Articles Published in: 2018

May 17, 2018

FHA Loans For Self-Employed Borrowers

Are there FHA home loans for self-employed borrowers? There’s a persistent myth about FHA loans and self-employment; that working for yourself is a serious disadvantage when it comes to home loan approval. What’s the reality? FHA Home Loans Are Available For Financially Qualified Self-Employed Borrowers FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state that being self-employed is an acceptable form of primary income as long as that income meets certain criteria. Borrowers will be required to furnish tax returns, business plans, profit-and-loss statements and other documentation as required by the lender to verify income. It may take some extra time to gather all the required information your lender needs, but you should come to the application or preapproval process knowing how your income has changed over time. Self Employment Minimum Requirements | more...

May 16, 2018

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans And Other Government-Backed Mortgages

By Bruce Reichstein

House hunters looking for government-backed mortgages (as opposed to conventional mortgages which may have higher down payment requirements and other features) have a variety of options to choose from. Are you in the market for an FHA construction loan such as the FHA One Time Close construction mortgage? Do you need to build instead of buy? FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close Construction Loans Borrowers who choose the FHA One Time Close / Single-Close mortgage are applying for a single mortgage loan covering both the construction phase and the mortgage itself. These loans are for those who want to build a home from the ground up, and there are additional requirements for these loans regarding escrow, inspections, and when mortgage payments are scheduled to being. One Time Close (OTC) loans or | more...

May 15, 2018

FHA Home Loans And Occupancy Requirements

By Bruce Reichstein

What are the occupancy requirements for FHA home loans? Like many government backed loans, there are general occupancy requirements a borrower must follow as a condition of loan approval. Whether you are buying an existing construction home or having one built for you using an FHA One Time Close construction loan, some guidelines for occupancy will apply. FHA Definition Of Occupancy, Principal Residences FHA loan occupancy rules basically require that the borrower live in the home full time, using it as the primary residence or principal residence instead of a vacation home, time share, or other intermittent occupancy arrangement. How does the FHA specifically define “principal residence”? According to HUD 4000.1: “A Principal Residence refers to a dwelling where the Borrower maintains or will maintain their permanent place of abode, | more...

May 15, 2018

FHA Loan Rules For Appraisals: What Borrowers Need To Know

By Joe Wallace

What do borrowers need to know about FHA loan appraisal rules? We field reader questions every month that include queries about the appraisal process and whether or not a certain type of condition is permitted in a home to be purchased with an FHA mortgage. Some recent reader questions go along these lines: “Is an unfinished basement acceptable in a home I’m buying with an FHA mortgage?” “Does the garage have to be wired for electricity in order to be approved for an FHA loan? and, “The home I want to buy is served by a well instead of being connected to a local utility. Is this permitted?” There are some FHA loan rules for appraisals that may address some or all of these issues, but there’s a very important | more...

May 14, 2018

FHA Home Loan Approval And Your Credit Report

By Bruce Reichstein

What do potential home loan borrowers need to know about FHA loans and credit reports? There are some very simple things that some don’t realize going into the home loan process that can definitely affect your participating FHA lender’s ability to approve your mortgage. FHA Loan Credit Checks The lender is required by FHA home loan rules to pull a loan applicant’s credit reports to review credit scores, credit history, and look for overall patterns of reliable use of credit. However, some borrowers mistakenly assume that the lender will look at a credit report once, make the notes, and never go back to the credit report again. This is not necessarily the case. Your FHA lender is charged with making sure that a borrower’s credit position is stable and that | more...

May 14, 2018

Am I Eligible For An FHA Home Loan If I Am In A Credit Counseling Program?

By Joe Wallace

Are potential FHA borrowers eligible for an FHA home loan if they are participating in a credit counseling program? This is a question on the minds of some borrowers trying to fix credit issues and repair past mistakes or problems associated with their credit. Borrowers should always work on their credit, counseling program or not, before applying for any major line of credit such as a mortgage or auto loan. The FHA and HUD even offer referrals to local, HUD-approved housing counselors for borrowers looking for pre-purchase advice including credit tips. (You can call the FHA directly at their toll-free number, 1-800 CALL FHA for these referrals). Some borrowers choose a formal credit counseling program in order to work on credit repair issues, and there is an understandable concern that | more...

May 11, 2018

Do You Need An FHA Home Loan?

By Joe Wallace

Do you need an FHA home loan? There are many mortgage loan options on the market, do you know what makes an FHA mortgage a potential advantage as a home buyer? FHA Home Loans Have More Forgiving Credit Requirements FHA mortgages have minimum FICO scores and credit history requirements that can be more forgiving than their conventional loan counterparts. Lender standards will also apply, but the FHA-proscribed minimums allow the lender greater flexibility to consider loan approval. FHA Loans Have Lower Down Payment Requirements 3.5% of the adjusted value of the property for new purchase loans on existing construction homes is quite appealing for many borrowers who can’t afford 20% down for some conventional loans. FHA One Time Close construction loans also require a 3.5% down payment for properties built | more...

May 9, 2018

One-Time Close Mortgages: Choices To Consider

By Bruce Reichstein

There are many options to consider when planning a One-Time Close (OTC) / Single-Close construction loan. Borrowers who want a home built for them from the ground up can choose between FHA One-Time Close, USDA One-Time Close, and VA One-Time Close construction loans. These are also known as Single-Close loans. These three programs have some basic differences. VA OTC mortgages allow qualified borrowers to apply with no money down. USDA construction loans may also permit the borrower to apply without the expectation of a down payment, but these construction loans are only for rural areas with populations of up to 35,000 according to a 2017 USDA fact sheet about the program. One-Time Close / Single- Close Construction Loans: Occupancy Required Choices between the VA, USDA, and FHA construction loan program | more...

May 8, 2018

VA One-Time Close Construction Loans Compared To FHA One-Time Close Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

How do VA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans compare to their FHA One-Time Close (OTC) / Single-Close counterparts? If you don’t know which program you qualify for, now is a good time to learn the differences and similarities. FHA And VA One-Time Close / Single-Close Construction Loans Requirements Some things will apply to both FHA and VA One-Time Close construction loans. For both types of loan, all borrowers must financially qualify, they must have minimum FICO scores as determined by both the VA/FHA and the lender, and the property must be constructed in the United States or its’ protectorates. VA One-Time Close and FHA One-Time Close loan rules both require occupancy; you may only have a home built from scratch using a VA construction loan if you intend to | more...

May 7, 2018

FHA 203(k) Rehab Loans: What’s A Contingency Reserve?

By Joe Wallace

If you are interested in buying or refinancing a home to renovate with an FHA mortgage, the FHA 203(k) loan is a great place to start exploring your options. The FHA 203(k) rehab loan comes in two varieties-one for larger and more ambitious projects, and a smaller “limited” 203(k) that offers smaller loans for simpler repairs/renovations. The 203(k) loan involves hiring contractors and having work done according to both FHA home loan minimum standards, but also requires that the home be brought into compliance with applicable building codes. Lender standards, state law, and FHA home loan rules will affect how this transaction is conducted. One FHA requirement is the FHA rehab loan contingency reserve, which you can think of as a “rainy day fund” in case there are unexpected costs | more...