Articles Tagged With: Credit Scores

May 19, 2020

Credit Requirements For Your FHA Home Loan In 2020

What do you need to know about credit requirements for an FHA mortgage? There are plenty of those who have no choice but to seek housing even in the worst of times; what should you know about credit requirements for a mortgage in the age of coronavirus? Borrowers Should Work On Their FICO Scores Earlier You can raise your credit scores by paying all bills on time, every time. You can also raise your credit scores by lowering your credit card balances below the 50% mark (30% is ideal), and by not applying for new credit on top of the credit you are already paying down. Start working on your credit as far ahead of time as you can; knowing the contents of your credit report is a GREAT start. | more...

February 20, 2020

FHA Home Loans For Borrowers With Thin Credit

By Bruce Reichstein

Some borrowers worry their FICO scores aren’t high enough to be approved for a home loan. Other borrowers worry that they don’t have a long enough credit history. There are ways you can raise your FICO score, increase your credit file, and make yourself a better credit risk for an FHA home loan, FHA rehab loan, or even a construction loan to build your own house on your own lot. If you apply for a home loan with thin credit non-traditional credit or no credit, your lender will ask for any evidence you have made recurring payments of some kind. That’s a good place to start when it’s time to review your credit. Your lender will want to see that for any financial obligation you do carry, that on-time payments | more...

Home Buying, FHA Loans, And Mortgage Trends

May 1, 2019

FHA Credit Score Eligibility: FICO Scores You Need To Qualify For A Loan

By Joe Wallace

How low can your credit score go before you are not eligible for an FHA home loan? Borrowers get confused on this point but there is an easy way to remember what it takes to qualify for an FHA mortgage when it comes to the FICO score numbers. There are two requirements-that is what confuses many first-time home buyers. They hear that FHA home loan rules say one thing, and assume that is the final word on the matter. But it’s not. FHA loan rules state that borrowers with credit scores starting at 500 or better are technically eligible for an FHA home loan. Those with FICO scores between 500 and 579 are required by the FHA to make a 10% down payment. Those with FICO scores at 580 or | more...

October 15, 2018

FHA Home Loans And Your Free Credit Report

By Joe Wallace

There is a great deal of advice about preparing for a home loan application. If you are considering an FHA mortgage, FHA refinance loan, or even a reverse mortgage, you will need to take time to prepare for your FHA loan before filling out the application paperwork. Part of that preparation involves pulling your credit report to make sure there is no identity theft, inaccurate information, etc. But how do you get copies of your credit report? All consumers are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months. This report is available from each of the three credit reporting agencies; Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. The government consumer watchdog agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), advises borrowers to apply for these credit reports via AnnualCreditReport.com. You are entitled to | more...

September 11, 2018

FHA Home Loans For Manufactured Housing

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans are for a variety of different property types. Manufactured homes are one of the property types you can purchase with an FHA mortgage, but like most other home loans the home you want to buy must meet FHA standards. FHA Home Loans For Mobile Homes: Find A Participating Lender FHA mortgages for mobile homes and manufactured homes are not always available since some participating FHA lenders choose not to offer them. The nature of a given housing market, buying or selling trends, and the quality of the manufactured homes / mobile homes in the area may all contribute to a lender’s decision to offer or not offer a mobile home loan. You may need to shop around for a participating lender who can help. You can also | more...

August 16, 2018

FHA Loans And Bankruptcy: Chapter 7

By Joe Wallace

Getting an FHA home loan following a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is not impossible; borrowers who handle their finances and credit responsibly after filing bankruptcy will find FHA home loan rules are more favorable to them than it may seem. Some assume that bankruptcy means never being able to own a home again or that it may take seven to ten years to recover from such a circumstance. FHA loan rules say otherwise, and while additional lender standards may apply the borrower does not necessarily have to wait such a long time to be considered for a new home loan. FHA Loan Requirements For Applying For A Mortgage After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state clearly that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is not a barrier to a | more...

January 10, 2018

Bad Credit Scores And FHA Home Loans

By Joe Wallace

Bad credit scores and FHA home loans-do you know what the rules are for FHA credit requirements? FHA loan minimums and FHA lender standards may not be exactly the same, so it’s important to remember that the issues we discuss here are based around FHA minimum guidelines and that you’ll need to talk to a participating lender to see what other requirements must be met. Is There A Bad Credit FHA Home Loan? FHA loan rules require a 500 FICO score at the absolute minimum in order to qualify. Those who apply for an FHA loan with credit scores between 500 and 579 are required to make a higher down payment (10% of the adjusted value of the home) than those who apply with FICO scores 580 or higher. Remember, | more...

October 12, 2017

Am I Eligible For An FHA Loan Even Though I Have Had Credit Problems?

By Bruce Reichstein

Am I eligible for an FHA loan even though I have had credit problems? Borrowers often worry their credit scores or credit history aren’t good enough to qualify for an FHA mortgage loan, but what is the reality? What do FHA loan rules say about credit and your ability to borrow? FHA Loans For Borrowers After Bankruptcy FHA home loans are possible for those who have a bankruptcy on their credit history, but there is a mandatory waiting period and the duration of that wait depends on the nature of your filing. The mandatory waiting period begins when the bankruptcy is discharged, NOT when it is initially filed. FHA Loans For Borrowers After Foreclosure, Deed-In-Lieu Of Foreclosre, Or Short Sale Borrowers with foreclosure or short sale activity on their credit | more...

Conventional Loan Interest Rates Make History, FHA Loan Rates Still Incredibly Low

October 2, 2017

Credit Score Issues and FHA Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you know how credit score issues affect your FHA home loan application? For most borrowers, there’s no such thing as a new purchase loan with no credit check; The FHA loan handbook (HUD 4000.1) instructs the lender that credit score checks for FHA mortgage loan applications are mandatory except in certain instances such as for FHA Streamline Refinance loans, and other transactions as described on page 158: “The Mortgagee must review the credit report to determine the Borrower’s Minimum Decision Credit Score (MDCS), except for Mortgages to be insured under Section 247, Section 248, Streamline Refinances, and Assumptions. The MDCS will be used to determine the maximum insured financing available to a Borrower with traditional credit.” HUD 4000.1 adds that FHA loan applicants who have non-traditional or insufficient credit | more...

August 16, 2017

What Does My FHA Lender Look For In My Credit Report?

By Joe Wallace

What does my FHA lender look for in my credit report? That is a very good question to ask, and the earlier in the home loan planning stages you ask, the better off you’ll be. It’s highly recommended that home loan borrowers get copies of their credit reports in the year leading up to a home loan application. You want to know what your credit history says about you before you submit that information to your loan officer. FHA Loan Rules For Credit Reports Your lender is required by the FHA loan program to pull your credit reports, and to use “traditional” credit reporting wherever available. Some borrowers do not have credit, or have non-traditional credit histories. According to the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, the lender is required to | more...