Articles in Category: Condominium Mortgage

FHA Home Loan Income Limits Do Not Exist

March 18, 2019

What You Need To Know About FHA Condo Loans

Buying a condo with an FHA mortgage loan is an option many borrowers might be interested in but sometimes assumptions about the FHA home loan program might cloud the issue. Here are some things you should know about FHA mortgages for condo purchases. FHA Condo Loans For First-Time Home Buyers FHA condo loans are open to first-time buyers and experienced home owners alike. You will be approved for the FHA condo loan based on your financial qualifications rather than whether or not you have owned property before. FHA Condo Loans Have Certain Advantages The down payment requirements for FHA home loans do not change based on the type of property you purchase, so you are still required to financially qualify but your down payment requirement does not get adjusted because | more...

January 29, 2019

Should I Buy A Condo With An FHA Home Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Should a first-time home buyer consider purchasing a condo unit? Depending on your wants and needs, the answer may vary. Condos are unique compared to suburban homes because they are a communal property with shared responsibilities (which may be mostly financial) for upkeep of the common areas, the roof, balconies, etc. You may have special features on the property such as a gym, sauna, whirlpool, etc. depending on the property. FHA Condo loans require the condo project to be on or added to the FHA approved list-that’s unlike other types of property which must simply pass the FHA appraisal process. Condos will be appraised, too, but they must first be on the FHA roster. You can work with your FHA loan officer to add a condo project to that list | 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...

Rates for home loans were mixed, but stayed near recent lows, even as bond market moves suggest another big step down lies ahead.

July 31, 2018

Understanding Your FHA Home Loan Options

By Bruce Reichstein

Understanding your FHA home loan options means knowing the different choices available to you for a mortgage. Did you know that FHA home loans are available for mobile homes, condos, and manufactured housing? FHA Home Loan Options: What Kind Of Home Do You Need? Some mistakenly assume that FHA mortgages and refinance loans are need-based and restricted to a certain income range. This is not true; anyone who financially qualifies with FICO scores, good loan repayment history, and other factors is eligible to buy using an FHA mortgage. The kind of homes you can buy with an FHA mortgage include condo units (in FHA-approved condo projects), mobile homes, modular and manufactured homes, multi-unit properties (up to four units), and you also have the option of having a home built for | more...

March 23, 2018

FHA Home Loans For Houses, Condos, And Townhouses Part Two

By Bruce Reichstein

In our last blog post we began examining FHA loan rules and how they differ whether you are buying a suburban house, a condo unit or townhouse, etc. When you buy a typical suburban home, the credit check/appraisal/downpayment issues are the same as for condo units and townhouses. But when you buy a home such as a condo or townhouse, you’re required to pay more attention to common areas and agree to your share of the maintenance/upkeep of the property in general. FHA loan rules recognize these issues and addresses some (not all) of them in the FHA loan handbook to avoid confusion about what the borrower is required to do and cases where FHA loans are not allowed because of restrictions on the borrower’s ability to sell the home. | more...

The Difference Between FHA Loan Credit Score Requirements And Your Lender's FICO Score Rules

March 19, 2018

What You Need To Know About Identity Of Interest Transactions

By Joe Wallace

What do you need to know about FHA loan down payment rules and identity of interest transactions? We’ve been covering this topic more recently due to some reader questions about how it all works; we’ve noticed some confusion about the rules in this area and who those rules apply to. FHA identity of interest transaction rules are specifically for borrowers who have a family or business relationship with the seller. In such cases, the general rule is that a 15% down payment is required. The confusion comes in over who this applies to. FHA Loan Rules For Down Payments When The Seller Is A Family Member Or Business Associate Because identity of interest transactions require a higher down payment, naturally borrowers want to know if there are exceptions and how | more...

January 25, 2018

FHA Loan Options For Buying A Home

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan options for buying a home include choices on the housing type you need, the type of home loan you need, and sometimes even the circumstances of the purchase, in the case of people who are buying homes in federally declared disaster areas. Do you know what your new purchase FHA home loan options are? FHA Loans Available For Many Types Of Homes FHA home loans can be used to purchase property that will be owner-occupied residences, but the home can have as many as four living units. That means the borrower has the option to rent out unused living units if she chooses. Owner occupancy is a condition of loan approval, so you can’t use an FHA loan to purchase an investment property (one you intend to rent | more...

January 3, 2018

Can I Buy A Condo Unit With An FHA Home Loan?

By Joe Wallace

Can I buy a condo unit with an FHA home loan? It’s a common question, and the short answer is yes. But the FHA condo loan rules are a bit different than the rules for purchasing other types of property, so you should know what those differences are before exploring your options. FHA Condo Definition The FHA handbook, HUD 4000.1, has a specific definition of a “condo” that applies to all FHA condo loan transactions for single family home loans. According to page 150, “A Condominium Unit is a Property contained in a multi-unit project that has individually-owned Dwelling units, which may be either attached in one or more Structures or detached from each other, and is primarily residential in use”. FHA Condo Loans For Approved Condo Projects All condo | more...

Refinancing a Second Home With An FHA Mortgage Loan

September 7, 2017

Can I Buy A Condo Unit With An FHA Mortgage?

By Bruce Reichstein

Can I buy a condo unit with an FHA mortgage? Some people have a misconception about FHA mortgages, thinking they are intended for a certain income bracket, a certain type of home, or that it is possible to earn “too much income” to qualify for an FHA loan. None of those things are true. You cannot earn too much money to qualify, and you can explore options to buy a variety of property types up to and including condominium units. Yes, FHA condo loans are possible, but they have some unique requirements (see the section on the FHA “condo project approval” list) and certain property types may be listed as condos even if they are “detached dwellings”. The requirements for these units, sometimes known as “site condos” vary slightly from | more...

April 7, 2017

FHA Loan Rules: Borrowers, Co-Borrowers, Co-Signers

By Joe Wallace

Do you know what the FHA loan rules are for borrowers, co-borrowers, and/or co-signers? What are the requirements for each and how is your lender required to proceed with each? The FHA home loan rule book for single family mortgages, reverse mortgages, and refinance loans is HUD 4000.1 It instructs the lender that borrowers have an occupancy requirement-the borrower must agree to take ownership of the home and use it as her or his primary residence after loan closing. Usually the borrower will have to move in within 60 days of closing. HUD 4000.1 also tells the lender that borrowers may only purchase homes with FHA loans withing the United States or its’ territories. Purchase of non-U.S. real estate is not permitted with an FHA mortgage. All parties to be | more...