Articles in Category: Fixed Rate Mortgage

What You Should Know About FHA Home Loan Credit Checks As A First-Time Home Buyer

December 11, 2017

FHA Home Loans In 2018

Any potential borrower examining options for FHA home loans in 2018 should keep in mind some very important factors that may affect your choices for a new loan. Do you know what they are? FHA Mortgage Loan Limits Have Increased for 2018 The average housing market (not a high-cost or low-cost area) will feature an FHA loan limit of $453,100 for a single-unit property. That is up from 2017’s limit for the same areas of $424,100. That increase might not make a huge difference to some, but the additional borrowing power may be helpful to others. The higher FHA loan limit applies to all FHA mortgages with case numbers assigned between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. Check Your Credit Scores As Early As Possible There were many headlines | more...

November 6, 2017

Why Do People Prefer FHA Loans?

By Bruce Reichstein

Why do people prefer FHA loans? It’s a question many ask, especially when comparing loan options to conventional, VA, or other non-FHA mortgages. What’s the appeal of the FHA mortgage loan? Why should first-time home buyers consider this option? FHA Loans Are Flexible FHA home loans aren’t just for one type of home, or for one type of buyer. There is no income limit for an FHA mortgage, the borrower has to be able to afford the mortgage based on the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio (how much money you have coming in compared to the amount going out each month for financial obligations). Credit ratings, employment, and other factors are also important, but the misconception that FHA mortgages are only for those who need financial help isn’t true. Any financially qualified | more...

Coronavirus And Home Loan Appraisals: What You Need To Know Now

October 30, 2017

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

There is still time to consider an FHA construction loan in 2017. Those who are more interested in having a brand-new home built especially for them rather than purchasing an existing construction home with an FHA mortgage will be pleasantly surprised at the options available to them. FHA construction loans are different than other types of FHA mortgages and can be a bit more complex, but thanks to the FHA One-Time Close construction loan this process isn’t as complicated as other types of construction loans. Why? A Single Application and Closing Date For FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans The FHA One-Time Close construction loan is referred to in the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, as a “construction-to-permanent” mortgage. Some construction loans require the borrower to qualify twice; once to pay | more...

October 16, 2017

What Do I Need To Know About Applying For An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What do I need to know about applying for an FHA loan? There are a variety of things you should know before you fill out FHA mortgage loan application paperwork. FHA Loan Residency Requirements You do not have to be a United States citizen to apply for an FHA mortgage loan. The only requirement is that the applicant must be in the U.S. legally and have documentation to prove it. Resident aliens and non-resident alien loan applicants will be required to document their status but would not be turned down for an FHA mortgage loan on the basis of not being a citizen. FHA Loan Credit Requirements For maximum financing, FHA loan rules say FICO scores of 580 or better are required. However, lender standards may be higher-check with your | more...

October 11, 2017

Is There An FHA Loan For Homes On Tribal Land?

By Bruce Reichstein

Is there an FHA loan for homes on tribal land? According to the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, a type of loan known as a “Section 248 Mortgage” is available specifically for home purchases of this type. HUD 4000.1 defines the Section 248 mortgage as “a purchase or refinance Mortgage covering one- to four-family dwellings on Indian Lands.” Since definitions are extremely important for many aspects of the FHA loan program, this section of the FHA loan rules also defines what the FHA considers to be “Indian land” and the communities that live there: “Indian Land refers to those lands that are held by or for the benefit of Indian Tribes under some restriction or with some attribute peculiar to the legal status of its owners. Indian Tribe refers to | more...

October 10, 2017

Can I Buy A Mobile Home With An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

Can I buy a mobile home with an FHA mortgage? That’s a question on the minds of many not looking for a typical suburban house or a condo unit. FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, address the question of mobile home and manufactured housing purchases with an FHA mortgage. FHA Loans Can Be Used To Purchase A Mobile Home Or A Manufactured Home HUD 4000.1 includes instructions for the lender on processing FHA mortgage loans for mobile homes and manufactured housing. There are restrictions on the age of the mobile home; it must have been built on or after June 15, 1976 in order to qualify for an FHA mortgage loan. Additional lender standards in this area may also apply. Mobile Home Requirements To Qualify For | more...

September 27, 2017

What Are My FHA Loan Options For Buying A New Home?

By Joe Wallace

What are my FHA loan options for buying a new home? FHA loans are attractive to many house hunters thanks to lower down payment requirements, an credit standards that can be more forgiving than some conventional mortgages. The ability to freely sell the home or allow the FHA mortgage to be assumed (with lender participation) by someone else should the need arise is also a good, consumer-friendly feature. There are a few misconceptions about FHA home loans including the requirements to qualify and types of property available to be purchased with an FHA mortgage. Fortunately, some of those misconceptions have to do with things the borrower thinks cannot be done for some reason, but are actually options in the borrower’s favor. FHA Loans: Not Just For First Time Buyers FHA | more...

September 21, 2017

Can I Get An FHA Home Loan For A Mixed-Use Property?

By Bruce Reichstein

Can I get an FHA loan for a mixed use property? Many borrowers want to know if the building they want to buy is still eligible for an FHA loan in spite of zoning issues, design, or other factors that render the home a combination of a residence and non-residential purposes. What do FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 say about such transactions? To begin, the FHA defines what it deems to be “mixed use property”: “Mixed Use refers to a Property suitable for a combination of uses including any of the following: commercial, residential, retail, office or parking space. Mixed Use one- to four-unit Single Family Properties are eligible for FHA insurance” with certain restrictions in place. It’s important to note that FHA loan rules in this area | more...

September 19, 2017

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans: How They Work

By Bruce Reichstein

How do FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans work? These FHA mortgages are for borrowers who want to have a home built for them from the ground up rather than looking for an existing home to purchase and move into right away. Many participating FHA lenders offer these loans for “stick built” homes, which are homes built on-site (as opposed to a manufactured home which is delivered pre-built in sections and assembled). What are the rules for this type of FHA construction loan? From the FHA/HUD official site, we learn that a One-Time Close loan is also known as a “construction to permanent” loan. “A construction to permanent mortgage combines the features of a construction loan (a short-term interim loan for financing the cost of construction) and the traditional | more...

July 21, 2017

What Is An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA loan? Simply put, an FHA loan is a kind of home loan that is guaranteed by the FHA and issued by a participating lender. Only FHA-approved participating lenders may offer FHA home loans, and the FHA itself does not lend money to home loan applicants. What The FHA Loan Program Can Do For You FHA loans can help you purchase a new home. These homes can be already built, but qualified borrowers also have the option to apply for FHA loans to pay for a home to be constructed from the ground up. Such loans are generally for what is known in the industry as “stick built” housing, which means a home that is constructed on-site rather than a manufactured home which is shipped in sections | more...