Articles by: Joe Wallace

September 20, 2018

Joe Wallace has been specializing in military and personal finance topics since 1995. His work has appeared on Air Force Television News, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and a variety of print and online publications. He is a 13-year Air Force veteran and a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association. He was Managing editor for www.valoans.com for (8) years and is currently the Associate Editor for FHANewsblog.com.

Connect with Joe:

September 20, 2018

FHA Home Loans For Self-Employed People

By Joe Wallace

What does it take for a self-employed borrower to be approved for an FHA mortgage loan? The same basic rules apply, FHA mortgage loans require a minimum 500 or higher FICO score to be eligible (lender standards will be higher) and FICO scores of 580 or higher for maximum financing and the lowest down payment. But self-employed borrowers do have some additional issues to think about when coming to the FHA home loan process. How long you have been self-employed in an important factor, how the business has fared since you started it, and what the future of your income might be. FHA Loan Rules For Self-Employment Income Verification The rules that instruct the participating FHA lender are found in HUD 4000.1, and those rules include a requirement for the | more...

September 19, 2018

Sell Or Refinance With An FHA Loan?

By Joe Wallace

Which is the better option? Sell your home, or refinance your mortgage loan with an FHA refinance loan? Your financial needs and goals will determine part of the answer to this question, the nature of the housing market and how much you still owe on your mortgage loan will help inform the answer, too. FHA Refinance Loan Options For Those Considering Selling Their Property You can sell the home you’re currently in, or refinance it with an FHA cash-out refinance loan or an FHA rehab loan if you want to use FHA mortgage loan funds to repair or remodel the property. Why refinance instead of sell? Some borrowers think about selling because they want to move into a larger home. Refinancing isn’t an option for these people…or is it? The | more...

September 18, 2018

FHA Home Loan Rules For Sellers

By Joe Wallace

Much of our discussion here about FHA home loans is focused on the buyer; what the FHA borrower can and cannot do with an FHA mortgage or refinance loan, how occupancy rules may dictate whether a home loan is approved or not, etc. But there are some FHA mortgage loan rules that affect the seller, too. Not all the FHA loan guidelines concentrate on the lender or borrower. For example, the seller is allowed to contribute a certain amount of money toward the costs of the home loan, but those contributions cannot exceed FHA and lender limits. If the seller’s contribution DOES exceed the limit, the borrower’s loan must be reduced dollar-for-dollar for the full amount above the FHA limit. There is a list of things that can result in | more...

September 17, 2018

HUD Announces Settlement In Nevada Fair Housing Act Harassment Case

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a Fair Housing Act case in Reno, Nevada. According to the HUD official site, the settlement involves a “…Conciliation Agreement between Reno, Nevada-based CMS Property Services, LLC, and its property manager and a female tenant, resolving allegations that the manager sexually harassed the woman.” Some are not aware that Fair Housing Act regulations include a prohibition of sexual harassment, but federal law makes it illegal for a housing provider to sexually harass tenants. The HUD official site says this rule includes, “creating a severe or pervasive hostile housing environment, or conditioning housing or housing-related services on the tenant’s acquiescence to sexual demands. The Act also prohibits retaliating against persons who complain about housing discrimination.” Often the only line | more...

September 13, 2018

FHA Home Loans With Less Than Two Years Of Employment

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for a home but don’t have an extensive employment history? The general rule for home loan approval is that the lender wants to see two years of work history. Depending on the nature of the loan and other factors, the two-year rule may have certain additional requirements that apply, and the lender may not be required to personally verify previous employment if tax records or pay stubs can reflect a two year employment record. In general, conventional loans require two years of work or education related to income, VA mortgage loans have a similar two year requirement. USDA loans also require the borrower to prove two years of work history. What are the specific requirements for FHA mortgages? According to HUD 4000.1, “For all Employment related Income, | more...

September 11, 2018

FHA Home Loans For Manufactured Housing

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans are for a variety of different property types. Manufactured homes are one of the property types you can purchase with an FHA mortgage, but like most other home loans the home you want to buy must meet FHA standards. FHA Home Loans For Mobile Homes: Find A Participating Lender FHA mortgages for mobile homes and manufactured homes are not always available since some participating FHA lenders choose not to offer them. The nature of a given housing market, buying or selling trends, and the quality of the manufactured homes / mobile homes in the area may all contribute to a lender’s decision to offer or not offer a mobile home loan. You may need to shop around for a participating lender who can help. You can also | more...

September 7, 2018

FHA Home Loans, Appraisals, And Home Inspections

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans require an appraisal in order to insure the property meets minimum FHA requirements. The appraisal also helps the lender set the loan amount based on the adjusted value of the home. Some borrowers are tempted to skip the optional home inspection process and simply go with the FHA appraisal. This is a bad idea because doing so basically results in buying a home and making a large investment without knowing the true nature of the property’s condition. There are some questions you can ask yourself to help better understand why a home inspection is needed; learning the answers to these questions can definitely change your mind about the temptation to skip a home inspection. How Does The Buyer Know If There Is A Roof Problem? Can you | more...

September 5, 2018

Rent Or Buy? Arguments For Purchasing A Home With An FHA Mortgage

By Joe Wallace

Does it make more sense to rent a home or to purchase one and make a mortgage payment rather than a rent payment? A lot depends on the property values in your chosen housing market, the cost of renting in that area versus the cost of purchasing, and the borrower’s financial goals. Are you thinking of making the switch from being a renter to becoming a home owner? Some reports claim that rents have increased as much as 88% in certain markets over time, and some renters choose to put that money into a property they own rather than dealing with the issues of being a long-term renter. Is Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage Instead Of Renting A Good Idea? The first thing needed to answer this question | more...

August 31, 2018

FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan Options

By Joe Wallace

With home values on the rise in many housing markets, FHA borrowers are often tempted to consider applying for a cash-out refinance to take advantage of their new property values. A National Association of Realtors report says home values for existing construction increased from more than $190 thousand (2009) well over $275 thousand in 2018. That can translate into serious borrowing power for some home owners. But knowing your FHA cash-out refinance loan options is important; know the details before you apply for the loan! Who Qualifies For An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan? The legal title holder (presumably the original borrower or one of the original borrowers) who intends to remain or become an owner-occupier of the home may apply for FHA cash-out refinancing. HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, | more...

August 29, 2018

HUD Announces Updated Disaster Policy For Puerto Rico And Virgin Islands Home Owners

By Joe Wallace

In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated many U.S. territories; in the aftermath home owners in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands many people are still recovering from the disaster. In August 2018 the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has announced updates to FHA foreclosure prevention options to allow borrowers with delinquent FHA home loans “easier access to bring their mortgages current without increasing their interest rates or monthly payments” according to HUD.gov. The Federal Housing Administration is also offering a final 30-day extension of its foreclosure moratorium for FHA-insured homeowners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In February 2018, FHA introduced the Disaster Standalone Partial Claim option, intended to help borrowers in the affected disaster areas a way to catch up on pre-disaster mortgage payments without experiencing “payment | more...