FHA makes changes it says will help homebuyers

The federal government announced changes yesterday it says will make it easier for Iowans to buy homes. The “Homebuyers Savings Plan” involves homes purchases that’re insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Paul Bognanno handles the F-H-A loans for Principal Residential Mortgage in Iowa. The program lowers the upfront premium paid by a borrower, which would save the owner of a 100-thousand dollar home about 750 dollars. Bognanno says the program also lowers the cost of insuring the loan once the homeowner achieves 22-percent equity in their home. Bognanno says the program helps homeowners and lenders.The F-H-A says it backs about 40-percent of the loans made for homes nationally. Bognanno did not have figures for the number of homes included in Iowa.