The Mortgage Professor’s column on Monday gave a very interesting list of mortgage interest rate premiums. 

Mortgage interest rate premium is the increased interest rate a borrower will obtain on a loan by deviating from the “ideal” borrower. 

Borrowers in the best position to refinance profitably have loan balances of $417,000 or less secured by a single-family house in which they reside. They will also have a credit score of 800 or more, and have equity in their property of 20 percent or more.

Guttentag observes:

The interest rate premiums associated with deviations from this standard are larger today than I have ever seen them.  

He breaks out the increased interest rate for loan amount, type of property, loan purpose (investment property, cash-out, etc.), credit score, and equity in the property.

You can click the link above to see the numbers.  Here is a quick summary:

A conforming jumbo loan, which means a loan balance between $417,000 and $625,500 in a high cost area like mine, has a premium of 1%.

Non-conforming jumbo loan (balance greater than $417,000 in a non-high cost area):  2%

Condominiums:  0.75%

Investment Property:  1.375%

Cash-out refinance:  0.25%

Credit score 780 (instead of 800 or higher):  0.125%

Credit score 700:  1.125%

All this data is very interesting if you are considering a refinance. 

If you are considering a refinance or acquisition mortgage and you want to be a fully educated loan shopper, read everything on Guttentag’s website.  You will be much better for it.