> with applicants who place 15% to 20% down payment experiencing the biggest increase in fees…. This is the biggest smell to me. Here's the thing about FHA mo

> with applicants who place 15% to 20% down payment experiencing the biggest increase in fees…. This is the biggest smell to me. Here's the thing about FHA mortgages compared to conventional; If you don't pay 15-20% down, you can -never- get rid of the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP, equiv to PMI on a conventional), short of refinancing to a conventional mortgage. Additionally, MIP is based on the default amortization of the mortgage, not the actual. So paying extra doesn't lower your MIP, short of getting to the point you are paid off early. Frankly, it is just a -bit- of a slap to the face, since for most of my life I have been in a spot where I made -just enough- money to not get all the grants/etc to help with home ownership or student loans, but in keeping up with credit and life circumstances had a very hard time getting a home.