Articles in Category: Energy Efficient Mortgage

May 2, 2022

The FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage Program

In April 2022, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced support for a Washington D.C. program called “Solar For All”, a program HUD says will help, “ensure that residents of HUD-assisted properties in the District are able to access the program without experiencing an increase in their housing costs.” According to a press release on the HUD official site, the “Solar for All” project is intended to bring solar energy to 100 thousand low-to-moderate-income families in the D.C. area. This announcement is part of a Biden administration push to “address climate concerns, and create benefits for residents of HUD-assisted households through equitable deployment of community solar” according to HUD. But did you know that you don’t have to live in Washington D.C. to consider a solar upgrade with an | more...

Buy or Build a House On Your Own Lot in 2020

January 14, 2021

What Are FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages?

By Joe Wallace

What is an FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)? Whether you want to buy existing construction or choose to build a house on your own lot using an FHA One-Time Close mortgage, the FHA EEM can add funds to your loan. You read that correctly–these funds are added only after the loan amount has been calculated–this is an add-on to your loan and not a higher loan amount to qualify for (see below) Are you a first-time home buyer? Don’t mistake an Energy-Efficient Mortgage as a type of home loan option like an FHA Construction Mortgage or FHA Rehabilitation Mortgage. As mentioned above, an EEM is quite different. Why EEM Funds Are Added After Your Loan Amount Is Calculated The Energy Efficient Mortgage is an add-for purchase loans including FHA Rehab | more...

December 31, 2019

Apply For An FHA Loan In 2016

By Joe Wallace

If you are considering any type of home loan in 2016, be sure to explore your options with FHA mortgages, refinancing, or reverse mortgages. FHA loans offer a variety of advantages over conventional mortgages including lower interest rates (based on your financial qualifications), built-in protections for the buyer, and more. FHA New Purchase Loans There are many options with an FHA mortgage for single-family homes. New purchase loans include the option to add extra funds to the loan for energy-efficient upgrades or improvements. You can also consider purchasing a fixer-upper using an FHA rehab loan where funds are made available to repair/upgrade the property to FHA minimum standards. The loans mentioned above are intended for owner-occupied residences and would be not be available for investment properties. An FHA new purchase | more...

June 11, 2019

FHA Home Loans: Solar And Wind Technology

By Bruce Reichstein

Did you know that you can ask for an add-on to your FHA home loan or refinance loan to get funds for solar or wind-powered energy efficient upgrades to the home? Whether you want to add such features to your home at purchase time or refinance time is up to you but it is possible to apply for extra funds to install wind or solar power features. Some reading at this stage might assume we are talking about the FHA Energy-Efficient Mortgage add-on, but this is actually a different program. Under a section in the FHA loan rulebook, HUD 4000.1, labeled “Solar And Wind Technologies” we find the following information: “The solar and wind technologies policy allows the Mortgagee to increase the Base Loan Amount to cover the cost and | more...

March 27, 2019

FHA Home Loans For Millennials

By Joe Wallace

How young is too young to buy a home? Millennials are taking over as the largest group of home buyers in the United States, but some wonder whether they are able to qualify. What does it take to qualify for an FHA mortgage? Are There Age Restrictions On FHA Home Loans? FHA loans do require all borrowers to be of sufficient legal age to sign legally binding contracts. But aside from that, there are no real age limits for FHA mortgages with one exception. The FHA Reverse Mortgage, which lets qualified borrowers convert the equity in a home they own outright into cash, is limited to borrowers aged 62 or older. But for forward FHA mortgages to purchase a home, as long as the borrower is otherwise qualified and of | more...

December 15, 2017

FHA Loan Options For 2018

By Bruce Reichstein

Exploring your FHA loan options for 2018? Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced house hunter, FHA loans have something to offer. You don’t have to be in the market for a new home, either-there are refinance loan options to help you get into a fixed rate FHA mortgage. New Purchase FHA Home Loans For First Time Borrowers While there is no FHA-sponsored special deal for first time home buyers or first time borrowers, FHA loans offer excellent options including a lower required minimum down payment-only 3.5% of the adjusted value of the home down as the minimum. FHA loans can offer more competitive interest rates depending on the lender, the borrower’s financial qualifications, and other factors. You will need to work with your lender to negotiate | 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...

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 within 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...

Can I get an FHA home loan if I owe back taxes?

January 31, 2017

Eligibility Rules For FHA Loans

By Joe Wallace

Eligibility rules for FHA loans are found in HUD 4000.1, which addresses who is permitted to apply for an FHA single-family home loans. Who can apply for an FHA loan and what do the rules say about these applicants? The most basic eligibility rules for FHA loans include the requirement that the borrower be an owner-occupier of the property to be purchased. FHA loan rules do not permit FHA single family home loans to be used for investment properties, so the borrower who wishes to buy a multi-unit property and rent out all of those units to other people would not be approved for the mortgage. The same is true of those who wish to purchase time shares, condo hotels, or other “transient occupancy” or short-duration occupancy properties. That said, | more...

January 3, 2017

FHA Mortgages: Loan Basics For 2017

By Joe Wallace

For those who are weighing their real estate options in 2017, an FHA home loan can be an important option. Compare the down payment and interest rates on FHA mortgages with their conventional counterparts and it’s easy to see why many borrowers opt for an FHA mortgage. FHA loans, like most mortgage loan programs (with the exception of VA home loans, which are in general available only to qualifying military members), require a down payment which is usually 3.5% of the adjusted value of the property. Your down payment is required above and beyond other closing costs, mortgage insurance, etc. and must come from approved sources such as savings/checking accounts, the proceeds from cashed-in investments, cash saved at home, etc. Your down payment cannot come from payday loans, credit card | more...