Articles in Category: Closing Costs

August 21, 2020

FHA Loan Down Payment Rules

One of the biggest worries for some borrowers interested in buying or building a home? The down payment. At the time of this writing, there are only two zero-down payment mortgages offered nationally by participating lenders offering government-backed mortgages; the VA mortgage and certain USDA single-family home loans. USDA home loans are need-based mortgages with income caps and purchase price limits; VA mortgages are only for those with qualifying military service and certain surviving spouses of those who have died as a result of military service. For FHA mortgages, there is no need-based requirement and you do not have to be a veteran OR a first-time home buyer to apply for an FHA mortgage. FHA loans are offered to all who financially qualify with no income limits. FHA down payment | more...

August 8, 2020

Buying Land With An FHA Loan

By Bruce Reichstein

There are several reasons why a house hunter looking for a home to purchase with a VA mortgage might want to buy a piece of land. In times when the housing market is favorably inclined towards new construction loans, some buyers might want a government insured loan for a proposed construction or new construction purchase; others might want to buy a piece of land for a manufactured home or mobile home.

July 30, 2020

First-Time Home Buyer? FHA Loan Basics You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

2020 has brought incredible low mortgage rates, surging refinance loan applications, and sustained buying and selling homes; all this in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Historically low mortgage loan interest rates mean greater interest in loans and the savings current rates could provide. If you are just getting started on the road to homeownership, there are some FHA home loan basics to know as you research your mortgage options. Different Homes, Different Loans One myth of the home loan market is that there is a generic loan for any type of property you want to buy. That’s not true–there are different loans for different purposes. For example, if you want a low-down-payment loan to help you build a house on your own land, the FHA One-Time Close construction loan | more...

June 12, 2020

Conventional Loan Interest Rates Make History, FHA Loan Rates Still Incredibly Low

By Joe Wallace

Low mortgage rates have stolen the headlines on some finance blogs; as a result, 2020 has seen high volumes of refinance loan applications. The low rates also has many renters potentially finding themselves in a more affordable position to become homeowners. But another development has taken things in an even more historic direction; in June 2020 conventional loan rates made big headlines by plunging below the three percent threshold. The sub-three percent range has been familiar territory for FHA mortgage loans and VA mortgages. The same day conventional rates fell below three percent, the best-execution FHA mortgage loan interest rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was reported at 2.50%. The rates offered to any borrower will depend on the type of loan, the loan term, and other variables. Borrowers | more...

Credit Monitoring For First-Time Home Buyers

May 27, 2020

Budgeting And Saving For Your First FHA Mortgage

By Bruce Reichstein

When you decide to commit to buying a home or building one from the ground up using a one-time close construction loan, there are expenses you will need to save up for. If you haven’t started making a checklist of items you will need to pay for up front or choose to include in the loan amount, it’s a good idea to start making one as early as possible. Saving for your loan means identifying the expenses you will pay such as closing costs, appraisal fees, the home inspection fee, the FHA Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium, and of course the down payment. The down payment, which is a minimum of 3.5% of the adjusted value of the home, is one of the biggest expenses. That is one reason why it’s | more...

May 13, 2020

FHA Home Loan Down Payments: Do You Need Help?

By Joe Wallace

If you want to apply for an FHA condo loan, an FHA mobile home loan, or even an FHA construction loan, you will need to anticipate the down payment requirements for these mortgages. At the very minimum, all FHA borrowers must put 3.5% down, with a higher down payment required for those with lower FICO scores. One of the first questions many readers will be asking at this point is likely, “What FICO scores require the higher down payment?” That question is one reason why you’re reading this article right now; there are issues that can affect your down payment requirements. It’s not safe to assume that you can simply pay what the FHA loan program rules require–lender standards, state law, and other variables can come into play. One variable | more...

April 28, 2020

HUD Updates Coronavirus Home Loan Guidelines For Loan Closing

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA and HUD have issued guidelines for mortgage loan closing procedures that may be affected by coronavirus lockdown measures, quarantine, and other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many home buyers were caught by surprise by coronavirus issues and there are many home loans that are affected. The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued initial policies in March, 2020, but updated them in mid-April to include provisions in several areas designed to help facilitate FHA home loans during the outbreak. FHA Loan Rules On Title insurance The FHA and HUD issued guidance on loan servicing issues designed to address situations in counties where recording offices are not operational during the national emergency. The FHA/HUD official site answers the following question related to such scenarios: “Will FHA accept title | more...

How Much Is Your Monthly FHA Mortgage Payment?

April 23, 2020

FHA Loan Down Payments: What You Need To Know Today

By Bruce Reichstein

When the time is right to explore your FHA home loan options, there are some things you need to know about down payments that can help you better prepare for the loan process. FHA home loans have strict rules about the source of your down payment funds and you will be required to document those sources no matter where your down payment money is sourced from. Here are the basic rules for FHA down payments: A down payment is required 100% of the time for new purchase FHA loans; Your down payment amount may be affected by your credit scores; You will be required to pay a minimum of 3.5% if your credit score meets FHA and lender standards; all others will be required to pay a minimum 10% down. | more...

FHA Loan Limits For High-Cost and Low-Cost Areas

February 13, 2020

Get A Better Home Loan Deal By Asking One Question

By Joe Wallace

Some people are born negotiators, and they don’t mind telling the rest of the world about it. But more people seem to feel uncomfortable with the idea even when it’s in their best interest to do so. Are you trying to buy a home? If so, you’ve already committed to spending a lot of money to make this important investment. Why pay MORE if you don’t have to? Negotiating the details of your home loan can save you money and get you a better deal. Does it have to be uncomfortable and awkward? No. Actually, you can negotiate quite successfully by asking one simple question, but that question needs a bit of homework to ask properly. What’s the secret to negotiating a loan? What is that one question? before we | more...

February 5, 2020

What Affects The Cost Of Your Home Loan

By Joe Wallace

Shopping around, haggling over terms, and negotiating your home loan are not unusual practices, but some are not comfortable with trying them. Want an advantage in the home loan process? Learn how to do some low-key bargaining as it can save you money and time over the long haul with your home loan. Negotiating with the seller, for example, could get you extra money (provided by the seller) toward closing costs; up to six percent of the sale price of the home! But haggling isn’t the only factor that can affect the cost of your home loan. The Wuhan virus, discussed in the news as a coronavirus or a “coronavirus outbreak”, affected mortgage loan interest rates and sent them to the lowest levels we’ve seen in some time. The virus, | more...