Articles Tagged With: Credit Requirements

October 13, 2011

FHA Title I Home Improvement Loans

If you explore FHA home loan options, you’ll find a variety of them–there are loans for new purchase mortgages, but also options for energy efficient mortgages, home equity conversion loans, rehab loans, and something called the FHA Title I Home Improvement loan. Title I loans are used for repair, alteration, or site improvements and can be used together with a 203k Rehabilitation Mortgage if needed. Title I loans for a single family home can be approved for amounts up to $25,000 for qualified borrowers. Applicants aren’t required to ask for the maximum amount; according to the FHA official site, “Both large and small improvements can be financed.” FHA rules also state, “Any loan over $7,500 must be secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on the property.” As with | more...

October 10, 2011

FHA Loans and the Debt-To-Income Ratio

By Joe Wallace

The debt-to-income ratio is an important calculation all home buyers need to understand. To qualify for an FHA home loan, potential borrowers should have a debt-to-income ratio of 43%. But what does that mean? According to the FHA, that means that the total mortgage payment plus all monthly financial obligations cannot exceed 43% of the borrower’s “gross effective income”. It’s important to point out that the debt-to-income ratio does include the mortgage payment–not the amount of the borrower’s current financial obligations alone at the time of the FHA loan application. Knowing the debt-to-income requirements can help a future borrower prepare for the FHA loan application because it’s as simple as doing the math on your income/expenses and set financial goals accordingly. If you know a year in advance that your | more...

October 7, 2011

Buying a Fixer-Upper With an FHA Loan

By Joe Wallace

The FHA fixer-upper loan, technically called an FHA 203(k) mortgage, is for those who want to purchase property which is in need of repair. The borrower purchases the property with the understanding that it must be renovated or repaired by the purchaser (with funds from the loan) as part of the loan agreement. Borrowers apply for this type of home loan in a different manner than for new purchase loans where the property must be in acceptable condition–the loans known as FHA 203(b) mortgages. For the fixer-upper or 203(k) loan, the borrower applies for a loan and agrees to make a down payment for at least 3.5% of the purchase price and repair costs of the property. According to FHA loan rules, the buyer finds the right home and gets | more...

October 5, 2011

FHA Loans and the Borrower’s Rights

By Joe Wallace

FHA mortgages have a number of features which make them more advantageous for qualified borrowers than many conventional loans. A low down payment requirement is one of those advantages, as is more forgiving requirements for credit history. Contrary to what some believe, there is also no maximum income limit for a typical single-family FHA home loan. In addition to these advantages, there are also a list of rights all borrowers have that protect them in the loan application and purchasing process. Did you know all borrowers have the right to know which fees are refundable and which are not should the loan agreement be canceled? You have the right to have these fees explained to you before you commit. Home buyers also have the right to be fully informed when | more...

October 5, 2011

FHA Loans: What is a Residential Mortgage Credit Report?

By Joe Wallace

Borrowers who seek FHA insured home loans are required to submit credit, employment and income information to the lender in order to be approved for the loan. The borrower’s information is reviewed by the lender, but must also be verified to insure the information is current and accurate. In addition to verifying the information submitted, the lender is also required to get credit reports on the borrower. But what happens when the borrower disputes information on a credit report? For example, if a credit report states that a collection action is outstanding, but the borrower claims the bill has been paid, the lender may be required to use something called a Residential Mortgage Credit Report (RMCR) instead of the standard credit report known as a three repository merged credit report | more...

October 4, 2011

FHA Loans: Do They Require a Background Check?

By Joe Wallace

Newcomers to FHA loans and home buying in general often wonder how extensive the credit check might be; some wonder if the lender goes beyond examining credit scores and employment history. Given the amount of detail lenders require in order to process FHA home loan applications, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if a background check is part of the application process. FHA requirements for FHA insured mortgage loans do state a credit check is needed that includes residency information, employment history and other details to give an accurate picture of an applicant’s background. The borrower is not “investigated” for details outside of the information needed to determine whether he or she is a good credit risk, but a 2010 law does require additional steps for some types of refinancing loans | more...

July 29, 2011

FHA Loans For Homes Near Airports and Runways

By Joe Wallace

The location of the home an FHA loan applicant wants to purchase affects many things connected to FHA loan approval. The FHA loan limit is a good example–these limits are set by county and vary depending on the housing market in a given area. Homes located in some counties may have requirements based on local building codes other areas don’t require. And some properties may get closer scrutiny if they are located in or near flood zones or other areas identified as prone to natural disasters. With all that in mind, some borrowers may worry about the eligibility of a particular home for an FHA loan based on its proximity to airports or military air fields. Is a property rendered ineligible for an FHA home loan because it is in | more...

July 18, 2011

FHA Loans For Manufactured Homes: For New Models Only?

By Joe Wallace

Not all FHA loans have the same rules or requirements. There are different rules for FHA-insured new purchase home loans for existing construction properties, condo projects and manufactured homes. For example, house hunters may encounter no age restriction on many new purchase home loans when it comes to typical suburban homes or condos–as long as the property meets FHA standards and the lender is willing to approve the loan. That’s not necessarily true for FHA mortgages on manufactured homes. FHA rules state that manufactured homes are only eligible if they have been built after June 15, 1976. FHA rules for manufactured homes also include a space requirement. “Manufactured homes are homes built as dwelling units of at least 320 square feet in size with a permanent chassis to assure the | more...

July 15, 2011

Verifiable Income Rules For FHA Borrowers Between Jobs

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan applications require the borrower to submit information on past and current employment including gross income, how long the job has lasted, and other details. This data is not accepted at face value by the lender; the FHA requires the loan officer to verify sources of income to make sure they are legitimate and acceptable.

July 14, 2011

FHA Loans, Gift Funds and Inducements to Purchase

By Joe Wallace

When a borrower applies for an FHA home loan, a down payment is required for all transactions. Unlike VA home loans, FHA mortgages do not have a zero-money-down option. Some buyers may struggle to come up with a down payment on the FHA mortgage, which is why the rules allow borrowers to accept funds from outside sources to help pay for up-front expenses like down payments and closing costs as permitted by FHA regulations. But the source of that income determines whether the money is considered a bona fide gift, or if it is considered an “inducement to purchase” which affects the amount of the FHA mortgage loan. Gift funds that come from anyone with “an interest in the sale of the property” can be considered inducements to purchase, and | more...