Articles Published in: October 2018

October 31, 2018

Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Home With Your FHA Loan

There are common problems associated with home loans that can be easily avoided no matter if you are using an FHA mortgage, FHA refinance, or any other kind of home loan. Do you know how to make your home loan experience as efficient and hassle-free as possible? FHA Loan Pre-Approval: Don’t Search For A Home Without It When you are serious about the house hunt, and are ready to commit financially to the home you find that seems to be “the one”, the seller will take you far more seriously as a buyer if you approach with pre-approval in hand. Sure, you can make an offer without being preapproved for a home loan, but rest assured that other potential buyers WILL talk to the seller having taken the time to | more...

October 31, 2018

HUD Announces Charges In New Jersey Housing Discrimination Case

By Bruce Reichstein

There are many types of housing discrimination, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development actively pursues complaints of Fair Housing Act violations. The most recent was announced on the HUD official site in a press release titled, “HUD Charges New Jersey Condo Association with Discriminating Against Resident with Disabilities”. According to the press release, HUD’s allegations include charges that the condo association “only allowed the resident, who is sight and hearing impaired, to use the service door instead of the main entrance to the development or the common areas when accompanied by her assistance animal.” The press release says there are other allegations, one being that the condominium association charged the resident’s daughter a fee “because she walked her mother’s assistance animal in the development’s common areas”. It is | more...

October 30, 2018

What You Can And Cannot Do With An FHA Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

What are borrowers allowed to do with an FHA home loan? What is not allowed? Knowing your options before you apply is an important part of the process since all FHA home loan products are not made for the same purposes. You Can Use An FHA Mortgage To Buy A Mobile Home Or Condo There are FHA purchase loans available for mobile homes that meed FHA loan standards, and also mortgages to purchase condo units. FHA home loans allow these purchases as long as the mobile home is affixed to a permanent foundation and is transported directly to the site from the dealer or manufacturer. FHA condo loans are allowed when the condo unit is on or added to the FHA approved condo project list, the condo meets FHA minimum | more...

FHA Home Loans: Things To Do, Things Not To Do

October 29, 2018

Five Uses For FHA Refinance Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Need to know your FHA refinance loan options? There are many good uses for an FHA refi loan including using cash-out refinance options to reduce existing debt or make a large future purchase to help with school, a job, etc. #5: FHA Refinance Loans Can Be Used To Get A Lower Interest Rate FHA interest rates are negotiated between borrower and lender. The rate you are offered with an FHA mortgage may be lower than conventional rates, so if you currently pay on a conventional mortgage it is a very good idea to ask a participating FHA lender how you may be able to get a better rate. Home loan interest rates offered to you are dependent in part on your credit, but don’t assume just because you have had | more...

October 29, 2018

Will I Need To Fill Out IRS Form 4506-T To Buy A Home With An FHA Loan?

By Joe Wallace

When you fill out FHA home loan paperwork to purchase a home, your lender may ask you to complete IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. What is the purpose of this form and how does it affect your FHA loan? What Is IRS Form 4506-T Request for Transcript of Tax Return? The official site of the Internal Revenue Service says that the purpose of this form is twofold. One use is so that a transcript may be ordered free of charge, and the other use is to give permission to a third party (in this case, your participating FHA lender) to receive the transcript instead. Why Does My FHA Lender Need My Tax Information? The lender is charged with verifying the borrower’s income and employment as part | more...

October 26, 2018

FHA Home Loans: Should I Buy A House Or A Condo?

By Bruce Reichstein

One of the big choices facing some FHA home loan applicants is whether to concentrate on buying a suburban-type home or a condo unit. FHA home loans for condo unit purchases are definitely available from participating lenders willing to offer them; what are the differences between an FHA home loan for a condo or other types of properties? FHA Condo Loan Rules: The FHA Approved Condo Projects List FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 require all condo units secured by an FHA mortgage to be on or added to an FHA approved condo project list. Your lender can help work with you on a condo project to get it added to the list, assuming the project meets FHA loan requirements. If you want to search for an already-approved condo project | more...

Coronavirus And Home Loan Appraisals: What You Need To Know Now

October 25, 2018

Home Repairs With An FHA Loan In 2019

By Joe Wallace

Credit card use data from a company called Argus, and other studies indicate that as many as one in three home owners paid for home renovations in 2017 using a credit card. It’s estimated that more than $140 billion worth of home improvements were financed by credit card. Credit card interest rates vary, but if you’re paying more than 10% interest on that credit card and thinking about using one to finance your home repairs in 2019, you are likely paying too much in interest compared to an FHA home loan or refinance loan. What are the options with FHA mortgages and home repair? Can you apply for an FHA mortgage at a lower interest rate than your credit cards and get your home repairs accomplished without paying unnecessary interest? | more...

October 25, 2018

FHA Reverse Mortgage Policy Changes Explained

By Bruce Reichstein

In a recent blog post we discussed recent changes to FHA Reverse Mortgage loan policies. Here are some explanations of some of those policy changes and how they affect mortgage loan processing for FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, also known as reverse mortgages. Evidence of Current Hazard Insurance FHA reverse mortgages require the lender to verify the existence of hazard insurance where required and to make sure that insurance is current, not delinquent. According to the 2018 HECM policy updates, participating FHA lenders who issue reverse mortgages are now allowed to accept alternative documentation of hazard insurance: “In lieu of a current hazard insurance declaration page, HUD will accept a document from the hazard insurance provider (i.e., hazard insurance company underwriting the property and responsible for paying a claim) on | more...

FHA Home Loans And The Biggest Credit Mistake You Can Make

October 24, 2018

Four Things To Check Before Refinancing Your Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

What do you need to check before applying for an FHA refinance loan? There are some important areas to consider in the planning stages of your new loan that include interest rates, property values, and more. FHA Refinance Loans And Interest Rates Are you in a non-FHA loan hoping to get a lower interest rate through refinancing? Do an online search and you’ll find that lending websites indicate FHA home loans feature lower rates than conventional mortgages. The rates actually offered to you are contingent on your financial qualifications and how rates are performing at the time. It is very important to shop around for the best rates available to you. In certain times when rates are much lower, it may be tempting to wait or “float” to see if | more...

October 23, 2018

FHA Announces Revisions To FHA Reverse Mortgage Policies

By Joe Wallace

The Federal Housing Administration has issued a press release with revised FHA requirements for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. Effective immediately, when processing FHA Reverse Mortgages, also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, alternative supporting documentation is permitted as an alternative to “previously required materials that, in many instances, delayed claim processing” according to the FHA official site. FHA Commissioner Brian Montgomery is quoted in the press release saying that the rule changes would help keep the FHA Reverse Mortgage program on a “more financially viable path”. Montgomery says, “Streamlining the HECM claim payment process makes us more responsive to participating lenders…” FHA’s new HECM guidelines are intended to keep lenders from being “unduly burdened when seeking claims payments when the HECM reaches 98 percent of its maximum claim amount”. It | more...