Articles Tagged With: FHA

May 9, 2018

One-Time Close Mortgages: Choices To Consider

There are many options to consider when planning a One-Time Close (OTC) / Single-Close construction loan. Borrowers who want a home built for them from the ground up can choose between FHA One-Time Close, USDA One-Time Close, and VA One-Time Close construction loans. These are also known as Single-Close loans. These three programs have some basic differences. VA OTC mortgages allow qualified borrowers to apply with no money down. USDA construction loans may also permit the borrower to apply without the expectation of a down payment, but these construction loans are only for rural areas with populations of up to 35,000 according to a 2017 USDA fact sheet about the program. One-Time Close / Single- Close Construction Loans: Occupancy Required Choices between the VA, USDA, and FHA construction loan program | more...

May 7, 2018

FHA 203(k) Rehab Loans: What’s A Contingency Reserve?

By Joe Wallace

If you are interested in buying or refinancing a home to renovate with an FHA mortgage, the FHA 203(k) loan is a great place to start exploring your options. The FHA 203(k) rehab loan comes in two varieties-one for larger and more ambitious projects, and a smaller “limited” 203(k) that offers smaller loans for simpler repairs/renovations. The 203(k) loan involves hiring contractors and having work done according to both FHA home loan minimum standards, but also requires that the home be brought into compliance with applicable building codes. Lender standards, state law, and FHA home loan rules will affect how this transaction is conducted. One FHA requirement is the FHA rehab loan contingency reserve, which you can think of as a “rainy day fund” in case there are unexpected costs | more...

FHA One Time Close Construction Loan Option

May 4, 2018

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans: Location Matters

By Bruce Reichstein

Location matters when you are applying for an FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loan. These mortgages are for borrowers who don’t want to purchase an existing property but want a home built for them from the ground up, but FHA One-Time Close construction loans, (FHA OTC) do have some restrictions on where a home can be constructed. These restrictions aren’t as difficult to understand as you might think; FHA loan officers are required to insure the home as an economic and functional life that will last the duration of the mortgage. Part of that due diligence is making sure the home is capable of withstanding environmental conditions and/or not being put directly in harm’s way due to know problems. That’s one reason why the FHA loan rules for home | more...

April 27, 2018

One-Time Close Construction Loans For First Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

Are construction loans available for first-time home buyers? Some may feel daunted at the idea of having a house built for them from the ground up, but the reality is that some house hunters would rather have a home built just for them rather than buying one with a previous owner. What options are available to first time home buyers who want a construction loan? The first thing to remember is that being a first time buyer does not count against you when looking into your construction loan options. What you should be more concerned with is the nature of the loan itself. Some construction loans feature two applications and two closing dates, but One-Time Close construction loans / Single-Close construction loans offered by the VA, USDA, and FHA allow | more...

April 26, 2018

FHA Loan Approval Rules: Work History

By Bruce Reichstein

Whether you seek an FHA One Time Close construction loan or want to buy an existing-construction home, the FHA guidelines for loan approval require your lender to verify your employment and income history. How much time will the lender require you to be on the job in order to get your mortgage loan approved? That standard will vary from lender to lender, so you will need to discuss work history requirements with your loan officer. However, at a minimum, FHA loan rules require the lender to verify two years of work history. That work history does not have to be with the same company. FHA Loan Rules For Income Verification Along with your recent work history, the lender is also required to verify the income you report to the lender | more...

April 24, 2018

Low-Down Payment FHA Home Loans

By Joe Wallace

Compared to some non-FHA mortgages, FHA home loans feature low down payments-as little as 3.5% of the adjusted value of the property for financially qualified borrowers. FICO scores and other credit data will play an important part in the required down payment-if your FICO score is too low the lender may require 10% down (lender standards will vary), but financially qualified borrowers should expect 3.5% down and budget for the down payment accordingly. One type of FHA home loan may not require any down payment at all, depending on circumstances, as we’ll read below. FHA Loan Down Payment Requirements: FHA Loan Assumptions FHA loan assumption rules permit the home owner to allow another person to assume the mortgage loan-the house and the debt are signed over to someone else, with | more...

April 19, 2018

FHA Loan Down Payment Sources: Retirement Funds

By Joe Wallace

We’ve been discussing FHA home loan down payment sources and the rules that govern them. FHA mortgage loan rules in HUD 4000.1 have strict requirements when it comes to the sourcing of down payments; since most FHA forward mortgages require a down payment, the rules in this area are very important to know ahead of your loan application. FHA Loan Down Payment Source Rules: Retirement Funds FHA loan rules permit the borrower to use retirement funds as a source of down payment money. According to HUD 4000.1: “The Mortgagee may include up to 60 percent of the value of assets, less any existing loans, from the Borrower’s retirement accounts, such as IRAs, thrift savings plans, 401(k) plan, and Keogh accounts, unless the Borrower provides conclusive evidence that a higher percentage | more...

April 19, 2018

Where Can My FHA Loan Down Payment Money Come From?

By Joe Wallace

Where can my FHA loan down payment money come from? It’s an important question to ask, and some borrowers might not understand the difference between closing costs that are not part of the down payment compared to what is allowed to be counted toward it. FHA Loan Down Payment Requirements For most forward FHA mortgages, the down payment requirement includes a minimum of 3.5% of the adjusted value of the home. Some FHA home loans such as refinance mortgages don’t require a down payment; FHA rehab loans for those in Federally declared disaster areas are not required by the FHA to make a down payment regardless of whether the rehab loan is a forward mortgage or a refi. Is My Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium Part Of My Down Payment? | more...

April 18, 2018

Switching FHA Lenders, Part 2

By Bruce Reichstein

In our previous blog post, we discussed borrowers who need to know FHA home loan rules for switching lenders, and when a new appraisal might be permitted under such circumstances. Borrowers do have the right to change lenders, the same way they have the right to refinance a mortgage loan using the same lender or a new one. If you need an FHA One Time Close construction loan, appraisal issues are quite different. The FHA will require inspections of the finished property to insure it complies with FHA standards and state/local code, but obviously the approach to a new construction home isn’t the same as an actual appraisal to determine the fair market value of existing construction properties. But for those who need a new purchase loan on an existing | more...

April 12, 2018

FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans: An Option You Should Consider

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loan is an option you should consider if you are interested in having a home built for you rather than purchasing an already-lived-in property. Construction loans are different than existing construction loans, and the FHA One-Time Close (OTC) / Single-Close construction loan offers a single application, a single closing date, and more peace of mind for the borrower once the loan has been approved. FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close Mortgages And FICO Score Requirements You will have higher credit requirements with an FHA One-Time Close loan due to the higher risk for the lender. Your application may require a FICO score of 620 or higher at the minimum, depending on the lender. Here’s a sample breakdown of FICO score requirements from one hypothetical | more...