The Massachusetts state government debuted a new lending program that would help home buyers afford monthly payments. The program, MassHousing, has helped to quadruple the number of borrowers compared to last year. MassHousing allows borrowers to opt out of paying for mortgage insurance, which is meant to be a reserve for lenders when borrowers can’t make payments. Mortgage insurance usually adds hundreds of dollars to a homeowner’s cost every year– instead of paying insurance, MassHousing borrowers pay a slightly higher interest rate. Even with the higher interest rate, borrowers are likely to save hundreds of dollars and allows below-average buyers to afford their dreams.