February 15, 2011

Are 30% Down Mortgages In Our Future?

The top mortgage lender in the country, Wells Fargo, has called for borrowers to come up with 30% down if they want to avoid higher mortgage rates and more restrictive lending tied to the “risk retention” requirements related to the Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

Essentially, the government wants to ensure that banks and lenders who write higher-risk mortgages actually retain some of that risk (5% to be exact), instead of selling it off to investors and wiping their hands clean of it.

Wells argues that half of mortgages already carry a 30% down payment, but critics believe the move could shut out smaller lenders and increase market share for the top banks, who already have plenty.

If down payment requirements/mortgage rates do rise, it could throw a wrench in the housing recovery everyone’s hoping will get underway this year and next.

What do you think? Would lenders requiring 30% down keep you from buying a home? Do you think it would stifle the home buying market? Leave us your thoughts and comments below.

Tags: buying a home, down payments, mortgages

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