for the FHA Reform and the 3% participation get reduced to 1.50% VA is still the best product out there and thats why not everyone can get it.
Tom thanks for sharing.
Have a great day!
I have a VA client right now and the loan is going great.
I was wondering when the MI companies were going to come out with this. The reason why half the programs are gone now is becasue they cut thier guidelines! I'm glad to see them standing up!
Steve Fishman CRMS: YOU ARE RIGHT!!!!! you can buy a house for less than it would take to rent an apartment (high five!)
Geez.... A gold star = more work for me....
Lenn: This may only be the start of it. I expected MI pricing to go up, but this was a bit of a surprise.
Scott: I am never too shocked in this industry.
Jason: I love VA loans too!!
Kim: This is certainly going to affect many borrowers.
Team Dimuria: Yes, banks shot themselves in the foot. Maybe this is a kneejerk reaction and will correct itself soon.
Jeff: Over? No! Not for good. We still have 80/20 loans.
Tony: 680 isn't hard to achieve.
Dave:
Jeff B: FHA!! FHA!! FHA!!
John: Thanks for stopping by.
Stacey: You are so right. Buying has been easier than renting.
Karl: Lenders with FHA will be busy. Lenders without will be scamperring to get signed up.
Larry: FHA has been a real option for many.... Now, many MORE.
Steven: VA is the best. Agreed!! But it SHOULD be reserved for those who have already 'paid'. ;-)
Richard: Thanks for stopping by.
Robert: I disagree 100% with your statement. Why sink money into an appreciating asset with tax deductible interest?
Cameron: Keep plugging away at those VA loans.
David: I don't know what is next.... but the days of inventing loans is over too.
Rich: Companies that don't have FHA are doing a disservice to their clients AND Realtor partners.
D. Bass: I thought rates would skyrocket. I didn't foresee thiss.
Konnie: 100% is not the problem. Guidelines are. And Fannie/Freddie set the guidelines that are un-insurable. Crazy!!
Eddie: I doubt that some rogue MI company will keep doing 100%. All of them will go to this. If one or two DOES stay in at 100%, expect that to be short lived. Rates will increase or the others will get back in.
Tom, from my perspective, purchasing my first home in 1965, this looks like the type of mortgage that makes more sense than the 100%. In the old days, we had to come up with a downpayment for our home. We saved, and then bought. It's been so long I don't remember "how" much, but never 100%. Truthfully, I don't remember having to ever pay PMI. Maybe that didn't come into play until after the 60's.
If this is truly the end of zero down for the near future, I hope the message is broadcast loudly for all the purchasers to hear.
The comments implying people should "have" to put a down-payment together to buy a home are off-base in my opinion. The real issue isn't down-payment but ABILITY to make the down-payment. When loaning money, it's the ability to repay that is important. Having a homebuyer put their last quarter into down-payment so they can finance 80% of the sales price, doesn't make them MORE likely to repay the loan. It makes them LESS likely as they have no cash reserves to fall back on.
Where the mortgage banking industry went wrong was in devaluing the importance of verified liquid reserves. The difference between financing $200,000 vs. $180,000 at 6.00% is $120 less per month. If the client kept the $20,000 difference in their bank account, I personally would prefer making that loan for an extra $120 in monthly payment knowing they had an ability and willingness to save in the past.
Allowing home purchases with no money down AND no verified assets in reserves....now THAT was a problem.
Yes I agree and all is not lost the people who have been around know how to get their clients good loans still
Thanks for the inside scoop Tom.
John hurbon
Tierra Antigua Realty google benson horse property
We still have 80/20's
Audrey: Thanks or stopping by.
Teri: 100% is a good thing..... as long as the lenders make sure that the home is affordable.
Joe: USDA is a great program.
Matt: We still have 2nd liens.
Marchel: We put money down too.... although we qualified for 100%. I was shocked to learn that I qualified for twice what I was comfortable with paying.
Maria: I love me some of that FHA.
Gene: As long as there are reserves, I have no problem with 100%
Wayne: Exactly!!
Rebecca: Correct. It is a priviledge. Soooo many eople I talk to think they have a RIGHT to the big house with a nice car parked out front.
Bob: Thanks for stopping by.
Sarah: 3% down is nothing. With seller paying most of the closing costs, it is not a big hurdle.
Ken: I couldn't have said it any better. Soooo many people rip the 100% financing, when it isn't the problem. Willingness and capacity to pay!!!
Rick: Reason for realtors to search for top notch loan officers.
John: Thanks for stopping by.
Nathan: Yes, frustrating. AND confusing to the consumers.
Mathew: Is the whole state declining? I bet it is hard, indeed!!
Dan: I disagree. I have MANY clients who elect 100% when they have the $$ in the bank to do 5 or 10% down.
Christine: Yes, at 9.5% 2nd liens(Texas rates)..... LOL.
Christy: Like drug addicts, they will be back.
I wish there were stats on the foreclosures of piggyback loans vs PMI loans and owner occ vs NOO. Am guessing they are mostly investors here who got in with no money down on a piggyback loan.
FHA is very sexy here and people are taking advantage!! On the same note, it was near impossible for a tipped wage earner to get in on an FHA from 2004-present so why should they have to pay for the sins of the past in PMI increases?
I do, however, agree that this is a declining market and people should be required to put more down.
Kathy: Thanks for stopping by
Renee: I wish I had access to more stats too. Tipped wage earners can get an FHA loan.... but they can't have their cake and eat it too. If I had a dollar for everytime someone whined about how they don't claim all of their income, and "it isn't fair"
Tom,
Thanks for sharing this. Maybe my side will pick up soon, this market is killing me.
Tom:
Thank you-good infomation to digest...
Thank you for sharing this information with us...I hope things get better...
Thanks, Ca has had it's share of struggles with 100% financing, too.
Doug
Steven: Time to seek our additional referral sources. Business is still there.
Michael: Thanks for stopping by.
Donna: It isn't too bad... yet.
Doug: Declining markets are the toughest right now.
Not yet Dave. I bet Americans were thinking the same thing a year ago.
Tom, thank you for the update.