Articles Published in: March 2019

March 29, 2019

Five Things You Should Do Before Applying For Your First Home Loan

First-time home buyers should be working on five areas before they apply for a mortgage loan. Are you working with a real estate agent or searching the real estate listings in your local area? Maybe you want to buy a new home in a different area than where you are living now and need to know the ins and outs of the neighborhoods there? Decide What Kind Of Home Loan You Need Having a home built from the ground up is possible with an FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan, but these loans are quite different than an FHA Condo Loan or FHA loans for a mobile home or manufactured home. Knowing the kind of loan you want in advance will help you search for the right kind of lender-some financial | more...

March 28, 2019

FHA And HUD Announce Home Loan Policy Changes

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced policy updates and changes that have been added to the FHA Single Family Home Loan Program Handbook, HUD 4000.1. According to an FHA/HUD press release, these are the first changes and updates to the handbook since late 2016. “With today’s update, FHA is recommitting to the industry that it will continue to maintain and enhance the SF Handbook so that it becomes a single, comprehensive source of policy guidance for lenders and other stakeholders doing single family business with FHA” according to the press release. The updates, posted March 27, 2019, include a set of “technical changes for consistency and clarity” as well as FHA home loan program policy updates. These updates affect how the lender may handle certain issues associated | more...

March 27, 2019

FHA Home Loans For Millennials

By Joe Wallace

How young is too young to buy a home? Millennials are taking over as the largest group of home buyers in the United States, but some wonder whether they are able to qualify. What does it take to qualify for an FHA mortgage? Are There Age Restrictions On FHA Home Loans? FHA loans do require all borrowers to be of sufficient legal age to sign legally binding contracts. But aside from that, there are no real age limits for FHA mortgages with one exception. The FHA Reverse Mortgage, which lets qualified borrowers convert the equity in a home they own outright into cash, is limited to borrowers aged 62 or older. But for forward FHA mortgages to purchase a home, as long as the borrower is otherwise qualified and of | more...

March 22, 2019

FHA Home Loans For Homes Built Before 1978

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans are offered for a variety of home needs including building a house from the ground up with an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, but there is also an option to use your FHA mortgage to buy an older home that is not considered new construction. In cases where the property is older than 1978, there are some additional rules regarding the potential for lead paint in the residence that all borrowers thinking about buying older property should be aware of. FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 point out that any home built prior to 1978 must include disclosures to the buyer: “…the seller must disclose any information known about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling the house, in accordance with the HUD-EPA Lead Disclosure | more...

March 21, 2019

Home Loan Credit Problems: Unresolved Borrower Debt

By Joe Wallace

What can jeopardize a home loan application? There are many factors, but delinquent and unresolved debt are two areas that first-time home buyers should be keenly aware of; these issues can derail a mortgage loan application depending on the severity and amount of the debt. We discuss debt ratios and related issues in this space all the time; the unresolved debt issue is related to debt ratios in a way (the resolution of the debt will likely add to the debt ratio in some way) but an account that is delinquent, and/or in dispute is a separate area altogether. It’s always best to apply for any major line of credit with a minimum of 12 months of on-time payments; anything less could threaten your ability to get loan approval. But | more...

March 20, 2019

Home Loan Rules You Should Know

By Bruce Reichstein

What home loan rules should you know ahead of your mortgage loan application? There are several that you should keep in mind when planning and applying for your new home loan. FHA Loans Are Issued By Participating Lenders A lender must meet FHA standards, conform to the FHA loan program rules, and generally be recognized by the FHA as being permitted to issue FHA-guaranteed mortgage loans. But not all lenders choose to participate in the FHA home loan program so you may need to shop around for a lender. Shopping around is a good thing, but some feel that one lender is as good as another. When it’s time to compare interest rates and mortgage loan terms, you may find that to be untrue. But not all lenders choose to | more...

March 19, 2019

FHA Home Loan Approval And Undisclosed Debt

By Joe Wallace

Some first-time home buyers are tempted to leave information off of credit applications, hoping that the lender won’t find out or that the omitted information will get lost in the details of the loan. But this is not a good strategy; FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 anticipate such issues and there are instructions to the lender accordingly. Leaving out crucial information including certain debts may jeopardize FHA home loan approval. FHA Loan Rules For Undisclosed Debt In a situation where the borrower fails to disclose debts and the lender discovers them by other means, HUD 4000.1 instructs the loan officer as follows for undisclosed debt that does not involve another mortgage: “When a debt or obligation (other than a Mortgage) not listed on the mortgage application and/or credit | more...

March 18, 2019

How Do I Refinance My Home Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Are you planning to buy your first home and wondering about your refinance loan options later down the line? Do you already own a home you need to refinance? There is good news for you; refinancing with an FHA mortgage can help you get into a lower mortgage payment, get out of an adjustable rate mortgage, or even renovate your house. What does it take to refinance a home loan with an FHA mortgage? Choose The Refinance Loan You Need There are several FHA refinance loan options. If you need to remodel or repair your home at the same time you refinance, you can apply for an FHA 203(k) rehab loan that provides funds for approved upgrades and improvements. But the FHA rehab refinance loan (which is also available as | more...

March 18, 2019

What You Need To Know About FHA Condo Loans

By Joe Wallace

Buying a condo with an FHA mortgage loan is an option many borrowers might be interested in but sometimes assumptions about the FHA home loan program might cloud the issue. Here are some things you should know about FHA mortgages for condo purchases. FHA Condo Loans For First-Time Home Buyers FHA condo loans are open to first-time buyers and experienced home owners alike. You will be approved for the FHA condo loan based on your financial qualifications rather than whether or not you have owned property before. FHA Condo Loans Have Certain Advantages The down payment requirements for FHA home loans do not change based on the type of property you purchase, so you are still required to financially qualify but your down payment requirement does not get adjusted because | more...

March 17, 2019

Buying Versus Renting A Home

By Joe Wallace

What is the advantage of applying for an FHA mortgage to buy your home versus renting one out and declining to become a first-time home buyer? There are many differing opinions on this subject, so it seems like a good idea to simply list some facts about owning and renting a home that could help you choose which is better. Depending on your financial needs and goals, you may decide that owning is a far better option. Renting Means Accepting The Landlord’s Interior Decoration Skills Or Lack Of Them Home owners have the option to paint, wallpaper, remodel, and reconfigure their home at any time. Renters have to get permission first AND put the home back in its’s original paint scheme when the rental period is finally over. Naturally you | more...