Articles Published in: April 2013

April 4, 2013

FHA Loan Refinance Credit Rules: A Reader Question

A reader asks, “I am trying to refinance my FHA loan with my current lender. I was refused they said, because my credit score is too low. I thought this did not matter? I thought the FHA STREAMLINE was intended for situations like ours.” “I have never been late or missed a payment in 4.5 years. My husband is doing well now and we are trying to get back to normal. Does the credit score count against you or not on the FHA streamline? And do the banks have a right to refuse the streamline if you are eligible?” There are several factors that must be considered when looking at a question like this. It’s true that FHA Streamline loans have no FHA requirement for credit underwriting which would include | more...

April 4, 2013

FHA Loan Rules For Loan Documentation

By Joe Wallace

FHA loans require paperwork. Whether it’s filled out on line, on paper, or using some combination of the two, there are several ares where borrower and lender must work together to complete. You’ll notice when filling out your FHA loan paperwork that there are requirements for certain types of information including credit history, your monthly financial obligations and much more. But did you know there are rules that govern how this information is handled by the lender? For example, one of the most important rules designed for the protection of the borrower applies to how the lender collects your signature and authorization for various steps of the FHA loan or refinance loan application process. The FHA loan rules spelled out in HUD 4155.1 state: “Lenders may not have borrowers sign | more...

April 3, 2013

New FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Rules Take Effect

By Joe Wallace

In January of 2013, the FHA announced pending rule changes to its Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program (FHA HECM for short). Those changes were scheduled to take effect on 1 April 2013 and are now in full effect. In the FHA Mortgagee Letter HUDNo.13-010, the agency announced, “…the consolidation of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Standard and HECM Saver initial mortgage insurance premium (MIP) and maximum principal limit factors for fixed interest rate mortgages.” The announcement states that the HECM Saver program is, as of 1 April 2013, the “only initial MIP option available to mortgagors who seek the predictability of a fixed interest rate mortgage and lower upfront closing costs.” The announcement adds, “Mortgagees shall designate HECM Saver as the initial MIP and use | more...

April 2, 2013

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium Changes

By Joe Wallace

Effective on 1 April 2013, the FHA changed its mortgage insurance premium rules. We’ve discussed this at length in other blog posts, but now that the date has come and gone for the changes to take effect, it seems like a good time to review those changes. According to FHA mortgagee letter 2013-04, ““FHA will increase its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for most new mortgages by 10 basis points or by 0.10 percent.” FHA MIP for Jumbo Loans is also going up. An FHA Jumbo Loan is basically described as mortgages at $625,500 or more. The increase on these loans is “5 basis points or 0.05 percent, to the maximum authorized annual mortgage insurance premium.” These MIP increases exclude “certain streamline refinance transactions.” The FHA describes these changes in | more...

April 1, 2013

FHA Condo Loans: What Defines A Condo?

By Joe Wallace

There are many different types of property you can buy with an FHA mortgage. Some borrowers are interested in suburban homes, others want a condo unit within the city. FHA loans do permit borrowers to buy condominium units with an FHA guaranteed mortgage, but there are additional rules for these purchases. One of the first things a borrower learns about purchasing a condo unit with an FHA mortgage is the rule found in HUD 4155.1 Chapter Four, Section B. It says, “FHA must approve condominium projects before a mortgage on an individual condominium unit can be insured.” Discuss this requirement with your loan officer to learn more about the FHA approval process and how it works in cases where the condo isn’t currently on the “approved” list. The approval issue | more...