Articles Published in: May 2022

May 13, 2022

Reasons To Refinance With An FHA Mortgage In 2022

There are many reasons to consider refinancing a home loan with an FHA mortgage. Some aren’t as attractive in times when interest rates are moving higher, and others may require a refinance no matter what the rates are doing. Recovering from financial or natural disasters can bring a homeowner back to the lender to discuss options for saving a home through refinancing as one possible option. In the spring of 2022 when inflation and other issues contributed to rising interest rates, cash-out refinancing may not be on the table in the minds of those worried about a continued rise in rates. But some homeowners affected by the pandemic who are struggling to make their mortgage payments or struggling to keep up due to the long-term financial effects of COVID-19 on | more...

May 12, 2022

FHA Rehab Loans And Remodeling Projects

By Joe Wallace

If you are interested in an FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Loan to buy and renovate a home or want to use the refinance version of the FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan, there are some things you should know before committing to a renovation project. That’s especially important for those who want to refinance their existing mortgage into an FHA 203(k) and use the loan funds to improve the home they already own. Why? Because it’s easy to get the wrong idea about how much value certain renovations might add to your property. For example, some might believe that adding a pool or hot tub will increase the value of their property. Never mind that FHA 203(k) Rehab loans don’t permit such luxury items, it’s the misconception that’s most important here. Why is | more...

FHA Home Loans And First Time Home Buyers

May 11, 2022

Three Things To Know About FHA Loan Choices

By Joe Wallace

If you have never used an FHA home loan before, there are some things to consider when you’re comparing your options. One of those areas involves your basic needs and goals for the home, and another involves the costs of the loan. A third is related to the choices you have when it’s time to sort out how much to pay upfront and what to consider including in the loan amount. FHA Loans: Fixed Rate Or Adjustable? When interest rates go up, it may be tempting to compare your options between fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate or ARM loans. But don’t look at the rates alone; decide how long you think you may keep the home and make your decision about ARMs afterward. Why? Because if you plan to keep the | more...

FHA Construction Loan Rule Changes In 2021

May 10, 2022

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans: Buying And Owning Land

By Bruce Reichstein

With an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, you have the ability to build a home on your own land instead of purchasing someone else’s house. There are two kinds of borrowers for these construction loans, those who already own land and those who do not. Some might wonder if they are left out of the FHA construction loan option simply because they don’t own a parcel of land yet. The good news is that FHA One-Time Close loans allow you to apply for a loan to buy the land as well as build the home. You’ll find that it may be easier to qualify for an FHA One-Time Close loan than a conventional equivalent, but keep in mind that you may have certain closing costs that aren’t applied with certain | more...

May 9, 2022

Refinancing A Mortgage Without A Credit Check

By Joe Wallace

Is there such a thing as a no-credit-check FHA loan? There are zero-down payment home loan options offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and USDA, is there a similar type of loan for those who don’t want a credit check? When it comes to purchase loans, FHA mortgages require a credit check, employment verification, and other financial information to approve or deny the loan. You won’t find a home loan issued by a traditional lender that has no credit pull. That does not mean you cannot purchase property without undergoing a credit check. A 100% cash transaction between borrower and seller would technically not require one unless some kind of credit was needed. And depending on the state where you live, community property laws may or may not require | more...

May 6, 2022

FHA Refinance Loans: What You Should Know

By Bruce Reichstein

If you are considering your FHA refinance loan options, there are several things you should know about refinancing with FHA before you apply. There are a variety of refinance loan options available-under FHA loan rules you can apply to refinance a home loan with cash out, you can also apply for an FHA Streamline Refinance that has no cash back to the borrower but also has no FHA-required credit check. Your participating lender is permitted to require an appraisal and/or credit check depending on lender standards and other variables. Borrowers in conventional loans or other non-FHA mortgage loans can refinance using the FHA Cash-Out Refinance option or choose an FHA refinance (with required credit check and appraisal) in the no-cash-out version of this type of FHA refinancing. FHA Streamline refi | more...

May 5, 2022

FHA Home Loan Planning For First-Time Home Buyers

By Bruce Reichstein

If you’re considering an FHA home loan to purchase your first home, there are some issues you might not think about right away when planning and saving for your loan. Anticipating some of these issues can help you make smarter choices about your home, the home loan, and the features of the mortgage. Think Like A Lender That is advice commonly reserved for the credit check, and it’s good advice. Learning to think like a loan officer can help you better determine whether you are truly ready to apply for the loan. For this article, “think like a lender” also extends to things like the type of home you want to buy. What does this mean? When a home is appraised, your lender’s review of the appraisal report will include | more...

May 4, 2022

FHA Appraisals: Facts You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

Some FHA borrowers wonder about how the appraisal works. It’s a process that can seem a bit mysterious until you understand the hows and whys. What do you need to know about FHA appraisals to help you make the most informed choices about a particular home? FHA Appraisal Facts: The Appraisal Is A Tool For Your Lender, Not For You Appraisals help the lender make sure the home meets the bare minimum standard for safety and habitability. It also helps the participating FHA lender establish the fair market value of the home. It is not a tool for the borrower in any way except to provide the dollar amount for the market value. FHA Appraisal Facts: Standards Vary What applies in one housing market may not apply in another. By | more...

May 3, 2022

FHA Loan Income And Employment Rules You Need To Know

By Joe Wallace

Here’s a variation on a common question about FHA loan approval. “I recently switched employment types from salary to commission. How long do I have to earn on a commission basis to qualify for a mortgage?” If you have recently changed the way you earn, that change may complicate your FHA loan process depending on how recently the change happened and other variables. Switching to commission from salary is one of the best-known examples, but some borrowers may have changed from being full-time, in-house employees, to being contractors or consultants. In other cases, an FHA loan applicant may have quit working for someone else to be their own boss as a small business owner. In all cases, the lender requires proof of employment and income in the form of W2s | more...

May 2, 2022

The FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage Program

By Joe Wallace

In April 2022, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced support for a Washington D.C. program called “Solar For All”, a program HUD says will help, “ensure that residents of HUD-assisted properties in the District are able to access the program without experiencing an increase in their housing costs.” According to a press release on the HUD official site, the “Solar for All” project is intended to bring solar energy to 100 thousand low-to-moderate-income families in the D.C. area. This announcement is part of a Biden administration push to “address climate concerns, and create benefits for residents of HUD-assisted households through equitable deployment of community solar” according to HUD. But did you know that you don’t have to live in Washington D.C. to consider a solar upgrade with an | more...