Articles Tagged With: Fixed Rate Mortgage

June 21, 2019

FHA Home Loan Mortgage Rates

Just as we headed into 2019, the FHA and HUD announced higher FHA loan guaranty limits for the new year, giving most counties a boost in the dollar amount the FHA would back for an FHA mortgage loan. Now, as we read headlines from reputable sources including Marketwatch, about home loan interest rates, it seems like now is a very good time to be a first-time home buyer or a repeat borrower looking to purchase or refinance residential property with an FHA mortgage. One recent Marketwatch article about home loan interest rates includes the blurb. “Rates for home loans were mixed, but stayed near recent lows, even as bond market moves suggest another big step down lies ahead. “ That is according to Andrea Riquier’s June 20th article titled, “Mortgage | 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...

March 29, 2019

Five Things You Should Do Before Applying For Your First Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

First-time home buyers should be working on five areas before they apply for a mortgage loan. Are you working with a real estate agent or searching the real estate listings in your local area? Maybe you want to buy a new home in a different area than where you are living now and need to know the ins and outs of the neighborhoods there? Decide What Kind Of Home Loan You Need Having a home built from the ground up is possible with an FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan, but these loans are quite different than an FHA Condo Loan or FHA loans for a mobile home or manufactured home. Knowing the kind of loan you want in advance will help you search for the right kind of lender-some financial | more...

March 22, 2019

FHA Home Loans For Homes Built Before 1978

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans are offered for a variety of home needs including building a house from the ground up with an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, but there is also an option to use your FHA mortgage to buy an older home that is not considered new construction. In cases where the property is older than 1978, there are some additional rules regarding the potential for lead paint in the residence that all borrowers thinking about buying older property should be aware of. FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 point out that any home built prior to 1978 must include disclosures to the buyer: “…the seller must disclose any information known about lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before selling the house, in accordance with the HUD-EPA Lead Disclosure | more...

January 3, 2019

FHA Loan Down Payment Rules For 2019

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loan down payment requirements are lower than other mortgages, and depending on circumstances your down payment commitment on an FHA mortgage could be even less thanks to down payment assistance programs and seller contributions to closing costs. FHA Home Loan Small Down Payments Elsewhere on the internet you will find writing about down payment requirements for purchasing a new home, discussing why borrowers are choosing one approach or another regarding the money they put down on the home. Conventional mortgages require private mortgage insurance (PMI) unless the borrower makes a higher down payment. A 20% down home loan transaction is not uncommon in cases where the borrower wants to avoid paying PMI. FHA home loan rules in HUD 4000.1 require mortgage insurance premiums, too, but borrowers looking to | more...

FHA One-Time Close Construction Mortgage Basics

December 21, 2018

Higher FHA Loan Limits For One-Time Close Construction Loans In 2019

By Joe Wallace

The FHA and HUD have announced higher FHA loan limits in most counties for 2019. A small handful (under 200) counties in the entire country will not see higher loan limits, but the rest of the nation will see a higher FHA loan guaranty limit for single family, owner-occupied homes with between one and four units. What does this mean for borrowers interested in an FHA One-Time Close Construction loan in 2019? If you need a home built for you from the ground up instead of buying an existing construction home, the FHA One-One Time Close program is for you. FHA One-Time Close Mortgages Are Different Than Other FHA Mortgages Lender requirements for FHA One-Time Close loans can be more strict than for existing construction loans. Higher FICO scores may | more...

November 1, 2018

Get Out Of An Adjustable Rate Mortgage With An FHA Refinance Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Are you currently paying on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) and concerned about your next interest rate hike? It’s possible to end the uncertainty about your mortgage payments and how the next interest rate increase will affect them by refinancing into a fixed-rate FHA mortgage loan. FHA Refinance Loans Are Available As Fixed Rate Loans You can refinance an existing FHA mortgage or a non-FHA loan such as a VA mortgage, conventional loan, etc. FHA loans are designed to help borrowers get into affordable mortgages using your current income and FICO scores to qualify. If you have an FHA adjustable rate mortgage, you can refinance to an FHA fixed-rate loan using the FHA Streamline Refinance loan program. The main feature of the FHA Streamline refi is that it generally requires | more...

September 18, 2018

FHA Loan Rules And Investment Properties

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA home loans are generally intended for owner/occupiers; there is an occupancy requirement for the FHA single-family home loan program that basically allows loans for principal residences and denies loans for those who do not intend to occupy the home within 60 days of loan closing (unless other arrangements are made for a delayed move-in which may or may not be possible depending on the lender). HUD 4000.1 has the rules that govern occupancy and the purchase of homes considered to be investment properties. HUD 4000.1 begins by defining what it considers an investment property to be: “An Investment Property refers to a Property that is not occupied by the Borrower as a Principal or Secondary Residence.” That is fairly simple, and the rules in this section go on to | more...

August 30, 2018

FHA Refinance Loans: Is There A No-Credit Check Refi?

By Bruce Reichstein

Some borrowers need to know: is there an FHA refinance loan that has no credit check? This question is more common than you might think and the answer depends on several variables. FHA Refinance Loans That Require Credit Checks There are many FHA mortgage loans that require both a new credit check and a new appraisal. Cash-out refinance loans are in this category, as are FHA reverse mortgages also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (FHA HECM). The lender is tasked with making sure the borrower can afford the new loan and that the borrower is an acceptable credit risk. After all, cash is going back to the borrower in the case of both an FHA reverse mortgage and an FHA Cash-Out Refinance loan and the financial institution will need | more...

August 10, 2018

FHA Home Loans And Interest Rates: Explore Your Options

By Joe Wallace

Concerned about reports of home loan interest rates going up and wondering how to explore your options? There are many ways an FHA home loan can help you in your search for the right home; exploring all your options among several lenders is a great way to start researching and planning for your new mortgage. FHA Home Loan Interest Rates May Be Lower Than Conventional Rates For The Same Kind Of Mortgage The key to understanding your options when it comes to mortgage loan interest rates is knowing that your credit scores and other financial qualifications may affect the rate a lender offers you. Knowing that ahead of time can help you make smarter choices when shopping around for a lender. To start, compare conventional terms and requirements with the | more...