Articles Tagged With: FHA Mortgage

Construction Loans For First-Time Home Buyers

May 12, 2020

Building A Home As A New Borrower

At press time, many portions of the United States are considering some kind of return to business as usual in the wake of lockdowns and coronavirus containment measures. For better or worse, some portions of the country are opening more than others and this will likely include real estate markets and house hunting as progress is made. And that means some first-time home buyers will be exploring their options soon. Did you know that even as a first time borrower, you may be eligible for a One-Time Close construction loan that allows the borrower to build a home on their own lot rather than buying someone else’s property? One-Time close loans are available for VA borrowers, FHA loan applicants, even USDA borrowers. These loans do require some additional legwork and | more...

March 31, 2020

FHA and HUD Change Loan Approval Requirements For Coronavirus

By Joe Wallace

The FHA and HUD have announced short-term alterations to appraisal and approval policies for single-family forward mortgages during the coronavirus outbreak. The changes, originally set to expire on May 17, 2020, address issues involving how appraisers review their properties, and how lenders must reverify borrower financial data before closing time. The changes to appraisal requirements (exterior-only inspections allowing the appraiser to work without being at risk of infection) were a big part of that, but not the whole substance of the policy changes. Reducing the risk to appraisers is one thing, but some of the measures are intended to streamline loan approval in a time of crisis. The FHA/HUD official site press release explains that certain measures were needed to, “maintain the stability” of the FHA Single-Family Home Loan program, | more...

March 5, 2020

HUD Announces Settlement In California Fair Housing Sexual Harassment Case

By Joe Wallace

Some renters and house hunters are not aware that sexual harassment from someone at any stage of the housing process can be considered a violation of federal law. Did you know that the Fair Housing Act forbids landlords and others involved in the housing industry from sexually harassing those in search of housing (bought or rented)? A recent settlement announced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development highlights this issue. According to HUD, the agency recently approved a conciliation agreement, “requiring Ronoel Romero, Blanca Romero, and Mario Prudencio, the owners and manager of a Bakersfield, California, apartment complex, to pay $14,500 to several female residents”. The required payment is part of the settlement. Fair Housing Act laws forbid housing providers from sexually harassing tenants. The prohibition includes “creating a | more...

January 22, 2020

Closing Day On Your FHA Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

What do you need to know about closing day for your FHA home loan? There is plenty of advice out there including the idea that you should not schedule loan closing AND moving trucks on the same day. But why? Because there are some variables that could delay your closing day, and you don’t want to get stuck juggling TWO rescheduling needs instead of just one (to say the least). Closing Day Delays Your closing day could be rescheduled for any number of reasons–there could be an issue with the title, your appraisal could come in too low, you may pay for the home inspection only to find that there are problems with the home not covered by the appraisal. Some issues are merely delays. Others could develop into a | more...

The FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan: An Option In 2020

January 15, 2020

FHA Construction Loans Versus USDA Construction Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Why would borrowers choose to build a home on their own land using an FHA One-Time Close construction loan (which requires a down payment of 3.5%, minimum) instead of a no-money-down USDA home loan? There are several reasons why an FHA mortgage might be the better choice depending on circumstances, even with a required minimum down payment. That down payment is far less than some conventional loans require. USDA Mortgage or FHA Home Loan? USDA construction loans offer an advantage to eligible borrowers thanks to their zero down payment requirement. But a USDA mortgage is need-based, and these loans (even construction loans) have a household income cap. USDA loan rules state that in some cases, borrowers who have assets higher than the USDA limit “…may be required to use a | more...

June 19, 2019

How Much Is My Down Payment With An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

Many buyers want to know how much their FHA loan down payment requirement is. The answer is not as easy as quoting a percentage since there are variables that can affect the amount of the down payment you will be required to make. FHA Loan Down Payment Basics There is no fixed dollar amount for the down payment-each transaction will have its’ own required down payment amount based on the calculation below. The lowest down payment you can make with an FHA mortgage is 3.5% of the adjusted value of the home. There are circumstances where a higher down payment is required because a borrower’s FICO scores don’t qualify them for maximum financing. In those cases, FHA loan rules dictate that where a borrower’s FICO scores are between 500 and | more...

February 14, 2019

Preparing For A Home Loan As A New Borrower

By Joe Wallace

Preparing for a new home loan requires time. Before you start looking at real estate listings, talking to sellers, or begin filling out loan paperwork, you will need to take several steps ideally started at least a year before you begin house hunting. Begin Saving For Your Down Payment And Other Expenses Now There are appraisal fees, home inspection expenses, possible flood zone determination costs depending on location, closing costs, and the down payment to think about. Start saving as early as possible for these expenses. Start Checking Your Credit Reports Now If you find any items on your credit report that need to be disputed, the process can take many months. Don’t wait until later to take this step, the time you save will be critical later. You do | more...

January 15, 2019

First-Time Home Buyer Advice: How To Buy Your First Home With Less Cash Up Front

By Bruce Reichstein

First-time home buyers often need to save as much cash up front on the transaction as possible. There are ways you can prepare for your FHA home loan in the planning stages that can help you buy your first home with less out-of-pocket costs. Do you know what they are? First-Time Home Buyers Should Work On Lowering Credit Card Balances Very Early Whenever Possible One very important factor in qualifying a borrower as a good credit risk when buying a first home? The amount of debt the first-time borrower carries versus the amount of monthly income. Your debt ratio is just as important as FICO scores, and the lower your debt ratio, the better off you will be when the lender goes to approve or deny the home loan application. | more...

October 31, 2018

HUD Announces Charges In New Jersey Housing Discrimination Case

By Bruce Reichstein

There are many types of housing discrimination, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development actively pursues complaints of Fair Housing Act violations. The most recent was announced on the HUD official site in a press release titled, “HUD Charges New Jersey Condo Association with Discriminating Against Resident with Disabilities”. According to the press release, HUD’s allegations include charges that the condo association “only allowed the resident, who is sight and hearing impaired, to use the service door instead of the main entrance to the development or the common areas when accompanied by her assistance animal.” The press release says there are other allegations, one being that the condominium association charged the resident’s daughter a fee “because she walked her mother’s assistance animal in the development’s common areas”. It is | more...

October 8, 2018

Can I Buy A Rental Property With An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

Can I buy a rental property with an FHA mortgage? This is a question borrowers ask when they are considering trying to use the property they buy with their new mortgage to earn income or even help pay the mortgage itself. Is this possible under FHA home loan rules? FHA Mortgage Loan Rules: You Must Occupy The Property You Purchase With An FHA Mortgage Most FHA single family home loans include an occupancy requirement, which means if you intend to rent a property you purchase with an FHA loan, it must be a single-unit or multi-unit home that you intend to occupy. FHA loans technically permit mortgages for properties with up to four living units. Your participating FHA lender may or may not offer home loans for multi-unit properties, so | more...