Timely news, information and advice concentrating on FHA, VA and USDA residential mortgage lending.

Vimeo Channel YouTube Channel

Articles Tagged With: FHA Appraisal Rules

FHA

What Are The Minimum Property Standards For An FHA Loan?

What are the minimum property standards for an FHA loan? The short answer is that there is no short answer. FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 require a home to be safe, habitable, and have a “remaining economic life” that will last through the entire term of the mortgage. FHA appraisals are designed to insure these minimum standards are met, but what ARE these standards? FHA Appraisals Are A Tool For The Lender The FHA appraisal is required by HUD 4000.1 to be performed by an independent, qualified fee appraiser who will physically review the property. The appraiser must look at a variety of areas on the property but is not required to step onto the roof, be an expert in electrical or HVAC systems, etc. This means that | more...

 
FHA Home Loan

FHA Mortgage Rules For Homes In A Flood Zone

In a previous blog post we discussed some of the FHA loan rules for purchasing homes that may be located in flood zones. According to the FHA loan handbook, homes in certain types of flood zones or Special Flood Hazard Areas are not eligible for FHA mortgages (including but not limited to SFHA Zone A, a Special Flood Zone Area, or Zone V). But other properties may be eligible. FHA loan rules for homes that are in a flood zone but are still eligible for an FHA mortgage vary depending on the type of property. Let’s examine the rules for each: Proposed or New Construction Homes HUD 4000.1 says of these properties: “If any portion of the dwelling, related Structures or equipment essential to the value of the Property and | more...

 
Who can apply for FHA Reverse Mortgages?

Can I Get An FHA Mortgage For A Home In A Flood Zone?

Can I get an FHA loan for a home in a flood zone? With Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and many other natural disasters, it’s logical that someone looking for a home anywhere near these disasters would wonder if their house hunt is going to be affected. FHA loan rules do address flood zones and FHA appraisal requirements for these areas; the answers can be found in HUD 4000.1. The FHA loan rules for this issue can be found under a section covering general property eligibility for an FHA mortgage. On page 143, we learn: “The Mortgagee must determine if a Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).” “The Mortgagee must obtain flood zone determination services, independent of any | more...

 
FHA Home Loan Questions

What Are The FHA Appraisal Rules For Appraisal Transfer?

What are the rules for FHA appraisal transfer? There are times when a borrower wants to switch lenders, and there may be other circumstances that may lead to the question of transferring an existing FHA appraisal. FHA Appraisals And Borrowers Who Switch Lenders FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 directly address the question of what happens to the FHA appraisal if the borrower changes her mind and decides to use a different lender. “In cases where a Borrower has switched Mortgagees, the first Mortgagee must, at the Borrower’s request, transfer the appraisal to the second Mortgagee within five business days.” Notice that the FHA loan rules here say “at the borrower’s request”. The transfer of the appraisal is not automatic, and the FHA appraiser is not required “to provide the | more...

 
FHA loans

How Long Are FHA Appraisals Valid?

How long are FHA appraisals valid? That can be an important question, especially in situations where there might be a delay in the processing or closing of a home loan for some reason. FHA loan rules governing the appraisal process are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook. In that handbook, there is a general rule for the age of documents used to process the mortgage. According to that section on page 107, we learn: “Documents used in the origination and underwriting of a Mortgage may not be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date. Documents whose validity for underwriting purposes is not affected by the passage of time, such as divorce decrees or tax returns, may be more than 120 Days old at the Disbursement Date.” | more...

 
FHA Loans And Bankruptcy: Chapter 7

Why Is Peeling Paint A Problem For The FHA Appraisal?

Why is peeling paint an issue for the FHA appraisal? Isn’t this just a cosmetic issue? That’s a very common question in some housing markets-those buying homes with FHA mortgages should know why this can be an issue that requires correction as a condition of FHA home loan approval. The Age Of The Property Is An Important Factor FHA loan rules specify that properties that have peeling paint issues have specific actions required depending on the age of the home. According to HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, “If the Property was built before 1978, the seller must disclose any information known about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling the house, in accordance with the HUD-EPA Lead Disclosure Rule (24 CFR 35, subpart A, and the identical 40 | more...

 
Should I Consider An FHA Reverse Mortgage?

Does The FHA Appraiser Work For The Lender?

Does the FHA appraiser work for the lender? That’s what one reader wanted to know this week, writing us to ask: “I read your article about how an FHA appraiser is chosen by a lender but my question is: Is the FHA appraiser an ‘agent’ of the lending company? The reason I ask is two years ago I purchased my first home with an FHA loan. Two weeks after closing my roof leaked. It turns out our house has five layers of roofing on it which is visible to the naked eye from the ground because we have no gutters on the home.” “When I called the FHA resource line I was finally told that the appraiser and his report falls back on the lending company…So now I am wondering | more...

 
FHA Loans And Bankruptcy: Chapter 7

Are FHA Appraisals The Same As Home Inspections?

Are FHA appraisals the same thing as home inspections? We’ve fielded a few reader questions this week about this issue, and it is very important for borrowers to fully understand why they should budget and save for the optional home inspection in addition to an FHA appraisal (which is not optional). FHA appraisals are NOT the same as home inspections. Appraisers and home inspectors will approach the same property with different intentions and procedures. The FHA appraisal will never give a borrower an informed look at the home the way the home inspection is designed to; the shortest way to address this issue is to state that appraisals are for lenders, home inspections are for borrowers. Even if a property makes it all the way through the appraisal process with | more...

 
FHA loan

Can I Get A Second FHA Appraisal?

Can I get a second FHA appraisal? There are a few reasons why a borrow might feel motivated to ask that question, but in many cases it could be due to a disagreement about the outcome of the original FHA appraisal. Ordering A Second FHA Appraisal FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1, the FHA single-family home loan handbook, clearly state the FHA’s position on ordering second appraisals due to a dispute over the outcome. “The Mortgagee is prohibited from ordering an additional appraisal to achieve an increase in value for the Property and/or the elimination or reduction of deficiencies and/or repairs required.” That is simple enough. However, there may be situations where one party to the loan feels that the appraisal was not done competently or that the appraisal is | more...

 
FHA loans

What Should I Know About FHA Appraisals?

What should I know about FHA appraisals? There are many factors to remember about the FHA appraisal process, and not all of them have to do with the act of doing the appraisal; borrowers need to know how the appraisal fits into the overall process of applying for an FHA loan and getting loan approval. FHA Appraisals Are A Typical Expense The appraisal fee is a standard part of a home loan’s fees and expenses, and borrowers should save money for both the appraisal and the possibility of additional fees that could be required depending on the outcome (more on that issue below). Borrowers should keep in mind that the home loan cannot be approved without the results of the appraisal, so it’s best to come to the loan process | more...