As expected, the Federal Reserve announced today that it would raise interest rates by a quarter of a percent.
“In view of realized and expected labor market conditions and inflation, the Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 3/4 to 1 percent,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. “The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative, thereby supporting some further strengthening in labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2 percent inflation.”
The hike marks only the third time in a decade the Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate. The last hike came in December.
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This article was originally published at Mortgage News Daily. Copyright: Mortgage News Daily.
The annual premium paid by borrowers on mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is going down by a quarter of a percent. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro announced today that the annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) will be reduced 25 basis points for most new mortgages with a closing date on or after January 27. The reduction is expected to save new FHA insured homeowners an average of $500 this year.
A HUD press release said today's announcement reflects the fourth straight year that FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF) has strengthened. It has gained $44 billion in value since 2012 and last year alone grew by $3.8 billion. The fund now stands at 2.32 percent of all FHA insurance in force, the second consecutive year that it has exceeded the 2 percent capital reserve mandated by Congress. The fund reached near insolvency during the housing crisis, prompting several increases in both the upfront premium and the annual one.