Articles Tagged With: FHA Home Loan

July 9, 2021

Pro Tips For FHA Home Loans

There is still time to take advantage of the higher mortgage loan limits for FHA home loans in 2021, and if you don’t know what it takes to be approved for an FHA single family loan this year, there are some pro tips you can use to get much closer to home loan approval. Pro Tip: Are you worried about your FICO scores? Remember that FHA standards include a requirement of a 580 FICO score or better for the lowest down payment. But the FHA standards are not the only minimum credit score requirements at work–the lender’s own standards also play a part. That is why you should start getting your credit ready early–at least a year ahead of your application for a single-family home loan. That’s not something many | more...

June 29, 2021

Can I Assume An FHA Mortgage?

By Bruce Reichstein

Can I assume an FHA mortgage? That is a question on the minds of those looking to take over an FHA home loan from the original borrower. Loan assumptions are a bit different than a new purchase home loan application, though the borrower must be able to afford the loan in both cases. The short answer is that yes, in most cases with lender participation you may be able to assume an existing FHA home loan from the original borrower. A credit check may or may not be required (see below) depending on circumstances, and lender standards. It’s the lender’s job to determine whether or not the loan assumption will happen-FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 permit the assumption of an FHA mortgage, but the process requires the lender’s participation. | more...

June 24, 2021

What Are The Benefits Of An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans are for any financially qualified borrower. You don’t have to be a first-time homebuyer, and you don’t have to worry about income caps or household income limits when applying for an FHA mortgage. And there are plenty of other FHA loan benefits, too. Consumer Protections With AN FHA Loan One important benefit and protection for the FHA borrower is an FHA requirement for a home to be approved for an FHA mortgage, it must have a remaining economic life for the full duration of the loan term. That is important–what good is owning a home you cannot sell? The home’s condition at closing time must be such that it is suitable to re-sell at any point during the mortgage. If the home’s basic condition would not support | more...

June 21, 2021

FHA Mortgage Or USDA Home Loan: Which Is Best For You?

By Joe Wallace

What makes FHA mortgages different than USDA home loans for the same kind of property? Both FHA and USDA mortgages are offered for single-family homes and you can apply for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage under both programs with lower interest rates and more flexible credit requirements than some conventional loans. What makes FHA and USDA mortgages so different? One important factor is who qualifies for each kind of loan. USDA mortgages are intended specifically for low to moderate income borrowers who are looking for affordable housing. USDA mortgages feature price limits and household income limits that will affect the borrower’s overall loan eligibility. FHA mortgages do not feature such restrictions and are for any financially qualified borrower regardless of the upper limit of their household income. USDA loans feature | more...

June 4, 2021

FHA Home Loan Down Payment Assistance

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you worry about making a down payment on a home loan? There are home loans that require higher down payments than others but the FHA loan program requires only 3.5% down for borrowers with qualifying FICO scores. FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 say: Borrowers with FICO scores at 580 or higher qualify for the lowest down payment. Borrowers with FICO scores between 500 and 579 are required to put 10% down. These are FHA guidelines, not individual lender standards. FHA home loans don’t have a zero down payment option, but FHA construction mortgages allow the borrower to use land equity as part of the down payment where applicable. But borrowers don’t always have to make the downpayment themselves thanks to down payment assistance programs that can help. Here | more...

June 3, 2021

Choosing The Right Home Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Are you considering the purchase of a home? Among the options, you need to consider? The right kind of home loan for the right type of borrower. There are many loan programs out there with a variety of government-backed mortgages to choose from including USDA, FHA, and VA. There are also Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. When exploring those home loan options, some borrowers want the lowest upfront costs possible, which makes sense when a borrower has other goals for that money, and making a down payment would hurt those plans. Some borrowers may need that money at another point, and seek out down payment assistance in the form of grants, loans, etc. One type of home loan that features a low down payment of 3% and allows down | more...

May 10, 2021

What You Need To Know About FHA Jumbo Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

How much home loan can you apply for successfully? The answer, depending on the housing market and other variables, might surprise you. It’s one thing to apply for a home loan that meets or is lower than the annual county limit established by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Those loans are easier to qualify for because they can be purchased or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie mac. They are known as conforming loans. But what about those who seek loans that are priced higher than that per-county limit? The answer itself is simple–borrowers can apply for a loan that exceeds county limits. These higher loans are called jumbo mortgages. Borrowers who qualify for them can get a home loan that’s higher than the county limit. But before you | more...

March 26, 2021

HUD Announces Settlement In California Housing Discrimination Case Involving G Davi Properties

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced an agreement in a Fair Housing Act discrimination case. A conciliation agreement between a California resident and rental property owners/managers G Davi Properties and Guido A. Davi II. This agreement addresses housing discrimination claims made by the resident that the housing providers denied the resident’s request for reasonable accommodate related to the use of an assistance animal. Assistance Animals Are Permitted Under The Fair Housing Act It is a violation of the Fair Housing Act for housing providers to deny such accommodations when deemed necessary to “use or enjoy” housing. A press release issued by HUD elaborates on this, stating: “The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing providers from discriminating against people with disabilities, including refusing to make reasonable accommodations in policies | more...

Construction Loans For First-Time Home Buyers

February 26, 2021

Home Loan Approval: Documents You Need To Get There

By Joe Wallace

What’s the most important thing you can do in the planning stages of a new home loan? It really does not matter whether you might be contemplating buying a home with an FHA mortgage or building one on your own lot using an FHA Construction Loan known as the One-Time Close mortgage; there are some documents you will need to gather in the planning stages to help you get closer to loan approval. Some of these documents are no surprise–your most recent pay information is a good example. Your lender will want to see verification of your current income. What is not so obvious? The reality that your loan officer might ask you to provide details about a salary or other income information from your previous employer, especially if you | more...

February 9, 2021

FHA Home Loan Approval And Your Finances

By Joe Wallace

Do you need to buy a home with an FHA mortgage? Or refinance your existing loan? There are some financial issues to be mindful of going into a new loan application–don’t let a lack of information derail your mortgage loan process. Mortgages and refinance loans don’t have one-size-fits-all solutions; in the same way you have many housing choices there are also many different kinds of mortgage loan circumstances. When your loan application comes in, the lender has to make sure the loan will be a good credit risk. To be approved, your application requires your tax returns, bank statements, and other financial data. The lender reviews these ahead of loan approval. And some issues can create more problems for the lender than others at first. For example, what happens if | more...