Articles Tagged With: FHA Requirements

June 13, 2017

What Is Mortgage Insurance And How Does It Work?

“What is mortgage insurance?” is a common question for those new to the home loan process. Do you understand how it works? It helps to define the two things referred to by industry professionals as mortgage insurance. There is mortgage insurance which the borrower pays for as a requirement of the FHA loan, then there is the “mortgage insurance” referred to in FHA loan rules which is something else entirely. Note: What we are discussing here is not hazard insurance, which may be a requirement on some, but not all FHA loans. FHA Mortgage Insurance For The Lender The FHA single family home loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, refers to “mortgage insurance” when discussing the FHA’s role in insuring the loan to reduce the risk for the participating lender. On page | more...

June 7, 2017

2017 FHA Loan Home Requirements

By Bruce Reichstein

What are FHA loan home requirements? How can you tell if a property meets FHA loan minimum standards? These are important questions to ask when planning for your new home loan. FHA loan home requirements are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA single-family home loan handbook. HUD 4000.1 states that while all homes to be purchased with an FHA mortgage must pass the FHA appraisal process, doing so in no way acts as a guarantee that the home is free of defects. A borrower should understand that the FHA appraisal is for the lender, while a home inspection (optional but extremely important) is for the borrower. In general, FHA loan home requirements include rules which state that the roof must be in good repair, that the electrical and plumbing system | more...

May 30, 2017

FHA Adjustable Rate Mortgages in 2017

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for an FHA adjustable rate mortgage in 2017? FHA single family home loans come in a variety of types including fixed-rate loans and FHA adjustable rate mortgages. The rules for these loans, commonly referred to as FHA ARM loans, are spelled out in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook. FHA adjustable rate loans can be different than their conventional counterparts, starting with certain restrictions on how often the interest rate may change. Before we dive into that issue, let’s examine how HUD 4000.1 defines the FHA ARM loan: “An Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) refers to a Mortgage in which the interest rate can change annually based on an index plus a margin.” Your loan officer is required to provide a disclosure form, which must be signed, that | more...

May 29, 2017

Happy Memorial Day 2017!

By Joe Wallace

Happy Memorial Day! We pause today from our usual posts about FHA home loans, refinance loans, and related topics to recognize the sacrifices made by our women and men in uniform. Thank you to all who have served-from those who have gone before to those who are about to enter their first year in uniform in service to our country. We return with our regularly scheduled posts on Tuesday. Thank you for reading, and have a safe and happy Memorial Day 2017.

May 25, 2017

FHA Refinance Loan Basics You Should Know

By Bruce Reichstein

If you have an existing home loan, you may be qualified to apply to refinance that loan with an FHA mortgage. This option can help you get cash out based on the value of your home, or it can help you get into lower mortgage payments depending on the type of loan you are eligible for. Which FHA refinance loan is right for you? FHA Cash-Out Refinancing Cash-out loans are for qualified borrowers with FHA or non-FHA mortgages. Cash out refinancing allows borrowers to get cash back when there is money left over after paying off the original mortgage, plus any applicable fees. Cash-out refinance loans guaranteed by the FHA require both a new credit check and appraisal. The new appraisal is required in order to determine the current market | more...

How much can I borrow with an FHA refinance loan?

May 23, 2017

Basics Of An FHA Home Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Are you interested in an FHA mortgage? If you’ve never applied for an FHA home loan before, there are some basics you should know that will help you make the right choices for the property you wish to purchase. Who Is An FHA Home Loan For? The FHA single-family home loan program is available to all financially qualified borrowers looking to buy property that meets FHA standards. FHA loans are for owner-occupiers looking to purchase a home to live in as their primary residence. There is a residency requirement for FHA mortgages, and FHA single family home loans are not intended for investment properties. You can purchase a home with as many as four units, and the borrower is free to rent out the unused units of the property as | more...

Can I get an FHA home loan if I owe back taxes?

May 11, 2017

FHA Loans And Income Verification Requirements

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan income verification requirements include submitting tax data as part of the application process. Your lender may require tax returns and other paperwork; depending on the transaction these requirements may include additional forms of documentation. A reader got in touch recently in our comments section to ask about these income verification issues. “Our lender is asking for two years of tax returns. We have not filed for 2016 yet. We apply for and get an extension every year and have until October since we are freelancers…Can we just submit 2014 & 2015 for now to apply for the loan? We have pay stubs for 2016 as proof for income and it is greater than what we have made the priors years. Although, it seems to be a problem that | more...

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

April 14, 2017

Identity of Interest Issues And FHA Loans

By Joe Wallace

A reader got in touch to ask about FHA loans and identity of interest rules this week. “I have a loan that I am working on right now and the underwriter is saying that we have an “identity of interest” issue.” “The situation is this my borrower is not related to the seller but has been renting the house she is buying for five months. Because there is no family relationship between the seller & buyer, does she has to live in the house for six months?” The FHA loan rule book, HUD 4000.1, describes identity of interest transactions as a house sale “between parties with an existing Business Relationship or between Family Members.” The word “interest” in this case refers not to interest rates, but rather to the interest | more...

March 9, 2017

FHA Mortgage Questions And Answers

By Joe Wallace

There are many questions about FHA loans-those who are new to the process want to know some very basic, but very important things including how down payments are calculated, who is eligible for an FHA loan, and whether the borrower is free to sell the home purchased with an FHA mortgage after buying it, and how soon. Let’s explore some of these questions: Am I Eligible For An FHA Loan? The implication with a question like this sometimes includes another question. “Do I make too much money to qualify?” This is due to a misconception that FHA mortgages are intended only for first-time buyers, the economically disadvantaged, or those who have earnings that fall within a certain range. But the truth is, FHA mortgage loans have no income limits and | more...

What You Need To Know About Your FHA Home Loan

February 28, 2017

FHA Loan Rules On Occupancy And Second Homes

By Bruce Reichstein

Occupancy is a key issue for FHA single family home loans. When you purchase a residence with an FHA mortgage, one of the requirements loan approval is conditional upon is that the borrower is expected to occupy the home as the primary residence, usually within 60 days of the loan closing. Occupancy is required for both new purchase and FHA cash-out refinancing loans. That’s one reason why FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 specify that FHA mortgages can’t be used for vacation properties, timeshares, etc. HUD 4000.1 states clearly, on page 135, the “standard for owner occupancy” which includes the following: “At least one Borrower must occupy the Property within 60 Days of signing the security instrument and intend to continue occupancy for at least one year. 203(k) Rehabilitation products | more...