[LostInBayport]

The loans are popular with first-time home buyers and those without the best credit.

And buried in a dimly-lit corner of the article is the key point.

These are more often than not risky loans (in the "below average" credit score range) and hindering the fund that ensures them by reducing payments to it is not a good idea. Plus, if an additional five hundred bucks a year ends the deal, you are stretched too thin to buy a house in the first place!

[RegulatorCountry]

Encouraging less skin in the game wouldn’t have proved to be a healthy thing. While much of the country is still struggling to return to pre-crash valuations, there are bubbles. California, DC, others. California law makes it especially prone to boom and bust, mortgage holders can just turn in the keys and walk away, the contract is legally regarded as fulfilled via return of the secured asset. Making it cheaper and easier to have a mortgage with minimal down payment increases the risk of default. What seems “helpful” to potential homeowners on the one hand has proved harmful to them on the other, when property values fall precipitously.

[nclaurel]

In comments at the site, $500/year is on a $300,000 home. If you can afford that home price the $500 is nothing to you.

[nclaurel]

In comments at the site, $500/year is on a $300,000 home. If you can afford that home price the $500 is nothing to you.