Articles Tagged With: Credit Check

March 1, 2019

FHA Home Loan Facts For First-Time Borrowers

First-time home buyers should know about several things going into the home loan process, including their options when it’s time to refinance or consider a new home loan. Are you fully informed about your home loan options with an FHA mortgage? FHA Home Loans For First-Time Buyers Allow Non-Occupying Co-Borrowers A non-occupying co-borrower is someone obligated on the mortgage but who does not intend to live in the property full time. A co-borrower can help you to qualify for the mortgage by paying part of the closing costs and the down payment, but all borrowers applying for the mortgage loan must financially qualify. That means that the credit liabilities of the borrower with the weakest credit cannot be offset by the strengths of the co-borrower. Everyone will be considered on | more...

February 25, 2019

FHA Loan Qualifying Credit Scores

By Joe Wallace

FICO scores are a big part of getting your home loan approved as a first time home buyer or repeat borrower alike. One of the first questions someone purchasing their first home with an FHA loan will ask is what FICO scores qualify for the mortgage. And that’s not surprising; FHA loan credit qualifications do specify a minimum FICO score for all borrowers. And believe it or not, it’s the same credit score ranges for both first-time borrowers and those who have purchased real estate before. The FICO score minimums for the lowest down payment are set by the FHA and HUD, with these minimums often being increased by participating lenders based on that financial institution’s standard. So what you read below about qualifying FICO scores is the baseline score | more...

February 19, 2019

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

By Joe Wallace

Before you get FHA home loan approval on that piece of real estate you have your eyes on, your mortgage loan application process will include a credit check. Your lender will need to determine your creditworthiness, and also verify your employment and income. Most borrowers expect this process and thanks to having other kinds of credit applications including credit cards, auto loans, and student loans, have a basic idea of what will happen. But not everyone expects that their initial credit check for the home loan they are applying for will NOT be the last one the lender does before the loan closes. You might not get the down-low on this from your real estate agent or your lender, but this is one of the “secret” things about the home | more...

February 11, 2019

How To Find The Right Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

First-time home buyers often aren’t sure what to look for when it comes to choosing the right mortgage loan. You can have a real estate agent help you with MLS listings to find the right type of home, you can compare participating FHA lenders to see which ones offer the best mortgage loan interest rates, and you can select from a variety of options with the mortgage itself. Choose The Right Mortgage Loan For Your Needs The family that needs to relocate to a new area for a job move does not have the same immediate needs as someone interested in buying a fixer-upper home with an rehabilitation loan. Your needs and financial goals will play an important part in the type of mortgage loan you choose. FHA Home Loans | more...

February 8, 2019

FHA Mortgage Loan Approval For First-Time Borrowers

By Joe Wallace

What does it take for a first-time borrower to get home loan approval with an FHA mortgage? There are several areas to pay attention to; don’t make the common first-time buyer mistake of thinking that FICO scores are the only thing that matter when it comes time for your lender to approve your mortgage loan. First Time Buyer Home Loan Approval Criteria: Employment FHA loan rules require your lender to verify two years of employment, though those two years do not have to be with the same company. What borrowers should know about this requirement is that the lender wants to know if your income is stable and likely to continue long after the loan has been closed. Generally a lender wants to know if your current income will allow | more...

February 7, 2019

FHA Loan Approval: Credit Check Facts

By Joe Wallace

First-time borrowers and experienced house hunters alike often wonder if their credit is good enough to be approved for a new mortgage loan. Do you know the facts about credit and FHA home loan approval? FHA Credit Score Standards May Vary From Your Lender’s Requirements The FHA home loan program’s FICO score standards are the minimum requirement. FHA loan rules say that any borrower with a FICO score of 500 or higher is eligible to apply for an FHA loan. Lender standards may be higher than this, which is one reason why it’s best to start working on your credit early-long before you apply for a home loan. FHA Credit Requirements Can Be More Forgiving FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 say that it is not impossible to get a | more...

January 25, 2019

Refinancing Your Home Loan With An FHA Mortgage

By Joe Wallace

With recent interest rate headlines, some may be interested in refinancing their first home loan in 2019, especially those in adjustable rate mortgages who want to lock in an interest rate to avoid future mortgage loan rate fluctuations. Some will ask how much of the credit-check process is needed for an FHA refinance loan compared to when the original mortgage was applied for, and much depends on the type of refinance loan being applied for. Some refinance loans, such as FHA Streamline Refinancing, also known as an FHA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (VA IRRRL) do not feature a government-mandated credit check. Qualified borrowers will use the original credit check and other information used on the first mortgage as a guide. Your participating FHA lender is, however, free to require | more...

January 24, 2019

Buying A Starter Home With An FHA Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans can help any financially qualified borrower get into a new home with a low down payment and more forgiving credit requirements. The FHA home loan program is for first-time home buyers and experienced homeowners alike. How FHA Mortgage Loans Differ From Other Home Loans For First Time Home Buyers How do FHA mortgage loans differ from conventional mortgage loans, USDA loans or VA mortgages? There are many factors. One important difference between FHA mortgages and conventional loans is that unlike some mortgage loans, an FHA loan for a starter home or other principal residence has no penalty for early payoff of the mortgage loan. FHA loan rules specifically deny the lender the ability to penalize a borrower for paying more than the monthly mortgage payment and/or paying | more...

January 22, 2019

Online Mortgage Calculators For First-Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

Why should a first-time home buyer use an online mortgage calculator in the planning stages of a new home loan? There are several reasons, but one of the most important is also one of the things a new house hunter may need to learn as early as possible; the monthly mortgage payment you make as a new home owner is not just about the principal and interest payment on the loan. Three Important Things To Know About Your Monthly Mortgage Payment Buying a home with a mortgage loan-ANY mortgage loan-will include a variety of things that make up the total amount of your mortgage payment due each month. An FHA condo loan, an FHA rehabilitation loan, or even an FHA One-Time Close construction loan will have their monthly payments calculated | more...

January 14, 2019

Buying A First Home Or Second Home With An FHA Mortgage

By Joe Wallace

What should borrowers, especially first-time home buyers, know about buying a home with an FHA mortgage? First time home buyers and second-time home buyers alike have options for an FHA mortgage. The program is not restricted to those who have never owned a home before. FHA loans are also more forgiving in the credit department-FICO score requirements set by the FHA are lower than you may expect. But lower FICO scores may still feel like a big liability for the first time home buyer. You should know that your repayment history is an important factor. If you make 12 months of on-time payments on all financial obligations, you may find the lender more willing to work with a lower FICO score. That’s because it’s easy to get a lower credit | more...