Articles Tagged With: FHA Home Loan

October 20, 2016

FHA Refinance Loans: 10 Things To Know

If you are considering your options with an FHA refinance loan, here are ten tips to help you decide which type of refinancing is right for you. FHA Refinancing For Non-FHA Loans Borrowers do not have to be in an FHA mortgage loan already to be eligible for certain types of FHA refinance loans. Your VA loan, conventional, even sub-prime mortgages may be able to be refinanced into an FHA loan. FHA refinance loans feature cash-out and non-cash out options for existing FHA and non-FHA mortgages. Refinancing And Repairs Your FHA refinance loan options include rehab/repair loans under the 203 program. FHA 203(k) and 203(h) mortgages have long been a part of the FHA loan options available from participating lenders. If your home has been damaged in a natural disaster, | more...

October 19, 2016

Mortgage Payments On FHA Loans: How Much?

By Joe Wallace

One of the most common questions about FHA mortgage payments is naturally, “How much will I have to pay?” And the answer is not as easy as you might think since there are a variety of factors that go into calculating the monthly mortgage payment. FHA loan limits, the amount of the loan the FHA will insure, don’t include the Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP), for example. So you can’t simply divide the amount of your loan limit and divide by the number of mortgage payments you plan to make. In addition to UFMIP, there are other things to consider. For example, is the borrower planning on an FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)? This option allows the addition of extra funds for approved upgrades or improvements to the home, | more...

October 18, 2016

Employment and Income Requirements For FHA Mortgages

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I am a working part time. My annual income is 14,400. I work only 8 hrs a week. I have a savings of $30000. Will I be eligible to get a house loan of $76000? I have a very good credit score. I am working in the current place for past 8 months. I had a full time job before.” FHA loan rules do not specify a minimum or maximum income that makes a borrower eligible for an FHA mortgage loan. What the loan rules DO require is that the income a borrower has be verifiable, reliable, and likely to continue. The lender will have to make a judgment call on whether the borrower’s income meets this criteria. Another important factor in FHA loan approval is the | more...

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

October 17, 2016

Residency And Occupancy: FHA Loan Rules

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA loan rules have requirements for both U.S. residency for potential borrowers, and occupancy for approved borrowers. Did you know that HUD 4000.1 states that an FHA loan applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen in order to apply for an FHA mortgage or refinance loan? U.S. citizenship is not required, but legal documentation showing the applicant’s status will be a condition of loan approval. The FHA loan program is open to both non-permanent resident aliens and lawful permanent resident aliens. The FHA loan rules also instruct the lender, “Non-U.S. citizens without lawful residency in the U.S. are not eligible for FHA-insured Mortgages”. While all borrowers are required to show proof of a Social Security Number, this cannot be used to prove immigration or work status, according to | more...

How much can I borrow with an FHA refinance loan?

October 13, 2016

FHA Refinance Loans: What Are Your Options?

By Joe Wallace

FHA loans aren’t just for new purchases. You can also apply for an FHA refinance loan for an existing FHA mortgage, a conventional loan, or other types of mortgages depending on the type of refinancing you need. HUD 4000.1 describes the rules for FHA refinance loans, including a basic list of all the types of refinancing available and what they are meant to do for the borrower: -No cash-out refinances of FHA-insured and non FHA-insured Mortgages are designed to pay existing liens. These include: Rate and Term refinance, Simple Refinance, and Streamline Refinance. -Cash-out refinances are designed to pull equity out of the Property. -Refinances of non FHA-insured Mortgages are available for qualified Borrowers in negative equity positions (Short Refi). -Refinances for rehabilitation or repair (Section 203(k)). That information is | more...

October 12, 2016

Mortgage Loan Interest Rate Trends: Moving Higher

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan interest rates have been in a short-term trend with no improvements and/or upward movements for well over seven business days. Some market watchers believe this trend will persist a bit longer, and even though the highest rates we’ve seen in the trend are still considered low compared to previous years, it makes for a difficult choice for any borrower on the fence about locking or floating. 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgage loan interest rates are still within a range between 3.5% and 3.625%, but there are far fewer lenders offering the bottom end of that best-execution range. 3.625% is far more common, best execution. As upward pressure continues (assuming it WILL continue in the short term) we will eventually see that range disappear in favor of the higher | more...

October 10, 2016

Adding To The FHA Loan Amount

By Joe Wallace

When preparing to fill out an FHA loan application, many borrowers wonder how much FHA loan they will be permitted to get, and whether they can increase that amount. The basic FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state that the loan amount is determined by either the appraised value of the property or the asking price, whichever is lower. Some want to know if they can get cash back on an FHA new purchase single family home loan, but the rules prevent a borrower from receiving cash back on new purchase loans except in the form of a legitimate refund. There are ways to increase the loan amount, however, that do not result in cash back to the borrower. For example, the borrower who chooses to finance the Up Front | more...

October 5, 2016

Cash To Close For FHA Loans: Some Rules

By Joe Wallace

One commonly asked question about FHA home loans involves how the lender verifies the borrower’s sources of cash to close the loan. FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 require the lender to verify all sources of cash to close (including your down payment) and when dealing with this requirement the first time, some loan applicants are surprised when the lender asks for specific details such as account numbers, bank statements, etc. In an age where cyber fraud, phone scams, and “phishing” for account numbers make headlines on a near-daily basis, it’s not surprising that bank customers would question a lender’s request for account numbers and other financial data. A version of a common question in this area goes like this: “My lender says she needs verify my cash reserves and | more...

October 3, 2016

HUD Awards Millions To Promote Fair Housing

By Joe Wallace

Fair Housing laws affect house hunters and potential FHA loan applicants at all levels of their search for housing. Whether you are ready to fill out a loan application to purchase property, or need to rent an apartment as an interim solution while you search for a home, Fair Housing laws are there to protect borrowers from discrimination in the housing process. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a $38 million initiative designed to help national and local agencies fight housing discrimination. The funding will support more than 100 agencies. “This year, HUD provided competitive funding under three notices to organizations that support a wide range of fair housing enforcement, education and outreach activities” says the press release HUDNo.16-150, which adds, “These grants allow the groups to | more...

September 23, 2016

Well Water: FHA Loan Questions

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “FHA use to only require that these top items need to pass. Lead (first draw), Nitrate, Nitrite, Total Nitrate/Nitrite,Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms or E. Coli. Is this still true? I am hearing that a full water panel is required to be done, is this now true and if so,is FHA major focus still on the top items passing? Also what is required by FHA if one of these items fails?” This question is in reference to FHA requirements for properties that are served by wells. In general, the local health authority would set the standards, so the reader would need to consult with the local authority to get the answer to the first part of this question. Health standards, procedures, and requirements can and do vary from | more...