Articles Tagged With: FHA and HUD

the importance of credit for home loan approval

March 23, 2020

Don’t Fall Victim To Mortgage Default And Foreclosure During The Coronavirus

Are you worried about losing your home during the financial trouble caused by COVID-19 and the global coronavirus outbreak? There are some important steps you can take to save your home and avoid foreclosure. FHA borrowers should know that the FHA and HUD have issued a 60-day moratorium for eviction and foreclosure action associated with FHA mortgages. But that is a TEMPORARY delay and borrowers should not expect to avoid foreclosure without making arrangements with their lender. If you are in trouble with your mortgage, there are important steps you can take to avoid foreclosure after the 60-day delay in FHA loan foreclosure action has expired. What are they? Contact your lender as soon as you know you are having financial trouble. Make arrangements with your loan officer and see | more...

March 19, 2020

HUD Begins Foreclosure Relief For FHA Borrowers Affected By The Coronavirus Outbreak

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing FHA borrowers a 60-day foreclosure moratorium described as “immediate relief” for those who may be struggling to make FHA mortgage loan payments during the health crisis. Details From HUD The HUD official site has published details of the HUD-mandated moratorium on all foreclosures on FHA Single-Family home loans and Reverse Mortgages, a move similar to what happens to borrowers in federally-declared disaster areas after a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood, forest fire, landslide, etc. FHA Mortgage Foreclosure Evictions Also Suspended The HUD foreclosure moratorium announcement includes a suspension of evictions related to those foreclosures, also for sixty days. The eviction process suspension is a critical part of foreclosure relief for some borrowers. The HUD official site’s press release addresses | more...

One Time Close Mortgage Loans: The Base Home Sales Price

February 4, 2020

Myths About One-Time Close Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

You can build a house from the ground up using a One-Time Close construction loan; many borrowers want to take advantage of these types of loans as the government-backed versions of the One-Time Close construction loan feature very low down payment requirements and the same financial qualification rules as other VA or FHA mortgages. One Time Close Myth: I Can’t Afford To Build A Home Instead Of Buying One It’s easy to assume that building a home will cost you more money than buying an existing construction property. But what kind of home do you need? Are you building a house to start a family in? Or are you building a home that you want to retire in? The overall cost of your project will depend on details like these, | more...

January 29, 2020

HUD Announces New Policy On Service Animals

By Bruce Reichstein

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced updated guidance regarding the use of service animals and emotional support animals as it relates to Fair Housing Act issues. The issue of support animals might not seem to be related to the purchase of real estate with an FHA home loan, not at first. But Fair Housing rules do affect all stages of the house-hunting process including renting a home while you are looking for one to purchase with the help of a realtor, or on your own. The HUD announcement discusses a need for reasonable accommodation in housing for those who need service animals or emotional support animals. The agency has released an “Assistance Animal Notice” designed to help all parties understand how to best comply with Fair Housing | more...

January 27, 2020

Is It Safe To Buy A Home In 2020?

By Bruce Reichstein

Some borrowers are wondering if it is safe to buy a home in 2020. These people may be worried about interest rates taking a sharp move higher (they are currently very low due to issues we’ll discuss below) or about credit becoming harder to come by in the new year. But what is the reality? It’s never been a better time to be interested in real estate, especially for those interested in buying condo units or having a house built for them from the ground up using a One-Time Close construction loan. 2019 was a very interesting year for interest rates; there were times when rates behaved differently than expected, times when they went lower in spite of other pressures that could have driven rates higher instead. And it seems | more...

January 20, 2020

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

By Bruce Reichstein

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2020! Banks and markets are closed today to observe the holiday and we too feel it’s very important to remember this important day. America owes a great deal to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We are proud to observe this day dedicated to him and pause our regular coverage of FHA news and FHA loan topics to observe the holiday. We resume our usual schedule of posts tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

January 16, 2020

Do You Need To Apply For An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

Do you need to apply for a home loan to buy real estate in 2020? FHA mortgages feature a low minimum down payment, allow seller contributions to closing costs, and even permit down payment assistance from approved sources. What does it take to apply for an FHA mortgage? You will need proof of income, tax records, and bank statements. Borrowers also need to have a credit history of some kind, even if non-traditional. FHA loan rules allow non-traditional credit, but lender standards will be very important. FHA Loan Approval Requirements FICO scores between 500 and 579 for a 10% down payment, or FICO scores at 580 or higher for the lowest down payment of 3.5%. You will also need 24 months of employment history as a general rule, and you | more...

The FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan: An Option In 2020

January 15, 2020

FHA Construction Loans Versus USDA Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Why would borrowers choose to build a home on their own land using an FHA One-Time Close construction loan (which requires a down payment of 3.5%, minimum) instead of a no-money-down USDA home loan? There are several reasons why an FHA mortgage might be the better choice depending on circumstances, even with a required minimum down payment. That down payment is far less than some conventional loans require. USDA Mortgage or FHA Home Loan? USDA construction loans offer an advantage to eligible borrowers thanks to their zero down payment requirement. But a USDA mortgage is need-based, and these loans (even construction loans) have a household income cap. USDA loan rules state that in some cases, borrowers who have assets higher than the USDA limit “…may be required to use a | more...

January 14, 2020

How To Get Ready For Your Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

Need to know how to get ready for an FHA home loan in 2020? There’s plenty of good advice out there, but what about from watchdog agencies like the Federal Trade Commission? Or USA.Gov? Starting early to plan your loan is the best advice, but what happens next? Reviewing your credit, saving up for your expenses for the loan, and learning your options are very important. FTC Credit Advice The FTC has a lot of consumer credit advice, some of which can apply to home loan transactions as well as other types of credit. The FTC official site warns consumers that when trying to get ready for your home loan. it’s best to review your credit reports BUT do not be taken in by third party credit repair agencies that | more...

January 1, 2020

Happy New Year 2020

By Bruce Reichstein

Happy New Year 2020! We hope your holiday season has been safe and fun. We pause from our usual posts about FHA home loans to enjoy New Year’s Day 2020, and our regular posting schedule resumes on Thursday. Thanks for reading and have a great holiday.