This Goober Wants to Raise FHA Down Payment to 5% from 3.5%

More than a month ago on Monday, October 5, The FHA Taxpayer Protection Act of 2009 - HR 3706 - authored by Rep. Scott (Goober) Garrett (R-NJ) was introduced to Congress.

If passed It would increase the minimum down payment for FHA insured mortgages from 3.5% to 5% and the law would prohibit financing FHA closing costs. BUT WAIT there is more!

One tiny fact looms large and questions the Congressman's competence to propose any laws governing FHA is that FHA already no longer allows closing costs to be computed in the loan amount. This changed last year. See FHA Regs 4155 page 35

This ill advised, poorly researched, legislation will not help our recovering market or even our future mortgage stability. FHA is not the culprit or even one of the culprits in the recent mortgage fiasco. That blame lies at the feet of sub-prime mortgages and Wall Street greed.

FHA, with a 3% downpayment had been stabile source of financing for almost 80 years. Actually, because closing costs used to be computed in the loan the previous LTV was more like 2.25%. The minimum down payment was recently increased to 3.5%.

If you feel Congressman Garret's bill must be defeated then email your congressman at: Congressional Email

P.S. I know it serves no intelligent purpose to Gooberize Congressman Scott but it makes me feel good.