July 31, 2012
A reader asks, “When applying for an FHA loan, how long must I live on the property?”
Assuming the reader wants to know how long he or she must own the home before it can be sold, borrowers with this question should know there FHA loan rules that do apply to occupancy and how long a seller has owned the property.
For example, HUD 4155.1 Chapter Four Section B contains the FHA Requirement for Establishing Owner Occupancy, which states:
“At least one borrower must occupy the property and sign the security instrument and the mortgage note in order for the property to be considered owner-occupied. FHA security instruments require a borrower to establish bona fide occupancy in a home as the borrower