Articles Tagged With: FHA Loan

Can I buy a manufactured home with an FHA loan?

September 8, 2016

FHA Loans For Mobile Homes and Manufactured Homes: A Reader Question

A reader asked recently, “Why does FHA not finance single wide mobile homes?” This question reveals one of the most common misconceptions about FHA loans-that the FHA itself will process your home loan paperwork. It does not; instead, participating FHA lenders will furnish, process, and approve or deny your mortgage application. In some cases the lender may be required to submit this paperwork to the FHA for review before a final decision is made, but the lender is the borrower’s point of contact for the transaction. With that in mind, let’s examine what HUD 4000.1 says about mortgage loans for mobile homes/manufactured housing: “Manufactured Housing refers to Structures that are transportable in one or more sections. They are designed to be used as a dwelling when connected to the required | more...

September 7, 2016

FHA Loan Rules For Residency: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

One not-so-commonly asked questions about FHA loans is still an important issue to address. Here’s a recent reader question on a borrower’s ability to be approved for an FHA mortgage without being a U.S. citizen: “Ive just moved to the US from the UK on a K-1 Fiance Visa. Ive been here around 5 months. Just received my work authorization card through the mail, waiting for my social security number now. Ive been working voluntarily since I arrived…would we qualify for an FHA Mortgage Loan? Ive contacted two lenders who have told us that we might be entitled to a loan but they’re unsure.” The short answer to this questions is that technically speaking, non-U.S. citizens are eligible for FHA home loans unless they are in the United States illegally. | more...

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

September 7, 2016

FHA Loans After Foreclosure

By Joe Wallace

There are many foreclosure avoidance programs available for consumers struggling to make their mortgage payments; the Obama mortgage, the FHA HAMP program, mortgage loan modifications offered by the lender apart from government programs, etc. But in some cases foreclosure might be unavoidable. The borrower in these circumstances may wonder how long it could take to recover from such a “negative economic event” and become a home owner once more. FHA loan rules specifically address this issue in HUD 4000.1. Page 247 of HUD 4000.1 refers to situations that involve foreclosure or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. We learn: “A Borrower is generally not eligible for a new FHA-insured Mortgage if the Borrower had a foreclosure or a DIL of foreclosure in the three-year period prior to the date of case number | more...

September 6, 2016

Mortgage Loan Interest Rate Trends: Slightly Higher After Friday Jobs Report

By Joe Wallace

Ahead of the holiday weekend, all eyes were on Friday’s employment stats, which can and have acted as a spoiler for mortgage loan interest rates in the past depending on investor reaction to the contents of such reports. Market watchers reported weaker-than-expected numbers in that report, and ahead of a holiday weekend we saw some lenders keeping rates the same, while others had slightly higher numbers to close out the week. 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgages were reported at or near a best execution range between 3.375% and 3.5%. Friday’s increases with some lenders were likely reflected in closing costs rather than actual higher rates. FHA mortgage loan rates continue holding fast in their best execution range between 3.0% and 3.5%. The numbers we’ve been seeing are reported by industry | more...

September 2, 2016

Foreclosure Avoidance on FHA Mortgages: The Trial Payment Plan

By Joe Wallace

The FHA recently announced changes to its policies designed to help those who purchased homes with FHA mortgages and have since fallen into financial trouble to avoid foreclosure. There are many government programs to help borrowers keep their homes in hard times including the Obama mortgage, and the FHA Home Affordable Modification Program or HAMP. If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments on an FHA mortgage, the information here will be of special interest to you. Those who are under consideration for HAMP may learn they have to complete a trial payment plan before the HAMP modification can be finalized and approved. But what does this trial payment plan (also referred to as TPP) entail? The FHA announced modifications to the HAMP program this summer, and in FHA | more...

September 1, 2016

FHA Loan Reader Questions: Judgments and Loan Approval

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I have a judgment for a car that was repossessed in May 2010. It was a car purchased by my husband with myself as cosigner. I didnt plan on paying it off as we are waiting on a divorce and he has no plans to help pay it off. Will I be able to get a FHA mortgage with this lingering on my credit? I do have credit scores in the 650 range and higher.” Community property laws in a given state, where applicable, may affect the answer to this question, but in general, FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state that judgments on a borrower’s credit history must have some kind of resolution. On pages 177 and 178 of HUD 4000.1 we learn a great deal | more...

September 1, 2016

FHA Home Loans: General Rules

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans are unique compared to conventional loans due to the lower down payment and more forgiving credit requirements. There are some basic rules governing FHA mortgage loans you should know about going into the process; keeping these in mind will save time and help you better prepare for the loan. One of the key issues for FHA mortgages is the location of the home. According to HUD 4000.1, “The Property must be located within the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.” That’s a very basic requirement, but FHA loan rules do get more specific from there. A property must be situated in a reasonable owner-friendly location. For example: “The Mortgagee must determine if a Property is located | more...

August 30, 2016

FHA Announces Changes To Help Delinquent Borrowers Avoid Foreclosure

By Joe Wallace

The FHA has issued a press release announcing changes to its loss mitigation program guidelines to help borrowers avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes in times of financial difficulty. According to HUDNo.16-127, “The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced new procedures to strengthen the process mortgage servicers use to help struggling families avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes. FHA is streamlining its loss mitigation protocols that servicers must use when evaluating and deploying home retention options, foreclosure alternatives that allow delinquent borrowers to retain their home.” By way of background, the FHA official site (in Mortgagee Letter 2016-14) explains, “The evolution of FHAs loss mitigation guidance has also led to improved consumer engagement, the streamlining of FHAs Pre-Foreclosure Sale option, and a new loan modification by which Mortgagees | more...

Buying A Fixer-Upper With An FHA 203(k) Rehab Loan

August 30, 2016

FHA Loans and Foreclosure Avoidance: The FHA HAMP Loan

By Joe Wallace

When you purchase your home with an FHA mortgage loan, chances are you’re thinking more about moving in, getting settled, and making the home your own than you are the possibility that you could encounter financial hardship at some point and miss mortgage payments. But these things do happen to some borrowers, and the FHA has a program set up to help those who get into financial trouble. The FHA HAMP program was created to help borrowers avoid foreclosure and keep them in the home. FHA HAMP is a loan modification program and not a refinance loan, which is an important distinction to make. Under the terms of the FHA HAMP program, the FHA permits ” the use of a partial claim up to 30 percent of the unpaid principal | more...

August 29, 2016

FHA Loan Questions: Home Inspections

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “So what do I do if I bought a house with an FHA loan and 2 weeks after closing the roof leaks? You can visually see more than 3 layers of roofing without setting foot on the roof or a Ladder? Obviously the roof didnt have 2 years of life left in it and obviously it was in need of repair. Also the inspector I hired didnt go up on the roof either. What are my options now? Also code in my area is no more than 3 layers of roofing and after getting estimates the house has 5 layers on it.” FHA loan appraisals and home inspections are two different things. The reader question in this particular case seems to indicate that the borrower paid for | more...