October 14, 2020
What does it mean to have an “identity of interest” when applying for an FHA home loan? This can be an issue if the borrower has been renting the property to be purchased with an FHA mortgage from the seller prior to the home loan application.
That is not the only issue addressed under the rules for identity of interest–those with family ties buying or selling to one another may also need to have an understanding of the rules in this area.
What is the meaning of “identity of interest?”
The FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, describes identity of interest transactions as a real estate sale between two parties “with an existing Business Relationship” or between family members.
The word “interest” in this case refers to the interest the seller has in selling the home to the buyer based on a tenant/landlord relationship, business relationship, or similar associations.
Such transactions are not forbidden by FHA loan rules, but do require a higher down payment under the right circumstances. HUD 4000.1 explains:
“The maximum LTV percentage for Identity-of-Interest transactions on Principal Residences is restricted to 85 percent. The maximum LTV percentage for a transaction where a tenant-landlord relationship exists at the time of contract execution is restricted to 85 percent.”
There are exceptions, and you should definitely know what these exceptions are going into your home loan application.
For example, the 85% LTV is waived for transactions where the borrower is purchasing “the Principal Residence of another Family Member…or a Property owned by another Family Member in which the Borrower has been a tenant for at least six months immediately predating the sales contract. A lease or other written evidence to verify occupancy is required.”
But what about situations where the seller is not a family member? Are there exceptions for the identity of interest rules in such cases? Yes, under limited circumstances:
“The 85 percent LTV restriction may be exceeded if the current tenant purchases the Property where the tenant has rented the Property for at least six months immediately predating the sales contract. A lease or other written evidence to verify occupancy is required.”
In these cases, the borrower must live in the property for at least six months before the sales contract agreement. Lender standards, state law, and additional requirements may also apply above and beyond the FHA loan rules we have covered here.
If you are not sure how this might affect your home loan, or whether you are required to make a higher down payment, ask a participating lender to clarify what is expected with these kinds of transactions.
Joe Wallace has been specializing in military and personal finance topics since 1995. His work has appeared on Air Force Television News, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and a variety of print and online publications. He is a 13-year Air Force veteran and a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association. He was Managing editor for www.valoans.com for (8) years and is currently the Associate Editor for FHANewsblog.com.
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