You may have found this site searching for information on current FHA rates. Finding out about government programs to refinance your home can be confusing, especially if you don’t know where to start.
FHA programs are government insured loans; there are no set FHA mortgage rates…finding an accurate source for rate information becomes more difficult because mortgage rates are almost never what they seem. Here are several tips to help you refinance your home loan without being taken advantage of by the lender.
FHA Mortgage Rates
If you qualify for an FHA loan to refinance your mortgage the rate you qualify for is set by the lender behind your loan. Because FHA loans are backed by the government you’ll be required to purchase Private Mortgage Insurance to protect the lender and government from loss if you default on the loan. What you might not know is that the mortgage rate you’re approved includes markup by the person arranging your loan for a commission. This commission is called Yield Spread Premium and could raise your monthly payment by several hundred dollars unless you know how to avoid it.
Yield Spread Premium & FHA Mortgage Rates
To get an FHA mortgage you’ll need to find someone to arrange the loan for you. This person could be a mortgage company or broker and with the exception of FHA streamline refinancing you’ll be required to pay closing costs and other fees for the loan. What you shouldn’t get stuck paying are the hidden costs created by Yield Spread Premium. FHA loans are no different from conventional loans in the way that they arranged…understanding how the person arranging your loan is paid will help you avoid paying too much when refinancing.
Yield Spread Premium is the commission the person arranging your loan receives for marking up your mortgage rate. When your FHA loan was approved the lender approved you for a certain mortgage rate. The broker marks this rate up because the lender pays them a bonus of 1% of your loan amount for every .25% they markup your rate. This markup is paid in addition to any fees you’re already paying for loan origination.
It is possible to refinance your home with an FHA backed mortgage without paying for Yield Spread Premium. There are mortgage brokers willing to work for a 1% origination fee without marking up your rate.
You can learn more about finding the right mortgage broker without paying junk fees or unnecessary markup by checking out my mortgage refinancing videos. Register today; these mortgage videos are yours free with no obligation.
My name is Rob Regehr and I’m a personal finance writer with a chip on my shoulder for banks and brokers that take advantage of my friends and neighbors.
