December 15, 2010
FHA borrowers who decide to refinance their home using the FHA Streamline program must make another UFMIP payment, but the good news is that any money in the original Up Front Mortgage Insurance account may be transferred to the new account. Some buyers who purchased homes with an FHA home loan after September 1, 1983 may be entitled to a refund or partial refund of FHA mortgage insurance money, See the FHA for more information.
December 14, 2010
n our last blog post we discussed FHA loans and interest rates. Contrary to the impression some first-time home buyers may have, the FHA and HUD do not set or regulate interest rates on FHA mortgages. The FHA doesn't "regulate" closing costs but does have requirements which state lenders may charge what is "reasonable and customary". FHA requirements on closing costs also include the following from the FHA official site" "Aggregate closing costs charged to a borrower may not violate the FHA tiered pricing rules which prohibit a lender from charging higher prices for low balance loans than the lender charges for higher balance loans."
December 1, 2010
There are many types of homes available to buy with an FHA home loan. Some borrowers are looking for new or recently built properties, but others seek less expensive properties. Some turn to fixer-upper properties, houses that have been foreclosed upon and in a state of disrepair, or similar purchases that require some additional work to make them ideal living spaces. The FHA understands the needs of the budget-conscious house hunter; but it's also understood that a buyer might not be able to afford all the repairs, upgrades or improvements to a property as an out-of-pocket expense. That's one reason for the FHA Streamline 203(k) Limited Repair Mortgage program.