FHA originations dropped a hefty 28.3 percent in February from January and 59.1 percent from the same period a year ago, according to Inside FHA Lending’s analysis of agency data. FHA lenders reported $8.2 billion in new forward mortgages for February, down from $11.4 billion for January and $19.5 billion from a year ago. Approximately 73.9 percent of the loans were purchase mortgages. Industry observers attributed the continuing decline in FHA production to multiple and costly insurance premium hikes, revocation of the borrower’s right to cancel premium payments during the term of the loan and rising interest rates. For the week ending April 18, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with FHA insurance increased to 4.20 percent from 4.14 percent, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly application survey. FHA officials said the policy changes were necessary to ... [1 chart]