First, my house was paid off years ago. But second, it was the flippin New York Post, sorry ass yellow journalistic rag. They clearly explained what is happening, their description that you quoted is horseshit. Those with good credit and a significant down payment will see their "surcharge" go from 25 basis points to 75 basis points. Meanwhile, those with "fair" credit, not poor, will see their surcharge drop from 350 basis points to 175.
This is a SURCHARGE, it is not part of the loan, it has no bearing on the interest rate. The good credit risk will still pay a lower rate than the high credit risk. And a significant downpayment will avoid the cost of mortgage interest. In the case of a someone with fair credit, that is an additional 175 basis points up front and 85 basis points during the course of the loan, at least until it is significantly above water.
I mean damn, think about it. Currently, that fair credit risk with a low down payment, they are paying 525 basis points in FEES alone. On a $400,000 mortgage that is $21,000, plus an ongoing yearly expense of $3,400. The good credit risk, they pay a flat one thousand damn dollars. I mean I am all about rewarding those with good credit, what I ain't too keen on is kicking someone in the teeth when they are on the floor.
This change drops that $21,000 to $14,000, still a damn kick in the teeth. Actually, it pays for the upfront mortgage insurance surcharge. And it only increases the cost for the good credit borrower by two grand. Cry me a damn river, dropping eighty grand on a downpayment and you guys are crying like stuck pigs over 2.5% of that down payment. You are just looking for something to ***** about.