Articles Published in: 2018

September 18, 2018

FHA Home Loan Rules For Sellers

Much of our discussion here about FHA home loans is focused on the buyer; what the FHA borrower can and cannot do with an FHA mortgage or refinance loan, how occupancy rules may dictate whether a home loan is approved or not, etc. But there are some FHA mortgage loan rules that affect the seller, too. Not all the FHA loan guidelines concentrate on the lender or borrower. For example, the seller is allowed to contribute a certain amount of money toward the costs of the home loan, but those contributions cannot exceed FHA and lender limits. If the seller’s contribution DOES exceed the limit, the borrower’s loan must be reduced dollar-for-dollar for the full amount above the FHA limit. There is a list of things that can result in | more...

September 17, 2018

HUD Announces Settlement In Nevada Fair Housing Act Harassment Case

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a Fair Housing Act case in Reno, Nevada. According to the HUD official site, the settlement involves a “…Conciliation Agreement between Reno, Nevada-based CMS Property Services, LLC, and its property manager and a female tenant, resolving allegations that the manager sexually harassed the woman.” Some are not aware that Fair Housing Act regulations include a prohibition of sexual harassment, but federal law makes it illegal for a housing provider to sexually harass tenants. The HUD official site says this rule includes, “creating a severe or pervasive hostile housing environment, or conditioning housing or housing-related services on the tenant’s acquiescence to sexual demands. The Act also prohibits retaliating against persons who complain about housing discrimination.” Often the only line | more...

September 14, 2018

FHA Rehab Home Loans For Disaster Victims

By Bruce Reichstein

Those living in federally-declared major disaster areas may be eligible for an FHA home loan to replace or repair properties that have been damaged by the disaster such as a hurricane, floods, etc. FHA 203(h) rehab loans are designed specifically for this purpose-the 203(h) disaster loan features no down payment, an FHA FICO score requirement of 500 or higher, and the rehab loan can only be used for principal residences only. That means owner-occupiers only. How does the FHA 203(h) rehab loan work? HUD 4000.1 has the rules for this type of mortgage loan. The FHA 203(h) rehab loan is quite similar to the FHA 203(k) rehab loan which is available to any financially qualified borrower who meets FHA occupancy requirements for the home. FHA rehab loans allow funds to | more...

September 13, 2018

FHA Home Loans With Less Than Two Years Of Employment

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for a home but don’t have an extensive employment history? The general rule for home loan approval is that the lender wants to see two years of work history. Depending on the nature of the loan and other factors, the two-year rule may have certain additional requirements that apply, and the lender may not be required to personally verify previous employment if tax records or pay stubs can reflect a two year employment record. In general, conventional loans require two years of work or education related to income, VA mortgage loans have a similar two year requirement. USDA loans also require the borrower to prove two years of work history. What are the specific requirements for FHA mortgages? According to HUD 4000.1, “For all Employment related Income, | more...

September 12, 2018

Five FHA Home Loan Questions To Ask Your Lender

By Bruce Reichstein

There are some important questions to ask a prospective lender when you are shopping around for a home loan. Make the most informed choice you can about selecting your lender, and remember that it pays to shop around for an FHA mortgage! #5: Will You Provide Me With An FHA Loan Estimate? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB.gov) advises borrowers that lenders are required to provide a loan estimate within three days of application. CFPB says the estimate should include the following: estimated interest rate monthly payment taxes and insurance total closing costs for the loan The estimate should also include how the interest rate and payments may change where applicable. Lenders should be willing to provide this estimate. #4: Are The Terms Of This FHA Loan Subject To Change? | more...

September 11, 2018

FHA Home Loans For Manufactured Housing

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans are for a variety of different property types. Manufactured homes are one of the property types you can purchase with an FHA mortgage, but like most other home loans the home you want to buy must meet FHA standards. FHA Home Loans For Mobile Homes: Find A Participating Lender FHA mortgages for mobile homes and manufactured homes are not always available since some participating FHA lenders choose not to offer them. The nature of a given housing market, buying or selling trends, and the quality of the manufactured homes / mobile homes in the area may all contribute to a lender’s decision to offer or not offer a mobile home loan. You may need to shop around for a participating lender who can help. You can also | more...

September 10, 2018

FHA Mortgage Refinance Checklist

By Bruce Reichstein

If you are exploring your refinance loan options, FHA refi loans can help with cash out refinancing, rate-and-term refi, or even a refinance loan that lets you rehab or remodel your property. If you want a refinance loan, it’s a very good idea to assemble a checklist in the planning stages so you know where you need to focus to prepare for the new loan. There is more than one area to make checklists for including areas like your credit, your home ownership goals, and the plans you have for your refi loan. FHA Refinance Loan Checklists: Goals And Financial Plans A good checklist includes the reasons for your checklist items in the first place. Ask yourself why you want to refinance your mortgage-make a list of pros and cons | more...

September 7, 2018

FHA Home Loans, Appraisals, And Home Inspections

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans require an appraisal in order to insure the property meets minimum FHA requirements. The appraisal also helps the lender set the loan amount based on the adjusted value of the home. Some borrowers are tempted to skip the optional home inspection process and simply go with the FHA appraisal. This is a bad idea because doing so basically results in buying a home and making a large investment without knowing the true nature of the property’s condition. There are some questions you can ask yourself to help better understand why a home inspection is needed; learning the answers to these questions can definitely change your mind about the temptation to skip a home inspection. How Does The Buyer Know If There Is A Roof Problem? Can you | more...

September 6, 2018

FHA Home Loans: Five Reasons To Buy A Home Instead Of Renting

By Bruce Reichstein

In our last blog post we discussed some reasons to purchase a home with an FHA mortgage instead of renting a property. Most of the reasons discussed in the previous post had to do with financial matters including the fact that renters gain no equity in their rental homes, and they have no ability to apply for a cash-out refinance loan based on the current value of the home. Reverse mortgages are unavailable to renters, too. But there are other reasons to buy a home and not rent. Are you thinking of an FHA mortgage to buy a home based on some of the reasons listed below? There are compelling arguments for each of the five reasons. #5: Buying A Home Means More Privacy Borrowers who own their own homes | more...

September 5, 2018

Rent Or Buy? Arguments For Purchasing A Home With An FHA Mortgage

By Joe Wallace

Does it make more sense to rent a home or to purchase one and make a mortgage payment rather than a rent payment? A lot depends on the property values in your chosen housing market, the cost of renting in that area versus the cost of purchasing, and the borrower’s financial goals. Are you thinking of making the switch from being a renter to becoming a home owner? Some reports claim that rents have increased as much as 88% in certain markets over time, and some renters choose to put that money into a property they own rather than dealing with the issues of being a long-term renter. Is Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage Instead Of Renting A Good Idea? The first thing needed to answer this question | more...