July 4, 2019
Today we pause from our regular posts on FHA home loans, FHA refinance loans, and FHA Reverse Mortgages to observe the 4th of July Independence Day holiday. Thank you very much for reading, have a safe holiday and we will resume our regular posting schedule on July 5th. Thank you for reading and have a safe holiday.
July 3, 2019
Many borrowers want to know if they are still eligible for a home loan even if they have debts that were referred to a collection agency. Can a borrower still get an FHA mortgage if they have collection accounts listed on their credit report? The FHA rules governing this issue can be found in HUD 4000.1, which begins with the FHA definition of “Collection Accounts”: “A Collection Account is a Borrower’s loan or debt that has been submitted to a collection agency through a creditor. “ When the lender finds collection information listed on the credit report, it is not necessarily an automatic denial of the loan waiting to happen. FHA loan rules require the lender to review the information to make sure the borrower wasn’t simply disregarding the debt | more...
July 2, 2019
If you are preparing for a home loan and want to buy a primary residence with an FHA mortgage, you should know what the FHA loan rules are for “contingent liabilities” which involve the borrower. A contingent liability is a financial obligation that the FHA loan applicant has co-signed for in the past or is otherwise potentially responsible for should the main borrower default on the financial obligation. The FHA loan handbook defines contingent liabilities specifically as follows: “A Contingent Liability refers to a liability that may result in the obligation to repay only when a specific event occurs. For example, a contingent liability exists when an individual can be held responsible for the repayment of a debt if another legally obligated party defaults on the payment. Contingent liabilities may | more...
July 1, 2019
Do you have questions about the FHA appraisal process? Many do and it’s no surprise why-the appraisal is the process that determines whether the home you want to buy meets minimum FHA standards or not. Here are some common appraisal questions and answers you should know before you get to that part of the home loan process. Whether you are a first-time home buyer applying for your first FHA mortgage or an experienced house hunter returning to the FHA loan program to buy a new primary residence, these questions are important. Who Is Responsible For Ordering The FHA Appraisal? The lender. The borrower does not initiate the appraisal process or select the appraiser. Who Pays For The Appraisal? The borrower is responsible for paying the cost of the FHA appraisal | more...
June 30, 2019
Some borrowers, especially first-time home buyers, are surprised to learn that FHA loan options include loans to purchase condo units in FHA-approved condo projects. 5. FHA Condo Loans Are For Condos On The FHA Approved List Whether the condo you want to buy a unit in is already on the approved list, or needs to be added to it, the FHA condo loan is available to financially-qualified borrowers who have never owned a home before or are coming back to apply for a new home loan after purchasing in the past. Borrowers who need to have a condo project added to the FHA list will be required to work with a participating FHA lenders who can apply to have the condo project added to it. But there is one important | more...
June 28, 2019
When headlines about home loan interest rates start appearing with the terms “new lows” or “lowest in months”, the minds of many home owners turn to refinancing. It’s very tempting to explore refinance loan options when rates begin falling; saving more money over the lifetime of the refinance loan is appealing and some borrowers feel they didn’t shop around aggressively enough for a better interest rate the first time around. When you are getting ready to refinance, what do you need to keep in mind in terms of FHA refi loan rules? Here are some areas to ponder. Basic Refinance Loan Transactions FHA refi loans come in a few basic types according to the FHA Lender’s Handbook, HUD 4000.1: Cash-out refinances: designed to pull equity out of the Property. No | more...
June 27, 2019
How do you know you are truly ready for a home loan? There are many things to consider, including your finances, credit, and employment history. But there are other factors, too. You Are Not Ready For An FHA Mortgage If You Don’t Know How Much You Can Afford To Pay Each Month Do you know how much you can afford in a monthly mortgage payment? Don’t forget that calculating your payment isn’t as simple as doing the math on the sale price of the home compared to the length of the mortgage plus interest. You will also have to figure in property taxes, any applicable homeowners or condo owners association fees, mortgage insurance premiums, and other factors. Do not overlook these expenses when doing the mortgage math! You Are Not | more...
June 26, 2019
Borrowers who want to pull cash out of their home, converting value into cash back, have two basic options with an FHA-guaranteed loan. One of those options is the FHA Reverse Mortgage, also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. This is for borrowers who either own the home or are very close to paying off the mortgage loan on the property. FHA HECM mortgages allow for cash back with no monthly payments required since the loan is paid off when the borrower dies, or sells the property. Does this sound like an option you would like to explore? There is one very important caveat with FHA Reverse Mortgages-they are not available to borrowers under the qualifying age, which is 62 or older. That is why your lender may try | more...
June 25, 2019
Housing discrimination can affect potential borrowers and renters at any stage in the house-hunting or home seeking process. Discrimination in rental housing can negatively affect the attempt to find and buy a home in cases where the victim needs to rent a unit while still looking for a house to purchase with a mortgage loan. Housing discrimination of any kind whether in renting or buying is prohibited by federal law. The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced charges against Minneapolis landlords in a Fair Housing Act case involving a rental unit denied to tenants over reasonable accommodation issues. The HUD official site published a press release alleging that the owners “refused to allow a single mother to live with an assistance animal, a cat, for her oldest daughter, | more...
June 24, 2019
One-Time Close Construction Loans May Take Longer To Close Than A Purchase Loan For Existing Construction You should discuss the amount of time your FHA OTC loan might take with the seller of the land if you are purchasing land and building the home. Timelines may be very important depending on circumstances. Find out how long the loan may take to close in your area and discuss this with the seller to see if the time frame is acceptable. Contractors For One-Time Close Construction Loans / Single-Close Construction Loans FHA construction loans include certain lender requirements that can vary depending on the lender. Borrowers should anticipate having to hire an outside contractor rather than trying to do the work personally. The builder and borrower will have to work together to | more...