Articles Tagged With: Loan Term

June 14, 2017

How Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

What are the major differences between FHA loans and conventional loans? Do you know why people choose FHA over conventional mortgages? There are many reasons, depending on the borrower, but let’s examine how FHA loans differ to see what advantages you may find with a participating FHA lender. FHA Loans Versus Conventional Loans: Interest Rates Depending on your FICO scores and other financial qualifications, you may be required to put as much as 20% down on a conventional mortgage loan. Compare that to the FHA-required minimum down payment of 3.5% of the adjusted value of the property. Down payment requirements can and often do depend on your credit score, and for FHA mortgages, HUD 4000.1 (the FHA Single Family Loan Handbook) states that borrowers with FICO scores 580 or higher technically | more...

May 31, 2017

FHA Adjustable Rate Mortgage Rules: Rates, Term, and Adjustments

By Joe Wallace

Some potential FHA borrowers might be surprised to learn that an FHA adjustable rate mortgage (FHA ARM) is an option to consider, but for those with specific financial needs and goals, an FHA ARM loan might be a very good idea. FHA adjustable rate mortgages have specific controls over how much and when an interest rate change may occur, but there are other rules that also affect this type of FHA mortgage. All the rules for FHA ARM loans are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA Single Family Loan Handbook. It says that the initial rate and margin are established by the lender, and that the margin must be constant over the entire term of the mortgage. Furthermore, “The interest rate must remain constant for an initial period of 1, | more...

What You Need To Know About Your FHA Home Loan

May 9, 2017

FHA Appraisal Issues: A Reader Question

By Joe Wallace

How do certain factors such as the location of a home affect the FHA appraisal process? Can a home located near certain retail establishments be deemed unsuitable for an FHA mortgage? That’s basically what one reader wants to know this week, asking: “Are there any special requirements regarding adjoining properties for a person to be eligible for FHA loan? Specifically, does FHA prohibit loans for primary residences that are within 300 feet of gas stations or convenience stores?” FHA appraisal rules are found in HUD 4000.1, and that rule book does address this reader question. In general, FHA loan rules say that the proximity to high-traffic areas are to be noted by the FHA appraiser, but there are also appraisal requirements governing the home’s location adjacent to high-pressure gas pipelines, | more...

November 15, 2016

FHA Refinance Loans and HECM Reverse Mortgages

By Joe Wallace

There are two types of FHA loans borrowers should know about when considering their refinance loan options. One is a traditional cash-out or no cash-out refinance loan, and the other is a reverse mortgage, also known as an FHA HECM loan. HECM stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage. The standard refinance loan and FHA HECM options are very different and serve different needs, but depending on the borrower it may be good to be familiar with both. Typical FHA refinance loans involve situations where the borrower typically has an existing mortgage and applies for a new loan that pays off the original mortgage, creating a brand new monthly payment, loan term, etc. Depending on the terms of the loan cash back may or may not happen, but for cash-out refinancing | more...

August 23, 2016

FHA Loan Question: Shared Wells

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “Theres a well shared by seven houses producing six gallons per minute for all seven houses. The well went dry and now we were told we have till December to Feb before it goes dry. Will the loan agencies finance homes at the tail end of a wells life?” We won’t presume to speak for financial agencies or their requirements, as standards may vary from lender to lender. However, we can reference FHA home loan rules to see what is permitted. FHA loan approval depends on a variety of factors, not just a borrower’s credit report or other issues. One factor is the condition of the property itself, which is determined by an FHA appraisal. The purpose of an FHA appraisal is to insure properties to be | more...

August 17, 2016

FHA Loan Questions: Income Rules

By Joe Wallace

A reader got in touch with us to ask a question about FHA standards for income. “I am on contract and my lender just told me that I might not be qualify for FHA because of my income. Is that one of the requirements for FHA?” FHA loans require the borrower to financially qualify for the loan, which includes the lender making a determination about the borrower’s employment situation. While this reader question is far too general to answer with regards to the reader’s specific circumstances, we can observe the following about FHA home loans based on a reading of HUD 4000.1: The lender is required to verify a borrower’s income to insure it is stable, reliable, and likely to continue. Income that is deemed “verifiable” is allowed to be | more...

August 2, 2016

FHA Loan Questions About Seller Contributions

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “What extra expenses does a seller pay for a FHA offer compared to a conventional offer when selling their home?” Seller contributions and their limits are covered in HUD 4000.1. It’s impossible to speculate what the differences might be between an FHA mortgage and a conventional mortgage as loan terms may vary from lender to lender. However, FHA loan rules are clear on this subject in terms of what is permitted and what is not. Seller contributions are known as “interested party contributions” in HUD 4000.1. These must be negotiated between borrower and seller, but the agreed-upon contributions must meet FHA standards. FHA loan rules are quite clear-there is a cap on the value of seller concessions. Page 220 of HUD 4000.1 states: “Interested Parties may contribute | more...

July 7, 2016

FHA Loan Terms

By Joe Wallace

Understanding Your Loan Term from FHA.com on Vimeo. How long is an FHA mortgage? The answer to that question depends on a variety of factors including the initial choice of fixed or adjustable rate mortgage, whether you plan to pay off the loan early or not, whether you plan to refinance, etc. The typical length of a fixed rate, new purchase FHA mortgage can be 15 or 30 years. If you are refinancing, other variables may apply. Choosing a loan term depends on the individual borrower’s specific needs and goals. You may wish to apply for a 15-year mortgage if you are interested in saving money over the lifetime of the loan; borrowers who choose 15-year mortgages will make higher monthly payments than those who choose 30-year loans, but the | more...

May 26, 2016

FHA Refinance Loans: What You Should Know Before Applying

By Joe Wallace

Not all refinance loans are created equal, and not all FHA refinance loans have the same terms and conditions. Did you know that FHA refinance loans will, depending on the participating lender, allow you to refinance an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) into a fixed rate but also may permit you to go from one adjustable rate mortgage to a new ARM loan? Qualified borrowers have a variety of refinance options open to them when it comes to rates, loan term, and related concerns. There are many things to consider when refinancing with an FHA mortgage. For example, you do not have to use your existing lender to refinance. You may shop around for a new lender to refinance your mortgage loan with. You are also not required to have an | more...

March 29, 2016

FHA/FDIC Advice On Interest-Only Loans, Adjustable Rate Mortgages

By Joe Wallace

We discuss a lot of aspects of the FHA home loan process, but sometimes it’s a very good idea to go right to the source–the FHA itself–to get the agency’s take on certain aspects of the FHA loan process. The FHA official site–www.FHA.gov–has some good advice for borrowers contemplating their loan options including interest-only loans and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). What does the agency say to potential borrowers about these kinds of loans? One of the first pieces of advice is along the basic lines of, “do your homework, and be sure to read the fine print”. The FHA official site actually directs readers to look at another official government website–the FDIC official site–for some sound advice on how to approach the mortgage loan process where ARMs and interest-only mortgages | more...