Articles Tagged With: mortgage

June 20, 2024

Using A Real Estate Agent To Buy A Home

There are many types of homes, home loans, and house hunters. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for FHA loans. Knowing the right options for the right transaction is essential. Whether or not to use a real estate agent is another area where there is no single ideal answer to the question, Is it worth it to use an agent? Some will definitely need one, while others may be able to get the work done independently. Some House Hunters Don’t Need An Agent The borrower who buys a home in their hometown may have a good grasp of their housing market. If you have lived in an area long enough to spot an overpriced house, you might not be as keen on getting the help of an agent. But if you are | more...

May 15, 2024

Buying A Home? Ask The Seller These Questions

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for a home to buy with an FHA loan? It’s good to create a list of questions to ask the seller. Making the most informed decision you can on a specific house is important, and in addition to what you learn by asking about natural disasters in the area, property taxes, and the age of the roof, the way the seller responds to your question can be just as important as the answer you get. Asking Questions You should definitely do your own research on the local area to learn whether floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters are a problem. But don’t miss the chance to ask the seller, even if you already know the answers. Ask the seller, “Has the home itself experienced a disaster, | more...

Who can apply for FHA Reverse Mortgages?

October 9, 2017

Can I Get An FHA Mortgage For A Home In A Flood Zone?

By Joe Wallace

Can I get an FHA loan for a home in a flood zone? With Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and many other natural disasters, it’s logical that someone looking for a home anywhere near these disasters would wonder if their house hunt is going to be affected. FHA loan rules do address flood zones and FHA appraisal requirements for these areas; the answers can be found in HUD 4000.1. The FHA loan rules for this issue can be found under a section covering general property eligibility for an FHA mortgage. On page 143, we learn: “The Mortgagee must determine if a Property is located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).” “The Mortgagee must obtain flood zone determination services, independent of any | more...

September 18, 2017

Can I Add Energy-Efficient Upgrades To An FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan?

By Joe Wallace

Can I add energy-efficient upgrades to an FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan? FHA loan rules governing the FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage add-on to other loans such as an FHA One-Time Close new construction loan are found in HUD 4000.1. There we learn the following on page 400: “The Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program allows the Mortgagee to offer financing for cost-effective energy efficient improvements to an existing Property at the time of purchase or refinancing, or for upgrades above the established residential building code for New Construction.” We know from that reading of FHA loan rules that new construction loans (including One-Time Close mortgages) do qualify for FHA EEMs, which allow the borrower additional funds for an “energy package” defined as: “…the set of improvements agreed to by the Borrower | more...