Articles Tagged With: FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage

May 11, 2011

Is There A Penalty For Pre-Paying On An FHA Home Loan?

It’s common knowledge that you should read a loan contract carefully, but when applying for a mortgage loan, many first time home buyers struggle to understand some of the fine print. It’s important to ask questions about any portion of an FHA or conventional loan agreement you don’t understand. For example, some buyers don’t fully grasp the implications of the penalties for “early payment” in a mortgage loan contract. Did you know some conventional loans can charge fees for early payoff of a home loan? FHA loan regulations don

April 29, 2011

How Does the Bank Approve FHA Loan Applicants? (Part Two)

By Joe Wallace

In our last blog post we discussed how the lender processes applications and the information on them when approving FHA home loans. The FHA has a strict set of rules covering what must be used to underwrite the loan and how the borrower’s personal data must be verified in order to process the loan paperwork. Three areas are explored at length by the lender;

April 29, 2011

FHA Loans: How Does the Bank Approve FHA Loan Applicants?

By Joe Wallace

There are many types of FHA insured loans available for single-family residences. Borrowers can apply for a traditional home loan with a down payment, fixed interest rate and a 15 or 30-year mortgage. But there are plenty of other loans which can be applied for including; Section 203h Insured Mortgage for Disaster Victims Section 255 Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) Section 203k Rehabilitation Mortgage Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program (EEM) Adjustable rate mortgages Section 248 Indian Reservations and Other Restricted Lands Title I Home Improvements Regardless of what loan product is preferred, for new purchases and many FHA refinancing options, borrowers must fill out an application giving information that includes employment and residence history, detailed accounts of outstanding debts and monthly financial obligations and much more. The FHA requires this information in | more...

February 11, 2011

FHA Home Loans: The “Hidden” Expenses of Some Mortgages

By Bruce Reichstein

In our last blog post we covered some of the fees and costs associated with getting an FHA mortgage. New home buyers should be aware that the asking price of a home isn't the final amount that will be paid as part of closing the deal. The closing costs, interest rate, lender's fees and other expenses also factor in.

January 31, 2011

FHA Loans: Submitting a Written Offer to the Seller

By Joe Wallace

Buying a home with an FHA mortgage is very similar to purchasing a home with a conventional loan in many ways. Once the loan application itself has been approved and it's time to make an offer, buyer and seller interact with one another the same as with any other real estate purchase. First time home buyers with an FHA insured home loan may not know what to expect or what's expected of them at this stage in the process, but the steps are very simple. When the buyer decides that a property is the one for them, they may make an offer to the seller. As long as the offer is not submitted in writing as a binding agreement, there's plenty of room to negotiate but it's important for FHA | more...

January 27, 2011

FHA ARM Loan Options

By Joe Wallace

First time home buyers interested in FHA loans are often directed to the HUD official page where they can explore options on FHA loans. Some of the FHA's "for more information" links point to the FDIC official site, which has information on interest-only mortgage loans and option-payment adjustable rate mortgages. The FHA still insures ARM loans, which some borrowers choose because the FHA version of an ARM loan is more tightly controlled than a conventional version or a convention sub-prime loan. Those who want to purchase a home but may still wrestle with budget issues in the early years of home ownership often look to ARM loans and/or interest only mortgages as an alternative.

January 20, 2011

FHA Loans and Non-Residential Use

By Bruce Reichstein

An FHA insured home loan for a single family property has rules that govern the use of the home when it comes to what the FHA defines as "non-residential" purposes. FHA requirements say appraisers must evaluate a property on a square footage basis for homes that have a portion of that footage dedicated to business use. FHA rules say that any home, condo or multi-unit property must use no more than 25% of the square footage for business or non-residential use.

January 17, 2011

FHA Warns of Deceptive Home Improvement Schemes

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA and HUD issue loans to homeowners who want to initiate home improvement projects. Some FHA insured loans require the borrower to complete the work, submit a list of costs and get reimbursed for the amount of the improvements or upgrades. Others may allow energy-efficient upgrades or improvements as part of a construction loan or other FHA mortgage loan product. One of the home improvement programs is known as Title I, a program that allows "light" or "moderate" property rehab.

January 13, 2011

FHA Streamline and No Cash-Out Refinancing: Basic Rules

By Joe Wallace

FHA Refinancing loans are more popular than ever thanks to the need many homeowners have to lower interest rates and monthly payments. Non-cash out refinancing includes both Streamline and non-Streamline FHA loans. Each one has its own restrictions and requirements. As with all FHA refinancing loans, the FHA does not require the borrower to pay the current month's mortgage payment prior to closing the loan. The FHA adds, "nor will be the principal balance of the existing loan be reduced by the amount of that unpaid principal."

January 5, 2011

Facts About FHA Home Loans for First Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

First time home buyers sometimes have a difficult journey ahead of them because of all the new terms, rules, requirements and other issues the must navigate for the first time. Fortunately there are some basic concepts that can be presented simply to help newcomers to the housing market learn what they need to do in order to get an FHA mortgage.