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FHA Down Payment 3% or 3.5% - Neither!

Oct. 10, 2008

 

Michael Shotnik
Mortgage Banker
Denver, CO
 
Link:     denver1stmortgage.com
FHA Down Payment Confusion
With new FHA changes (HR 3221) taking affect on October 1st there has been a lot of confusion regarding the down payment required for FHA loans. A lot of realtors were informed that starting October first the minimum down payment would be 3.5%. THIS IS NOT TRUE!  The 3.5% minimum down payment will not take effect until January 1st 2009. 
Given that Colorado is a low closing cost state the minimum down payment until Jan. 1st 2009 is as follows:
Lower of Sales Price/Appraised Value
Down Payment
$50,000 or less
1.25%
$50,001 to $125,000
2.35%
$125,001 or greater
2.85%
 
As you can see above the minimum down payment isn’t even 3% regardless of the purchase price! 
FHA is a wonderful program for first time homebuyers as well as seasoned buyers. The rates are better than conventional financing and the required down payment is much less. When the 3.5% required down payment goes into effect FHA will still be more advantageous than conventional financing. 
Eligible source of down payment assistance:
-gift from family member
-gift from employer
-loan from family member (must disclose the terms of the loan)
 
Michael Shotnik
Mortgage Banker
 

Link:     denver1stmortgage.com

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