Articles Tagged With: FHA Mortgage Loans

August 30, 2019

HUD Announces Expanded Disaster Relief Options

The FHA and HUD have announced expanded disaster relief measures for those in federally declared major disaster areas. The changes (see below) must be implemented no later than November 30, 2019 but may be used by lenders right away. The FHA and HUD advise these changes will be reflected in a pending update of the FHA Single-Family Loan Handbook, HUD 4000.1. On Thursday, August 29, 2019, the Federal Housing Administration announced in a press release that the agency is, “expanding its foreclosure prevention options to allow borrowers in Presidentially Declared Major Disaster Areas (PDMDAs) with delinquent FHA-insured mortgages to bring their mortgages current without increasing their interest rates or principal and interest payments.” This is an expansion/enhancement of a temporary measure announced in 2018; Mortgagee Letter 2018-01 “temporarily amended” FHA/HUD | more...

August 27, 2019

Issues That Affect FHA Home Loan Approval

By Joe Wallace

There are some issues that can affect FHA home loan approval but don’t automatically mean the loan will be denied. Borrowers should be aware of the rules in the FHA single-family home loan handbook, HUD 4000.1 that tell a lender when more attention is needed for a specific loan application. For example, did you know there are two basic types of home loan approval processes? One is a more automated process that happens when the lender uses the Automated Underwriting System (AUS) to review the loan. AUS can be used for borrowers that don’t have certain complications with the loan; borrowers that do have certain issues with their application may find the lender is required to “downgrade” to a “manual” underwriting process that requires more scrutiny on the borrower’s financial | more...

July 26, 2019

Qualifying For An FHA Home Loan With Disability Benefits

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loan rules permit the use of disability benefits to financially qualify for the loan. All income used in the lender’s debt ratio calculations must be verifiable, which means it must be a stable source of income and is likely to continue. Some borrowers worry that their disability income won’t be counted for the purposes of loan approval, but if that income meets FHA standards, there shouldn’t be any problem. Those standards are found in HUD 4000.1 and start with a basic definition: “Disability Benefits are benefits received from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), other public agencies, or a private disability insurance provider. “ These benefits must continue for at least three years into the mortgage to be counted as verifiable income. The lender | more...

July 22, 2019

FHA Home Loan Rules About Borrower Debt

By Joe Wallace

Do you know what your lender is required to do when you fill out an FHA mortgage loan application? Part of the lender’s job is to make sure that the loan applicant can realistically afford the new home loan, and making that determination means reviewing your current debt. HUD 4000.1, the FHA Lender’s Handbook for single family mortgages, has instructions for the lender in this area. It begins stating the lender’s responsibilities: “The Mortgagee must determine the Borrower’s monthly liabilities by reviewing all debts listed on the credit report, Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), and required documentation.” How is that accomplished? “All applicable monthly liabilities must be included in the qualifying ratio. ” Your lender will calculate your debt ratio using one method that includes only your current debt, and | more...

June 28, 2019

FHA Home Loan Rules For Refinance Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

When headlines about home loan interest rates start appearing with the terms “new lows” or “lowest in months”, the minds of many home owners turn to refinancing. It’s very tempting to explore refinance loan options when rates begin falling; saving more money over the lifetime of the refinance loan is appealing and some borrowers feel they didn’t shop around aggressively enough for a better interest rate the first time around. When you are getting ready to refinance, what do you need to keep in mind in terms of FHA refi loan rules? Here are some areas to ponder. Basic Refinance Loan Transactions FHA refi loans come in a few basic types according to the FHA Lender’s Handbook, HUD 4000.1: Cash-out refinances: designed to pull equity out of the Property. No | more...

June 23, 2019

Can I Buy Investment Real Estate With An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

This is a question on the minds of many and the issue definitely has some nuances. The FHA lender’s handbook HUD 4000.1 states “Investment Properties are not eligible for FHA insurance.” But what is the FHA definition of an investment property and how flexible are these guidelines? To understand what constitutes an investment property, we have to examine what the FHA considers as an acceptable purchase and what is considered an investment property. FHA mortgages are intended for owner-occupiers. At least one borrower obligated on the mortgage must live in the home as the principal residence. FHA loan rules require this to happen “within a reasonable time” after the loan closes and that time is often considered 60 days unless other arrangements are made. FHA loan rules do permit, if | more...

June 18, 2019

Why Do People Use Cash-Out Refinancing?

By Joe Wallace

There are many reasons why people want to convert the value of their home to cash. Some people use FHA cash-out refinancing to pay off credit cards or help lower student loan debt, others have needs they want to meet around the house whether its’ home improvement in general, building a rec room, or replacing old appliances. But whatever your cash-out refinance loan needs, there are some important issues to consider that may help you decide whether FHA cash-out refi options are right for your plans. Why do we say this? Because some people choose to pay for their home improvement projects or other expenses using a cash-out refi loan while others consider using a credit card to pay for them instead. What’s the best choice? In many cases the | more...

June 4, 2019

FHA Home Loan Approval Myths

By Joe Wallace

There are plenty of myths about home loan approval, but for first-time home buyers looking for an FHA mortgage, some of those myths are more prevalent than others. What you don’t know about FHA home loans can hurt you-it’s best to know as much as possible going into the home loan process, which is another reason why it’s best to take your time preparing for a home loan. Rushing into the process can cost more money than taking your time. FHA Home Loan Myths: The FHA Has Separate Requirements For First-Time Home Buyers FHA home loans are open to all qualified borrowers with FICO scores in a certain range for the lowest down payment. FHA loan rules do not make any distinction between a first-time buyer and an experienced home | more...

June 1, 2019

FHA Rehab Refinance Loan Basics

By Joe Wallace

Recent headlines about mortgage loan interest rates have descriptions similar to “rates edging toward long-term lows”, which is motivating many to explore their refinance loan options. Are you a first-time home owner interested in getting a lower mortgage rate? Or are you interested in repairing or remodeling the home? Keep reading. FHA Rehab Refinance Mortgage Loans The FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage, also known as an FHA Rehab loan, is offered as a new purchase loan AND a refinance loan. When you refinance with an FHA Rehab loan you are given funds to be used specifically for approved projects in the home. These refinance mortgages will feature interest rates that are offered based on your FICO scores, so the same lower interest rate may not be available to all applicants; those | more...

May 6, 2019

FHA Appraisals Versus Home Inspections: Facts You Should Know

By Bruce Reichstein

We write about FHA home loans, the FHA appraisal process, and why the appraisal should never be used in place of a home inspection to determine the condition of the home. Borrowers who do not personally arrange for a home inspection and rely on the results of the FHA appraisal alone put themselves at serious risk of buying a home that has hidden problems. Because lenders and other industry professionals sometimes use the term “inspection” when referring to the appraisal, borrowers may assume that the appraisal really IS an inspection (which is more in-depth than an appraisal). But this is not true. Here’s one example why you should not rely on the FHA appraisal to tell you the condition of the home; HUD 4000.1 includes appraisal requirements. Here’s a passage | more...