by Calculated Risk on 1/08/2015 03:04:00 PM

Update2: Clarification: Current FHA-insured borrowers WILL need to Refinance to obtain lower MIP

I was thinking there would be a refinance boom for FHA loans. The HUD press release read:

"FHA’s new annual premium prices will take effect for all new FHA-insured mortgages endorsed toward the end of January 2015. FHA will publish a mortgagee letter detailing its new pricing structure shortly."
emphasis added

That sounded like people would need to refinance to obtain the lower MIP.

This would be a significant number of borrowers because the annual MIP was increased to 1.15% in April 2011, to 1.25% in April 2012, and to 1.35% in April 2013 (for borrowers with less than 5% down). Looking at the mortgage rates available at those times, it appeared a large number of FHA insured borrowers would consider refinancing now.

However HUD just corrected their press release to read:

"FHA’s new annual premium prices are expected to take effect towards the end of the month. FHA will publish a mortgagee letter detailing its new pricing structure shortly."

The "new FHA-insured" was removed. Update: Or this change could mean that loans currently in the process will receive the old MIP, and loans originated after January will receive the new MIP.  It is difficult to lower the MIP for current borrowers ...

So I'm expecting an FHA refi boom.