Articles Tagged With: Appraiser

October 3, 2017

How Long Are FHA Appraisals Valid?

How long are FHA appraisals valid? That can be an important question, especially in situations where there might be a delay in the processing or closing of a home loan for some reason. FHA loan rules governing the appraisal process are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook. In that handbook, there is a general rule for the age of documents used to process the mortgage. According to that section on page 107, we learn: “Documents used in the origination and underwriting of a Mortgage may not be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date. Documents whose validity for underwriting purposes is not affected by the passage of time, such as divorce decrees or tax returns, may be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date.” | more...

September 5, 2017

Why Is Peeling Paint A Problem For The FHA Appraisal?

By Joe Wallace

Why is peeling paint an issue for the FHA appraisal? Isn’t this just a cosmetic issue? That’s a very common question in some housing markets-those buying homes with FHA mortgages should know why this can be an issue that requires correction as a condition of FHA home loan approval. The Age Of The Property Is An Important Factor FHA loan rules specify that properties that have peeling paint issues have specific actions required depending on the age of the home. According to HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, “If the Property was built before 1978, the seller must disclose any information known about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling the house, in accordance with the HUD-EPA Lead Disclosure Rule (24 CFR 35, subpart A, and the identical 40 | more...

Should I Consider An FHA Reverse Mortgage?

August 21, 2017

Does The FHA Appraiser Work For The Lender?

By Bruce Reichstein

Does the FHA appraiser work for the lender? That’s what one reader wanted to know this week, writing us to ask: “I read your article about how an FHA appraiser is chosen by a lender but my question is: Is the FHA appraiser an ‘agent’ of the lending company? The reason I ask is two years ago I purchased my first home with an FHA loan. Two weeks after closing my roof leaked. It turns out our house has five layers of roofing on it which is visible to the naked eye from the ground because we have no gutters on the home.” “When I called the FHA resource line I was finally told that the appraiser and his report falls back on the lending company…So now I am wondering | more...

August 15, 2017

What Should I Know About FHA Appraisals?

By Bruce Reichstein

What should I know about FHA appraisals? There are many factors to remember about the FHA appraisal process, and not all of them have to do with the act of doing the appraisal; borrowers need to know how the appraisal fits into the overall process of applying for an FHA loan and getting loan approval. FHA Appraisals Are A Typical Expense The appraisal fee is a standard part of a home loan’s fees and expenses, and borrowers should save money for both the appraisal and the possibility of additional fees that could be required depending on the outcome (more on that issue below). Borrowers should keep in mind that the home loan cannot be approved without the results of the appraisal, so it’s best to come to the loan process | more...

August 10, 2017

FHA 203(k) Fixer-Upper Loans: What About The Appraisal?

By Bruce Reichstein

When you buy a home with an FHA mortgage, it must be appraised to insure the property meets minimum FHA standards. A home to be purchased with an FHA mortgage must be code-compliant, it must not be too close to high voltage lines or high pressure gas pipelines, and there are specific requirements for property located near know natural disaster zones. All of these requirements protect buyers and lenders alike, but there are certain instances where a property would never pass the FHA appraisal, yet borrowers seek mortgage loans for these properties anyway. Consider the borrower who needs a home loan to do rehab or repair work on an existing structure that badly needs it. And what about the borrower who wants to purchase a fixer-upper home, or a property | more...

August 10, 2017

What Is An FHA Appraisal?

By Joe Wallace

What is an FHA appraisal? It’s one of the most important parts of your home loan process when purchasing property with an FHA mortgage. The appraisal is a mandatory review of the property to help the lender establish the fair market value of the home while making sure the property meets minimum FHA requirements. But there’s more to the appraisal, as we’ll learn. The FHA Appraisal Is A Tool For Your Loan Officer Appraisals are not intended to help or inform the buyer as to the condition of the property. Some mistake the FHA appraisal for a home inspection, assuming that the FHA will “approve” or “reject” a home based on its’ condition. The appraisal process is NOT a home inspection. Borrowers who choose not to pay for a home | more...

August 3, 2017

How Do FHA Loan Appraisals Work? Part Two

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan appraisals are a big part of the FHA loan approval process. Without the appraisal, your home loan application cannot move forward. The FHA appraiser compares the home you want to buy with an FHA loan to similar properties on the market and reviews the condition of the home to make sure it meets FHA minimum standards. Once the value of the home has been established, your lender can determine what your FHA loan amount should be, factoring in the amount your required down payment, plus the amount of any extras you choose to have financed into the loan (such as the Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium). The FHA appraiser will visit the property-there is a requirement that the appraiser be physically present-to look at the home inside and | more...

Credit Scores For An FHA Home Loan: When Low Credit Is Not Bad Credit

August 3, 2017

How Do FHA Loan Appraisals Work?

By Bruce Reichstein

How do FHA loan appraisals work? This question is a vital one because some get the appraisal process confused with a home inspection and the two are not the same. The importance of an FHA appraisal in your loan process has to do with the lender getting information that helps calculate the fair market value of the home, while the home inspection gives the borrower information needed to make an informed purchase. FHA appraisals are governed by the rules in the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, which says the lender is required to, “order an appraisal from an Appraiser who is listed on the FHA Appraiser Roster and is qualified and knowledgeable in the specific market area in which the Property is located. The Mortgagee must evaluate the Appraiser’s education, | more...

June 29, 2017

What Is An FHA Loan Inspection?

By Joe Wallace

What is an FHA loan inspection? That is a tricky question to answer because the very phrase “FHA home inspection” implies something that is not true; that the FHA puts a stamp of approval on homes promising the borrower that they are defect-free once “inspected”. There is no such thing as an FHA home inspection. There IS, however, an FHA home APPRAISAL. But borrowers tend to mistakenly assume that the appraisal process is the same thing as a home inspection. These two things could not be further apart. Home Inspections Are Optional, But Very Necessary A home inspection (not an FHA appraisal) is an optional process the borrower is responsible for arranging and paying for and is not associated with the FHA appraisal in any way. The inspection should be | more...

Can I buy a manufactured home with an FHA loan?

May 25, 2016

FHA Loan Appraisal Expiration Dates, Update Requirements

By Joe Wallace

One common question about FHA home loan rules involves how long an appraisal is considered valid before it can no longer be used. FHA loan rules for this topic are found in HUD 4000.1 and address both the age of the appraisal as well as the age of other documentation not considered “evergreen” or without an expiration date (such as divorce decrees, military discharge paperwork, etc). According to HUD 4000.1, in general terms the documents to be used for “…the origination and underwriting of a Mortgage may not be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date. Documents whose validity for underwriting purposes is not affected by the passage of time, such as divorce decrees or tax returns, may be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date.” | more...