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The differences between home and mortgage insurance

Housing Wire

Mortgage insurance is required on all FHA loans, and it’s sometimes required on conventional mortgages, too. On conventional loans, you’ll only need private mortgage insurance (called PMI) if you make a down payment under 20% — and even then, not always. The cost of this insurance varies. The bottom line.

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FHA or conventional? After LLPA tweaks, the calculus changes for some

Housing Wire

Are low-FICO, first-time homebuyers better off with a conventional mortgage and reduced LLPA fees, or an FHA loan with none at all? We spoke to multiple loan officers and Washington, D.C.-based based think tank Urban Institute to hear their takes. So it’s kind of a mixed message,” he explained.

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Down payment assistance programs are a boon amid mounting pressure on homebuyer affordability

Housing Wire

Benefits of owning and building equity Of the various DPA options available — including government-sponsored DPA programs, nonprofit-driven programs and employer-assisted programs — Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans layered with a DPA benefit have grown in popularity. It’s really about access to credit.

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Better launches fully digital VA loan with no minimum down payment

Housing Wire

More recently, we’ve been hiring loan officers, processors and underwriters as the company has been starting to grow,” Garg said. The VA team reflects a different strategy for the company when hiring employees, Garg added. The plan is to distribute the product through its network of partners as it scales.

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Colonial Savings to exit mortgage origination business

Housing Wire

The company had 53 active loan officers and 30 branches, per the Modex data. According to its website, Colonial offered fixed-rate loans, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, U.S. loans, adjustable rates, and home equity, among others. Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.)

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Lenders pick up the pace in closing mortgages

Housing Wire

ICE found that conventional loans comprised 81% of originations in April, while FHA loans were 10% and VA loans were just 6%. The company acquired a majority equity position in MERSCORP Holdings , the owner of Mortgage Electronic Registration System in 2016, and purchased the remaining stake two years later.

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Mortgage rates plummet and everything has suddenly changed — for now

Housing Wire

Prospective borrowers with strong credit are locking in mortgages this week at the lowest rates in more than a year, loan officers and lending executives told HousingWire on Friday. Fixed rates through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) were at 6.10% and those through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs averaged 6.12%.

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