Articles Published in: 2015

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

December 31, 2015

FHA Loan Rules In HUD 4000.1 On Closing Costs, Discount Points

FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 include some instructions to the lender about closing costs, discount points, down payment funds, and much more. Can a borrower use closing costs as part of his or her down payment? What does the FHA rulebook say about interest rate lock-in fees? There are many rules and regulations–borrowers and lenders alike should be familiar with the guidelines. For example, when it comes to the down payment question, FHA loan rules are clear that the down payment money is a separate and distinct thing from closing costs. Specifically, HUD 4000.1 states: “The Mortgagee is not permitted to use closing costs to help the Borrower meet the Minimum Required Investment (MRI).” So that means an FHA borrower will need to budget for both closing costs and | more...

December 30, 2015

FHA Appraisal Fees, Appraiser Integrity Rules In HUD 4000.1

By Joe Wallace

The FHA appraisal process is very important–it helps establish the fair market value of the home and insures that the home meets minimum standards. Just because a home passes the FHA appraisal process does not mean it is defect-free. It’s the borrower’s responsibility is to hire an independent home inspector for verification of the home’s condition in a more complete way than the appraisal. FHA loan rules published in HUD 4000.1 establish some guidelines and ground rules for appraisals, lenders, and others who might be in the home loan “food chain”. Did you know that the FHA does NOT set appraisal fees? That’s just one important aspect of the rules for this process found in HUD 4000.1. “The Appraiser and the Mortgagee or Mortgagee-designated third party will negotiate the appraisal | more...

December 29, 2015

FHA Appraisals And The Cost Of Appraiser-Directed Repairs

By Joe Wallace

When it’s time for the FHA appraisal to happen, a borrower may be understandably nervous about the outcome of the appraisal. What happens if the appraiser finds areas that must be corrected or repaired? In many cases those corrections or repairs are directed as a condition of loan approval. In some instances (which would be handled on a case-by-case basis) the repairs may also require a compliance inspection which the borrower would have to pay for. When repairs or corrections are required, can the borrower request that the cost of making those repairs be added to the home loan? According to HUD 4000.1, “A Mortgagee may add repair costs to the sales price before calculating the mortgage amount if: –the repairs are required by the Appraiser to meet HUDs Minimum | more...

December 29, 2015

Mortgage Rate Trends: Holiday Calm

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan rates are being reported in “holiday mode” at present, so while there was some very minor adjustments for the better in rates, we’re not likely to see much in the way of dramatic movement this week barring some form of breaking news that causes a significant investor reaction. As we move from one short week to another before the new year, there is lighter activity in the financial sector, things slow down, and investor behavior tends to reflect this winding-down time, so it’s no surprise that the word “float” is being used a lot when it comes to advising borrowers on getting a mortgage rate lock or not this week. Many industry pros feel floating carries a smaller degree of risk than it did previously due to the | more...

December 28, 2015

Planning For An FHA Refinance In 2016?

By Joe Wallace

Are you considering refinancing your home in 2016? There are several things you’ll want to consider planning, budgeting, or saving for in the new year. Having plans to examine these important issues connected to an FHA refinance loan can help you get organized and stay organized in the new year. Those issues include deciding on the type of loan, purchasing discount points, and the possibility of applying for extra funds to make energy efficient improvements in the home. For starters, it’s good to consider the type of refinancing you are interested in. Do you want lower payments and/or interest rates? Consider a Streamline FHA Refinance loan. Streamline refinances don’t have an FHA-required credit check or appraisal (though your lender is free to require one or both). For non-credit qualifying and/or | more...

December 28, 2015

HUD Announces Settlement With Real Estate Agency Charged With Fair Housing Act Violations

By Joe Wallace

Often when a violation of the Fair Housing Act occurs, it’s up to the victim to report the incident in order for the situation to be fixed. Those who fail to report such violations may not only cheat themselves out of a fair deal, but also allow such violations to continue to occur. Consider a recent settlement by HUD, which recently approved a pair of “Conciliation Agreements” with Delap Realty, LLC, of Northampton, Massachusetts, resolving allegations mentioned in an FHA/HUD press release that, “…the company and its agents violated the Fair Housing Act by discouraging families with children from renting over concerns the units might contain lead-based paint hazards.” Under the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to deny or limit housing because a family has children. It’s also not | more...

December 25, 2015

Happy Holidays!

By Joe Wallace

No matter what tradition you celebrate, or if you choose not to celebrate at all, we hope today is a safe, fun December 25th for everyone. We pause our usual coverage of FHA home loan issues, answering reader questions, and observing mortgage loan trends to spend time with family and friends. Our usual posting schedule resumes on Monday. Happy holidays!

December 24, 2015

FHA Appraisal Standards: “Ordinary” Home Purchases Versus Fixer-Uppers

By Joe Wallace

One good question that comes our way in the comments section from time to time involves the difference between an ordinary new home purchase loan or FHA mortgage and the purchase of a fixer-upper with an FHA rehab loan. If appraisal standards for FHA loans include minimum property requirements, how can a fixer-upper be purchased with an FHA mortgage? After all, the nature of a fixer-upper loan is that you take a property that is in need of rehab or repairs and bring it up to standards. How can a fixer upper pass an FHA appraisal? Fortunately, this issue is addressed in HUD 4000.1, which includes the following: “As the on-site representative for the Mortgagee, the Appraiser provides preliminary verification that a Property meets the Property Acceptability Criteria, which includes | more...

December 24, 2015

FHA Loans And The Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP)

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan rules published in HUD 4000.1 include instructions to the lender on how FHA single family mortgages are to include the Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium, also known as UFMIP. This is an expense borrowers should plan and budget for in the pre-application phase of preparing for an FHA mortgage loan. Borrowers can choose to finance the UFMIP or pay the cost at closing time. The UFMIP is not to be confused with the monthly mortgage insurance premium, also known as MIP, or private mortgage insurance commonly called PMI. According to HUD 4000.1: “FHA collects a one-time Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) and an annual insurance premium, also referred to as the periodic or monthly MIP, which is collected in monthly installments.” Of UFMIP, the rulebook says that “most | more...

December 23, 2015

HUD 4000.1 On FHA Refinance Loans

By Joe Wallace

When the new FHA single family home loan rulebook , HUD 4000.1, was released, it contained updates, revisions, restatements, and clarifications of FHA home loan policy. We’ve been examining critical areas of HUD 4000.1 and discussing them here. One of those critical areas involves the FHA loan rules for refinance loans. What does HUD 4000.1 say about refinancing in general? Let’s begin with how the FHA now defines refinance loan transactions: “A Refinance Transaction is used to pay off the existing debt or to withdraw equity from the Property with the proceeds of a new Mortgage for a Borrower with legal title to the subject Property.” Then there are the types of refinance loan transactions as described in HUD 4000.1, starting with cash-out loans: “(1) Cash-Out A Cash-Out Refinance is | more...