Articles Published in: February 2019

February 15, 2019

FHA Loan Policy Changes Regarding Income, Employment Verification

The FHA and HUD have issued a Mortgagee Letter explaining recent policy changes that affect how borrowers will have their income and employment verified, among other issues. Mortgagee Letter 19-01, issued February 15, 2019, announces the specific inclusion of third-party vendors (TPV) for the purpose of income and employment verification. The change is needed, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, because FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 did not previously mention third party vendors specifically. “FHA allows for electronic verifications as an option to a written Verification of Employment but makes no specific reference to TPV services. TPV provides an alternative means for verifying a Borrower’s employment, income, and assets which would eliminate the requirement for a Mortgagee to collect pay stubs, W-2s, and bank statements”. | more...

February 14, 2019

Preparing For A Home Loan As A New Borrower

By Joe Wallace

Preparing for a new home loan requires time. Before you start looking at real estate listings, talking to sellers, or begin filling out loan paperwork, you will need to take several steps ideally started at least a year before you begin house hunting. Begin Saving For Your Down Payment And Other Expenses Now There are appraisal fees, home inspection expenses, possible flood zone determination costs depending on location, closing costs, and the down payment to think about. Start saving as early as possible for these expenses. Start Checking Your Credit Reports Now If you find any items on your credit report that need to be disputed, the process can take many months. Don’t wait until later to take this step, the time you save will be critical later. You do | more...

February 14, 2019

Should You Become A Landlord With An FHA Mortgage?

By Bruce Reichstein

Some reports in 2019 indicate more married couples living with roommates than ever; since the mid-90s the number of couples who live with roommates has doubled and many people are considering renting out a spare bedroom to cover housing costs. If you are thinking about a mortgage loan as a first-time home buyer and wondering how you might be able to afford the loan long-term, consider using an FHA mortgage loan to purchase a property with more than one living unit and renting out the unused unit. FHA home loans are possible for first-time buyers (and all other financially qualified applicants) with homes up to four units, making your options to rent out a spare bedroom very attainable. There is no increase the minimum FHA loan down payment requirement regardless | more...

February 13, 2019

Will Another Government Shutdown Affect First-Time Home Buyers Applying For FHA Mortgage Loans?

By Joe Wallace

While threats of another government shutdown seem to be on-again, off-again, some potential FHA borrowers are wondering if there will be a repeat of the stalemate that brought the longest government shutdown in recent memory. And will FHA home loans be available to first-time home buyers if the whole affair repeats itself again? FHA Mortgage Loans Will Still Be Available During The Government Shutdown The kind of loan you buy a home with, FHA forward mortgages, will continue to be serviced during a possible shutdown as previously reported here and elsewhere, as discussed in the HUD/FHA contingency plan released prior to the last shutdown. Reverse mortgages, on the other hand, may once again be completely unavailable during the shutdown. FHA loans that cannot be processed using automated means-those that require | more...

February 12, 2019

FHA Home Loan Rules For Sellers

By Joe Wallace

What do sellers need to know about FHA home loans? There are several areas that you should know when negotiating with a first-time home buyer or an experienced real estate owner. One excellent example; when the home is appraised for an FHA mortgage loan, if the appraisal values the home at a dollar amount lower than the sale price, the borrower cannot be forced to complete the transaction. She has the option to walk away from the loan. This option is described in HUD 4000.1 which instructs the lender that a clause must be inserted into any sales contract involving an FHA mortgage that includes the following; “It is expressly agreed that notwithstanding any other provisions of this contract, the purchaser shall not be obligated to complete the purchase of | more...

February 12, 2019

HUD Announces Disaster Relief For Alaska Earthquake Victims

By Bruce Reichstein

Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced federal disaster assistance for the State of Alaska and those affected by the earthquake there. On January 31st, the President declared a major disaster area in Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Kenai Peninsula Borough. A federal disaster declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to those living in the affected areas. According to the press release, HUD offers immediate foreclosure relief to those with FHA mortgages in the disaster area. Borrowers should not delay in contact their FHA loan officers. Home loan disaster relief is not automatic and you will need to discuss your options with the lender as soon as possible once you know you will experience a delay in making payments. Borrowers are eligible for 100 percent financing, | more...

February 12, 2019

Rising Rent Versus FHA Home Loans For First-Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

Real estate and home mortgage blogs in the first quarter are 2019 are still reporting on the rising rent trends in many areas of the country that seem to be encouraging renters to examine their home buying options. Did you know that rents increased in places ranging from Wichita, Kansas to Scottsdale, Arizona? The increases in those two areas was above 12% each. Studio apartment rents climbed roughly 5% higher by the end of 2018, and in Newark, New Jersey renters were on the receiving end of more than 17% higher rents from last year. If you are tired of renting and are considering buying a first home, consider these perks of the FHA home loan program: Low Down Payment Requirements For FHA Loans First time home buyers looking at | more...

February 11, 2019

How To Find The Right Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

First-time home buyers often aren’t sure what to look for when it comes to choosing the right mortgage loan. You can have a real estate agent help you with MLS listings to find the right type of home, you can compare participating FHA lenders to see which ones offer the best mortgage loan interest rates, and you can select from a variety of options with the mortgage itself. Choose The Right Mortgage Loan For Your Needs The family that needs to relocate to a new area for a job move does not have the same immediate needs as someone interested in buying a fixer-upper home with an rehabilitation loan. Your needs and financial goals will play an important part in the type of mortgage loan you choose. FHA Home Loans | more...

February 8, 2019

FHA Mortgage Loan Approval For First-Time Borrowers

By Joe Wallace

What does it take for a first-time borrower to get home loan approval with an FHA mortgage? There are several areas to pay attention to; don’t make the common first-time buyer mistake of thinking that FICO scores are the only thing that matter when it comes time for your lender to approve your mortgage loan. First Time Buyer Home Loan Approval Criteria: Employment FHA loan rules require your lender to verify two years of employment, though those two years do not have to be with the same company. What borrowers should know about this requirement is that the lender wants to know if your income is stable and likely to continue long after the loan has been closed. Generally a lender wants to know if your current income will allow | more...

February 7, 2019

FHA Loan Approval: Credit Check Facts

By Joe Wallace

First-time borrowers and experienced house hunters alike often wonder if their credit is good enough to be approved for a new mortgage loan. Do you know the facts about credit and FHA home loan approval? FHA Credit Score Standards May Vary From Your Lender’s Requirements The FHA home loan program’s FICO score standards are the minimum requirement. FHA loan rules say that any borrower with a FICO score of 500 or higher is eligible to apply for an FHA loan. Lender standards may be higher than this, which is one reason why it’s best to start working on your credit early-long before you apply for a home loan. FHA Credit Requirements Can Be More Forgiving FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 say that it is not impossible to get a | more...