Articles by: Bruce Reichstein

May 17, 2021

What First-Time Home Buyers Need To Know

Some people aren’t sure if they are considered first-time home buyers or not, and in some cases it definitely makes a difference. Some people don’t realize they are considered first time home buyers even though they owned property in the past. It is important to know your status as a buyer as those eligible for first-time buyer status in local communities may qualify for down payment help on their FHA mortgages. What does it take to be considered a first-time home buyer? What are the advantages? There is a persistent myth about FHA home loans that fools some people from considering FHA loans as an option. But if you have owned property in the past, depending on how far back in the past that home ownership goes, you may qualify | more...

Home Loans For Building On Your Own Land

May 11, 2021

Unique FHA Construction Loan Rules

By Bruce Reichstein

It can be more exciting to build a home from the ground up to your specifications than buying existing construction. Some borrowers prefer to have more say in the design of their homes and that’s where an FHA One-Time Close construction loan comes in. If you want to build a home on your own lot using a construction-to-permanent loan, also known as a One-Time Close mortgage (AKA the “single-close” construction loan), you should know that certain home loan rules are different for construction loans than for existing construction mortgages. There are some aspects of construction loans the borrower applying for an existing construction home loan won’t have to deal with, and there are specific rules for unique issues associated with building a home. For example, when applying for an FHA | more...

May 10, 2021

What You Need To Know About FHA Jumbo Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

How much home loan can you apply for successfully? The answer, depending on the housing market and other variables, might surprise you. It’s one thing to apply for a home loan that meets or is lower than the annual county limit established by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Those loans are easier to qualify for because they can be purchased or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie mac. They are known as conforming loans. But what about those who seek loans that are priced higher than that per-county limit? The answer itself is simple–borrowers can apply for a loan that exceeds county limits. These higher loans are called jumbo mortgages. Borrowers who qualify for them can get a home loan that’s higher than the county limit. But before you | more...

Build on your own lot. Construction loan basics

May 4, 2021

First-Time Borrowers Can Build a Home Instead of Buying One

By Bruce Reichstein

Even a first-time buyer dreams about having a house built especially for them from the ground up. Some taking their house-hunting journey for the first time are surprised to learn that their options include the ability to build a home on your own lot using a One-Time Close construction loan. One-Time Close construction loans, which feature only a single loan application and a single closing date, are offered as conventional mortgages, but also as VA and FHA construction loans. What should first-time home buyers should know about construction loans before committing? Don’t worry, these things won’t discourage you from getting the loan. But knowing some issues in advance may change how you prepare for your new home loan. Down Payments When building your home on your own land, a down | more...

May 3, 2021

HUD Announces Housing Discrimination Charges Against Redwood, California Mortgage Modification Company

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced charges against a Redwood, California-based company called The House Lawyer (THL). HUD announced the charge against owners and employers of The House Lawyer in a press release on the HUD official site on April 30, 2021. HUD alleges The House Lawyer violated Fair Housing Act laws, “by targeting Hispanic homeowners with illegal and unfair mortgage modification services”. Among the issues in this Fair Housing Act case, HUD charges the company with collecting fees from Hispanic borrowers “for loan modification services prior to the completion of those services, in violation of California law, while encouraging them to withhold their mortgage payments, putting them at risk of foreclosure”. Fair Housing Act law forbids discrimination against people because of their national origin. That federal | more...

April 29, 2021

Fair Housing Month Ends With New Discrimination Cases

By Bruce Reichstein

Fair Housing Act laws ensure all Americans have recourse if they are illegally discriminated in the housing process. The month of April is Fair Housing Month, commemorating the passage of the Fair Housing Act and drawing attention to the ongoing need for federal enforcement of laws designed to prevent discrimination in the housing process. The 2021 Fair Housing Month observation began with a campaign–the Real People Real Results campaign–which celebrates “…the heroism of those who took a stand against housing discrimination and acknowledges the staff and fair housing partners work to prevent discriminatory harassment”. This campaign recognizes an important issue. Sometimes the only people with the power to stop future violations of the Fair Housing Act are those who were victims of discrimination. In the last days of April 2021, | more...

April 21, 2021

FHA Refinance Loans: Maximum Loan Calculations

By Bruce Reichstein

How much can you get to refinance your home loan? Much depends on the nature of the refinance loan you seek–cash out, no cash out, simple refinance, FHA Streamline refinance loans, etc. What is the maximum loan-to-value ratio for an FHA refinance loan? FHA Refinance Loans Have Maximum Loan-to-Value Ratios FHA loan rules vary depending on the nature of the refinance loan. For example, appraisal-required cash out refinance loans? Cash-out refi mortgages guaranteed by the FHA feature an 85% loan-to-value ratio. Simple refinances have a maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio of 97.75 percent for Principal Residences and 85 percent for HUD-approved Secondary Residences. Streamline Refinances For owner-occupied Principal Residences the “maximum Base Loan Amount” for Streamline Refinances is the lesser of the outstanding principal balance of the existing Mortgage as of | more...

April 16, 2021

Learn More About Home Loans: Appraisals & Inspections

By Bruce Reichstein

It’s important to learn as much as you can about the home loan process when planning and saving for your new mortgage. If you are a newcomer to the home loan process, there are some good resources that can help you be more informed borrower. The less informed you are, the more likely you are to have some kind of regret at the end of the home loan process. The more you know, the more confident you will feel about your choices along the way. One important issue for many borrowers is the FHA appraisal process. Are you in-the-know about what happens during the appraisal, what it is intended to do and why you should never trust the appraisal to provide you the information that only a complete home inspection | more...

April 12, 2021

Low Down Payment Construction Loans For New And Repeat Borrowers

By Bruce Reichstein

Are you interested in building your home from the ground up? A loan called the One-Time Close construction mortgage can help you as a first-time home buyer or as an experienced borrower. You don’t have to be a first-time borrower to take advantage of a low-down payment or even a zero down payment home loan you can use to build a house on your own lot. Among the first questions you are likely to ask about this type of loan? How much you’ll be required to provide as your down payment. And the answer you get depends on what kind of construction mortgage you seek. Do you know how much money you need to save up for a down payment? That depends on the nature of your mortgage; VA, FHA, | more...

April 7, 2021

FHA One-Time Close Mortgages Compared To VA One-Time Close Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Lots of people are interested in building a home using a One-Time Close construction mortgage (OTC). This is a great option for military officers, career enlisted members, military retirees, and veterans who want to construct a new home rather than buying somebody else’s house. These construction loans are offered by both the VA and FHA loan programs. But which is better for those who have the option of applyinf for a VA mortgage? Who VA Loans Are For VA loans and the VA One-Time Close construction loan program are intended for veterans and currently serving military members with qualifying minimum time on duty. Surviving spouses (of military members who have died as a result of military service) may also qualify to apply for the VA loan program. FHA loans, including | more...