Articles Published in: 2018

May 29, 2018

Can Military Members Refinance A VA Mortgage To An FHA Loan?

Can a military member or veteran with a VA mortgage loan refinance that loan into an FHA mortgage? If a VA borrower wanted to refinance using an FHA Rehab loan, for example, is such a transaction possible? Some online research into the possibility of a “VA rehab loan” turns up results that indicate that a borrower might have a difficult time finding a lender willing to issue the right kind of refinance loan for the borrower’s needs in this particular area. VA loan rules basically address cash-out refinancing, Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans (IRRRLs) and refinancing loans to cure a delinquent mortgage. There is a section under “other refinancing loans” for VA refinance options that include a construction loan, but the VA in general does not offer the same kind | more...

May 28, 2018

Happy Memorial Day 2018!

By Bruce Reichstein

Happy Memorial Day! We pause today from our usual posts about FHA home loans, refinance loans, FHA One-Time Close construction loans and related topics to recognize the sacrifices made by our women and men in uniform. Thank you to all who have served-from those who have gone before to those who are about to enter their first year in uniform in service to our country. We return with our regularly scheduled posts on Tuesday. Thank you for reading, and have a safe and happy Memorial Day 2018. We are glad you stopped by!

May 25, 2018

FHA Home Loan Rules For New Construction Appraisals

By Joe Wallace

Borrowers who are interested in having a home built for them from the ground up using an FHA construction loan such as an FHA One-Time Close mortgage or any other type of FHA-guaranteed mortgage loan may wonder what the rules are for appraisals. After all, existing construction appraisal processes are for a home that is ready to sell (although the process may vary if the borrower is applying for certain types of rehab loans). While the appraisal requirements may be generally the same-the home must be safe, habitable, and have an economic life for the entire duration of the mortgage-there are procedural issues that affect new construction properties. With that in mind, appraisals on new construction run a bit differently in some procedural ways than existing construction mortgages; with the | more...

May 24, 2018

FHA Loan Rules For Property Types

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 spell out the rules for approved property types that can be purchased or built using an FHA mortgage. Some borrowers may not realize they can buy, build, or refinance properties aside from the typical suburban home. The list of property types you can choose from include mobile homes, manufactured housing, condos, town homes, row houses and more. Specifically, HUD 4000.1 lists the following: detached or semi-detached dwellings Manufactured Housing townhouses or row houses individual units within FHA-approved Condominium Projects Borrowers can use an FHA One-Time Close construction loan to build a home, but there are restrictions on the type of dwelling you can build. In general homes built using these loans must be single-family residences and not multi-unit properties; your lender will explain what | more...

May 23, 2018

Common Credit Problems That Can Affect Your FHA Mortgage Loan Application

By Joe Wallace

What are the most common credit issues that may negatively affect your ability to get approved for an FHA home loan? There are several areas you can anticipate in the home loan planning stages; addressing these areas long before you apply for any major line of credit, including a home loan, goes a long way toward helping you get your new home. FHA Loan Credit Issues: On Time Payments The timely payments issue is one of the simplest areas to address, but also one of the most common problems going into a home loan application. In general, borrowers should never apply for a loan with any late or missed payments on their record in the 12 months leading up to the loan paperwork. Anything less than this can seriously compromise | more...

May 22, 2018

Is U.S. Citizenship Required For An FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Is United States citizenship required for an FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loan? This issue does not affect all potential FHA borrowers, but it’s a very important one to address, especially given controversy in the news over a variety of societal concerns. Before we get to the specifics of whether or not citizenship is required for an FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close mortgage or ANY type of FHA home loan, refinance loan, or FHA reverse mortgage, it must be noted that FHA home loans are approved on the basis of a borrower’s ability to financially qualify and afford the mortgage. The borrower must be able to legally commit to binding agreements including the loan contract itself, and be of sufficient legal age in the state the transaction is to | more...

May 21, 2018

FHA Loans, Wells, And One-Time Close Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Borrowers who apply for FHA loans may not be clear on whether or not a property served by a well instead of being connected to the local utility is eligible for an FHA mortgage. Is the presence of a well a problem for FHA loan approval? And what about FHA loan standards for FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans? HUD 4000.1 contains guidelines for these issues including the acceptability of a property served by a well instead of a water utility. Borrowers will be relieved to know that FHA mortgage rules do not automatically rule out a property just because a well is present, but that well must meet both FHA minimum requirements and any applicable health code or other local ordinances. For One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans, | more...

May 21, 2018

FHA Loan Rules For Investment Properties

By Joe Wallace

Admittedly, the title, “FHA Loan Rules For Investment Properties” might sound a little misleading; the FHA lender’s handbook HUD 4000.1 states clearly on page 142, “Investment Properties are not eligible for FHA insurance.” But what is the FHA definition of an investment property? The answer to that question is twofold-to understand what constitutes an investment property, we have to examine what is NOT an investment. What is the type of home loan the FHA does guarantee? FHA mortgages are primarily for owner-occupiers. At least one borrower obligated on the mortgage must live in the home as her permanent, principal residence within a reasonable time after the loan closes. In some cases, FHA loan rules make provisions for borrowers who want to use an FHA loan for a secondary residence, but | more...

May 18, 2018

Maximum Loan Amounts For FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

What is the maximum loan amount you can borrow with an FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loan? The actual dollar amount is not fixed, it depends on variables including the FHA loan limits in a given housing market and whether or not the borrower is buying land in conjunction with the project. Calculating the Maximum Loan Amount For An FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close Construction Loan The FHA loan rules for One-Time Close / Single-Close loans, also known as construction-to-permanent mortgages, are found in HUD 4000.1 and include a breakdown for lenders on how to calculate the maximum mortgage loan. The loan limit takes into account the borrower’s down payment and the Loan-To-Value ratio (LTV). HUD 4000.1, page 445 instructs the lender: “The maximum mortgage amount is calculated using | more...

May 18, 2018

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans: What’s Required At Closing Time

By Bruce Reichstein

In addition to the usual requirements to close, FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans (FHA OTC) have some additional FHA documentation requirements borrowers should anticipate. One Time-Close construction loans are more complex than existing construction loans for a few obvious reasons-when a borrower has a home built from the ground with an OTC loan, builders must be paid, there are escrow requirements and procedures which must be followed, and there are unique requirements for this type of loan. Do you know what additional documentation may be required to close the deal? According to page 446 of HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, the additional documents to close include (but are not limited to) a construction rider, a disclosure agreement related to final inspections, a fully executed contract between the | more...