Articles Tagged With: FHA Condo Loan

March 18, 2019

What You Need To Know About FHA Condo Loans

Buying a condo with an FHA mortgage loan is an option many borrowers might be interested in but sometimes assumptions about the FHA home loan program might cloud the issue. Here are some things you should know about FHA mortgages for condo purchases. FHA Condo Loans For First-Time Home Buyers FHA condo loans are open to first-time buyers and experienced home owners alike. You will be approved for the FHA condo loan based on your financial qualifications rather than whether or not you have owned property before. FHA Condo Loans Have Certain Advantages The down payment requirements for FHA home loans do not change based on the type of property you purchase, so you are still required to financially qualify but your down payment requirement does not get adjusted because | more...

March 17, 2019

Buying Versus Renting A Home

By Joe Wallace

What is the advantage of applying for an FHA mortgage to buy your home versus renting one out and declining to become a first-time home buyer? There are many differing opinions on this subject, so it seems like a good idea to simply list some facts about owning and renting a home that could help you choose which is better. Depending on your financial needs and goals, you may decide that owning is a far better option. Renting Means Accepting The Landlord’s Interior Decoration Skills Or Lack Of Them Home owners have the option to paint, wallpaper, remodel, and reconfigure their home at any time. Renters have to get permission first AND put the home back in its’s original paint scheme when the rental period is finally over. Naturally you | more...

March 13, 2019

The Flexible FHA Home Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

First-time home buyers don’t have to put 20% down when shopping for real estate they want to live in as their primary residence. The FHA home loan allows a low 3.5% down and this type of home loan has been described as having loose underwriting standards. Those standards include the FHA minimum credit score of 580 or higher for maximum financing and the lowest down payment, and technically borrowers with FICO scores above 500 are also eligible though with a higher down payment. Lender standards will apply above and beyond these minimums. FHA home loans allow borrowers with lower credit and higher debt ratios to qualify for first-time home buyer loans using compensating factors; a higher down payment, a substantial amount of cash reserves, or other, lender-defined compensating factors. And | more...

February 26, 2019

Plan Ahead For Your First Home FHA Loan

By Joe Wallace

You can never start planning too early when it comes to buying your first home. There are a lot of variables to take into account when planning your FHA home loan including the nature of your home loan itself. FHA Home Loans: Different Loans For Different Needs The first-time home buyer who wants to buy real estate that needs repairs will apply for a different FHA home loan than those who want to have a home built for them from the ground up using an FHA One-Time Close construction loan. The FHA fixer-upper loan is known as an FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation mortgage and can be applied for as either a new purchase loan or a refinance loan. The type of FHA loan you will need for mobile homes/manufactured housing is | more...

February 13, 2019

Will Another Government Shutdown Affect First-Time Home Buyers Applying For FHA Mortgage Loans?

By Joe Wallace

While threats of another government shutdown seem to be on-again, off-again, some potential FHA borrowers are wondering if there will be a repeat of the stalemate that brought the longest government shutdown in recent memory. And will FHA home loans be available to first-time home buyers if the whole affair repeats itself again? FHA Mortgage Loans Will Still Be Available During The Government Shutdown The kind of loan you buy a home with, FHA forward mortgages, will continue to be serviced during a possible shutdown as previously reported here and elsewhere, as discussed in the HUD/FHA contingency plan released prior to the last shutdown. Reverse mortgages, on the other hand, may once again be completely unavailable during the shutdown. FHA loans that cannot be processed using automated means-those that require | more...

January 29, 2019

Should I Buy A Condo With An FHA Home Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Should a first-time home buyer consider purchasing a condo unit? Depending on your wants and needs, the answer may vary. Condos are unique compared to suburban homes because they are a communal property with shared responsibilities (which may be mostly financial) for upkeep of the common areas, the roof, balconies, etc. You may have special features on the property such as a gym, sauna, whirlpool, etc. depending on the property. FHA Condo loans require the condo project to be on or added to the FHA approved list-that’s unlike other types of property which must simply pass the FHA appraisal process. Condos will be appraised, too, but they must first be on the FHA roster. You can work with your FHA loan officer to add a condo project to that list | more...

January 17, 2019

Credit Advice For First Time Home Buyers

By Bruce Reichstein

First time home buyers worried about their credit scores and the ability to get approved for a first-time mortgage should take plenty of steps to address those concerns before loan paperwork is filed. It is a very good idea to consider preparing for your mortgage loan a full year ahead of time so you can work on credit issues such as on-time payments, credit card balances, etc. First-Time Home Buyer Credit Advice: Lower Your Credit Card Balances Your credit cards can be an effective tool for establishing credit, but you have to know what the lender looks for in that credit to justify approving the home loan. The older your credit is, the better, but it’s also best to pay down the balances so you are not carrying too much | more...

December 29, 2018

FHA Loans Are Available During The Government Shutdown

By Joe Wallace

Are FHA home loans available during the government shutdown? The answer is yes in many cases, with the exception of Reverse Mortgages and Title I loans. FHA Condo loans may be affected by the government shutdown depending on whether or not the condo project was on the FHA approved list prior to the shutdown or not. The FHA and HUD official sites have notices stating that the websites will not be updated until the government reopens, and many functions of the FHA and HUD will be limited or unavailable. According to HUD.gov, there are a list of guidelines you should know during this time that will affect how FHA loans are handled. The official site states that HECM loans and Title I loans cannot be endorsed during the shutdown: “The | more...

December 13, 2018

FHA Mortgage Or Conventional Loan? Which Is Best For You?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is the advantage of the FHA mortgage loan over conventional mortgages? There are many areas to be aware of when choosing the right mortgage loan to buy your new home with, but your financial priorities will determine a great deal. If you are looking at buying a new home or refinancing your existing mortgage, FHA and conventional loans have features you should compare. Especially if you need to save money up front on the mortgage. Conventional home loans, which you may also hear referred to as agency loans, are mortgages you will get via Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Fannie and Freddie are the government-sponsored enterprises that your lender relies on to provide liquidity and stability to the lending market. Why don’t FHA borrowers choose these loans instead? Higher | more...

November 30, 2018

Buying A Home With An FHA Loan: Should You Skip The Home Appraisal?

By Joe Wallace

When buying a home with an FHA mortgage, should you skip the home appraisal? Some buyers may wonder about this, especially in light of talk in late 2018 about whether the current real estate appraisal system should be kept or if appraisals should only be required of homes of a certain value or higher. According to data released by the National Association of Realtors, one big cause of home loan closing delays? Appraisal issues. The question remains; should borrowers skip the home appraisal? Borrowers Are Not Permitted To Skip The Appraisal Process FHA loans and other real estate lending require an appraisal as a mandatory part of the process. In spite of what you might see in headlines, borrowers and sellers cannot opt out. However, some borrowers may be thinking | more...