Articles Tagged With: FHA Requirements

November 14, 2011

FHA Streamline Refinancing Loans and Credit Qualifying Requirements

Home loan refinancing is among of the most popular types of loans in a troubled economy. When the six o’clock news has regular gloomy updates, it’s not surprising that people turn to refinancing loans to lower their payments and improve the bottom line. FHA Streamline Refinancing Loans can help do just that–this type of refinancing is appealing because in many cases no additional credit check is required by the FHA (though the lender may require one anyway). In some cases, the lender does not have the option to process the FHA refinancing loan with no credit check–certain situations can “trigger” the credit check requirement. Those include any change in the mortgage term that results “in an increase in the mortgage payment of more than 20%” according to the FHA rules, | more...

November 3, 2011

FHA Loans and Foreclosure Avoidance: Some Basics

By Joe Wallace

There have been several reader questions lately about the foreclosure process on FHA home loans. What options do FHA borrowers have when facing the risk of default and/or foreclosure on their FHA mortgages? A quick look at the FHA official site’s page on the subject of foreclosure avoidance at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure reveals several options. One program known as HAMP is the Home Affordable Modification Program, which “lowers your monthly mortgage payment to 31 percent of your verified monthly gross (pre-tax) income to make your payments more affordable.” According to the FHA, a typical FHA loan modification under HAMP “results in a 40 percent drop in a monthly mortgage payment. Eighteen percent of HAMP homeowners reduce their payments by $1,000 or more.” Another program borrowers may consider is the Principal Reduction Alternative, | more...

November 2, 2011

HUD Suspends Allied Home Mortgage Corporation

By Joe Wallace

Allied Home Mortgage Corporation is no longer allowed to do business with the FHA or HUD, according to a November 1, 2011 press release from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

October 28, 2011

Factors That Affect Your FHA Loan Amount

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan applicants naturally want to know how much mortgage they are qualified to get–how much can an FHA borrower receive on an FHA insured home loan? The answer isn’t as simple as a fixed dollar amount. There are many things that factor in to the final FHA home loan amount and not all of them are connected to the sale price of the home. Your FHA loan amount is influenced by the current state of the housing market, the interest rate on the loan, the asking price on the property and the fair market value of the home. The first and most obvious factor that can affect an FHA home loan amount is the borrower’s qualifications. How much are you qualified to borrow based on your income and debt | more...

October 25, 2011

FHA Loans and Non-Purchasing Spouses

By Joe Wallace

One FHA loan frequently asked question relates to married FHA borrowers with non-purchasing or non-occupying spouses. When an FHA borrower applies for a loan and the spouse does not co-sign or co-borrower, are there situations where the spouse could be required to sign the loan? According to FHA loan rules, this issue depends greatly on state law. The FHA itself has no requirement for a non-borrowing spouse to sign, but states which require certain types of documentation for “valid and enforceable” loans could need a signature from the non-borrowing spouse. But what kind of signature? In these cases, the state law usually requires a signature to indicate the non-borrowing spouse’s status in connection with the loan. The non-borrower isn’t obligated by law to become financially responsible–just to state they are | more...

October 5, 2011

FHA Loans and the Borrower’s Rights

By Joe Wallace

FHA mortgages have a number of features which make them more advantageous for qualified borrowers than many conventional loans. A low down payment requirement is one of those advantages, as is more forgiving requirements for credit history. Contrary to what some believe, there is also no maximum income limit for a typical single-family FHA home loan. In addition to these advantages, there are also a list of rights all borrowers have that protect them in the loan application and purchasing process. Did you know all borrowers have the right to know which fees are refundable and which are not should the loan agreement be canceled? You have the right to have these fees explained to you before you commit. Home buyers also have the right to be fully informed when | more...

October 4, 2011

FHA Loans: Do They Require a Background Check?

By Joe Wallace

Newcomers to FHA loans and home buying in general often wonder how extensive the credit check might be; some wonder if the lender goes beyond examining credit scores and employment history. Given the amount of detail lenders require in order to process FHA home loan applications, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if a background check is part of the application process. FHA requirements for FHA insured mortgage loans do state a credit check is needed that includes residency information, employment history and other details to give an accurate picture of an applicant’s background. The borrower is not “investigated” for details outside of the information needed to determine whether he or she is a good credit risk, but a 2010 law does require additional steps for some types of refinancing loans | more...

October 3, 2011

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums

By Joe Wallace

Earlier in 2011 we reported a change to FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums–according to FHA Mortgagee Letter 11-10, a scheduled increase in Annual Mortgage Insurance Premiums took effect for all FHA loan case numbers dated on or after April 18th 2011. The change was an increase in the annual premium for FHA loan terms of: –Greater than 15 years–Equal to or less than 15 years For FHA mortgage loans with greater than 15 year terms, the new MIP amount depends on the down payment. If the down payment is equal to or greater than 5%, the new Annual Premium is 110 basis points (bps). If the down payment is less than 5%, the new Annual Premium is 115 basis points (bps). FHA instructions for loans equal to or less than 15 | more...

September 19, 2011

FHA Loans: What Is An Excessive FHA Loan Amount?

By Joe Wallace

The FHA anticipates a wide variety of scenarios a loan applicant might face during the process of applying for an FHA mortgage loan; the agency tries to anticipate many of these situations by issuing guidance for borrowers and lenders alike to prevent gray areas wherever possible. Sometimes these gray areas can’t be helped (usually based on individual circumstances) and the borrower and/or lender must contact the FHA for additional instructions. Other times the guidance issued is sufficient for the lender to decide on the right course of action and move forward on the FHA loan without further delays. One situation the FHA anticipates is known as an “excessive loan” or “excessive loan amount. According to the FHA official site, “An excessive loan amount occurs when the lender closes a loan | more...

September 13, 2011

FHA Loans and Discrimination

By Joe Wallace

A recent press release issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development underscores the FHA and HUD’s commitment to the Fair Housing act. The release details actions taken by HUD against a Wisconsin landlord for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. While a press release about a discrimination issue connected with rental property might not seem to have much to do with FHA home loans at first glance, it does underscore the need for FHA borrowers to report such discrimination wherever they encounter it in the loan or house hunting process. According to HUD press release 11-207, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charging a La Crosse County, Wisconsin landlord with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to rent a house to a | more...