Articles by: Bruce Reichstein

November 13, 2018

FHA Home Loans For 2019

What are your FHA home loan options in 2019? Those looking to start house hunting in the new year should know about FHA loan guaranty limits and how those limits can change from year to year. This is a very important detail of the home loan process you should know before starting the search for your dream home. FHA loans have limits that are set periodically and can change from year to year. For many years, the basic limit did not change, and in high or low-cost areas the limits are naturally different but the amount of those respectively higher or lower limits don’t always change. However, in 2018 FHA loan limits did change, and borrowers found they had increased limits according to FHA Mortgagee Letter 2017-16. The national limit | more...

November 7, 2018

What Is An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA loan? What are they used for? These are fairly basic questions, but there is a surprising amount of confusion about certain aspects of the FHA mortgage loan program. Know these facts about FHA home loans to make the decision about buying or refinancing a home loan with an FHA mortgage. FHA Single Family Home Loans Are For House Hunters FHA loans are intended for those who wish to purchase a home using a government-backed loan that requires a lower down payment than many conventional loans. These loans cannot be applied for to be used as personal loans, though FHA cash-out refinancing is an option for borrowers who have equity built up in the home over time. FHA loans are intended for owner/occupiers, and there is an | more...

November 5, 2018

How Do I Know If I Qualify For An FHA Mortgage?

By Bruce Reichstein

How do you know if you qualify for an FHA mortgage? There are several minimum requirements you should know, but keep in mind that we are not discussing an individual lender’s standards (which will vary depending on the lender) but the FHA Single Family Home Loan program’s basic rules. When you talk terms with a participating FHA lender, you can discuss what additional requirements may apply with that financial institution. The Basics FHA home loans are for financially qualified borrowers regardless of their status as first time buyers or experienced home owners. There is no minimum or maximum income dollar amount specified for FHA home loan approval. Borrowers may be eligible even if they have a bankruptcy or foreclosure in their history as long as good credit has been re-established | 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...

HUD Announces Settlement In New Jersey Housing Discrimination Case

October 31, 2018

HUD Announces Charges In New Jersey Housing Discrimination Case

By Bruce Reichstein

There are many types of housing discrimination, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development actively pursues complaints of Fair Housing Act violations. The most recent was announced on the HUD official site in a press release titled, “HUD Charges New Jersey Condo Association with Discriminating Against Resident with Disabilities”. According to the press release, HUD’s allegations include charges that the the condo association “only allowed the resident, who is sight and hearing impaired, to use the service door instead of the main entrance to the development or the common areas when accompanied by her assistance animal.” The press release says there are other allegations, one being that the condominium association charged the resident’s daughter a fee “because she walked her mother’s assistance animal in the development’s common areas”. It | more...

October 29, 2018

Five Uses For FHA Refinance Loans

By Bruce Reichstein

Need to know your FHA refinance loan options? There are many good uses for an FHA refi loan including using cash-out refinance options to reduce existing debt or make a large future purchase to help with school, a job, etc. #5: FHA Refinance Loans Can Be Used To Get A Lower Interest Rate FHA interest rates are negotiated between borrower and lender. The rate you are offered with an FHA mortgage may be lower than conventional rates, so if you currently pay on a conventional mortgage it is a very good idea to ask a participating FHA lender how you may be able to get a better rate. Home loan interest rates offered to you are dependent in part on your credit, but don’t assume just because you have had | more...

October 26, 2018

FHA Home Loans: Should I Buy A House Or A Condo?

By Bruce Reichstein

One of the big choices facing some FHA home loan applicants is whether to concentrate on buying a suburban-type home or a condo unit. FHA home loans for condo unit purchases are definitely available from participating lenders willing to offer them; what are the differences between an FHA home loan for a condo or other types of properties? FHA Condo Loan Rules: The FHA Approved Condo Projects List FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 require all condo units secured by an FHA mortgage to be on or added to an FHA approved condo project list. Your lender can help work with you on a condo project to get it added to the list, assuming the project meets FHA loan requirements. If you want to search for an already-approved condo project | more...

October 25, 2018

FHA Reverse Mortgage Policy Changes Explained

By Bruce Reichstein

In a recent blog post we discussed recent changes to FHA Reverse Mortgage loan policies. Here are some explanations of some of those policy changes and how they affect mortgage loan processing for FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, also known as reverse mortgages. Evidence of Current Hazard Insurance FHA reverse mortgages require the lender to verify the existence of hazard insurance where required and to make sure that insurance is current, not delinquent. According to the 2018 HECM policy updates, participating FHA lenders who issue reverse mortgages are now allowed to accept alternative documentation of hazard insurance: “In lieu of a current hazard insurance declaration page, HUD will accept a document from the hazard insurance provider (i.e., hazard insurance company underwriting the property and responsible for paying a claim) on | more...

October 24, 2018

Advantages Of An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

Do you know the advantages of an FHA cash-out refinance loan? There are several, especially if you are considering an FHA loan to get money to renovate your existing home. FHA Cash-Out Refinancing Loans: Good For FHA and Non-FHA Mortgages FHA cash-out loans are for all mortgages, FHA or not. You can refinance a USDA, VA, conventional, existing FHA loan, etc. The rules to qualify are the same no matter what kind of home loan you wish to refinance, and the longer you have been making mortgage payments, the better. FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan Funds Are Not Restricted The uses you put your cash-out refinance money towards is not restricted; you can use your cash out funds any way you see fit. That includes debt consolidation, vacations, and home repair. FHA | more...

October 23, 2018

Getting A New FHA Loan After Selling Your Home

By Bruce Reichstein

A lot of the advice you read about home loans in general, and FHA mortgages in particular, is aimed at the first-time home buyer. But what happens after that first-time buyer becomes a home owner, eventually sells the property, and wants to purchase another home with an FHA loan? Buying another home after selling your old one will seem very familiar in many ways, but when you purchase again after selling (or choose to sell and purchase at the same time) you will need some extra supporting documentation. Your FHA lender is requires to verify your income and debts the same way as with the original mortgage. But having purchased a home, and paid it off via the sale of the property (or even simply paying off the old mortgage | more...