Articles Published in: March 2019

March 6, 2019

What You Need To Know About Home Loan Appraisals As A First-Time Home Buyer

What do first-time home buyers need to know about real estate appraisals when it’s time to make an offer on a home? Your real estate agent and lender know the power of the appraisal-do you? FHA Home Loans Require An Appraisal For Most Transactions There is only one kind of FHA mortgage loan that has no FHA-required appraisal, called the FHA Streamline Refinance loan. All others will need an appraisal to determine the fair market value of the home. The Appraisal Is A Tool For The Lender Borrowers should not use the appraisal to determine whether the home has defects or hidden problems. No matter what you may be told by others, the appraisal process is not intended to help the borrower decide whether or not the home is ok | more...

March 5, 2019

What You Should Know About FHA Loan Rules And Down Payment Gifts

By Bruce Reichstein

One of the appealing aspects of an FHA mortgage, especially for first-time borrowers who may have tight budgets, is the low 3.5% down payment. Some real estate studies show that the age group commonly known as Millennials paid roughly 8% down in the previous year. But does a typical FHA borrower, even a first-time home buyer who may not have a long credit history, have to pay that much down for a home? No. 3.5% is available for all financially qualified FHA borrowers. But even this down payment could be a financial burden depending on circumstances, which is why FHA loan rules allow for gifts of down payment funds from employers, relatives, or friends. You can also find a down payment assistance program in your local area to help, if | more...

March 4, 2019

FHA Home Loan Approval By The Numbers

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you know what it takes to get a home loan approved? When you apply for an FHA mortgage loan or an FHA refinance loan, you should know about the following numbers and how they work together to get you into your first home or an upgrade to a newer property as a repeat home buyer. FHA Home Loan Approval Numbers: One One is the number of people obligated on the loan who are required to live in the real estate secured by the FHA mortgage as their full-time residence. At least one borrower obligated on the mortgage must live in the home as their primary home. FHA Mortgage Loan Approval Numbers: Two Two is the number of years of employment the lender is required to verify for all potential | more...

March 1, 2019

FHA Home Loan Facts For First-Time Borrowers

By Bruce Reichstein

First-time home buyers should know about several things going into the home loan process, including their options when it’s time to refinance or consider a new home loan. Are you fully informed about your home loan options with an FHA mortgage? FHA Home Loans For First-Time Buyers Allow Non-Occupying Co-Borrowers A non-occupying co-borrower is someone obligated on the mortgage but who does not intend to live in the property full time. A co-borrower can help you to qualify for the mortgage by paying part of the closing costs and the down payment, but all borrowers applying for the mortgage loan must financially qualify. That means that the credit liabilities of the borrower with the weakest credit cannot be offset by the strengths of the co-borrower. Everyone will be considered on | more...