Articles in Category: Closing Costs

FHA Home Loan Down Payment Sources: Retirement Funds and More

April 19, 2018

FHA Loan Down Payment Sources: Retirement Funds

We’ve been discussing FHA home loan down payment sources and the rules that govern them. FHA mortgage loan rules in HUD 4000.1 have strict requirements when it comes to the sourcing of down payments; since most FHA forward mortgages require a down payment, the rules in this area are very important to know ahead of your loan application. FHA Loan Down Payment Source Rules: Retirement Funds FHA loan rules permit the borrower to use retirement funds as a source of down payment money. According to HUD 4000.1: “The Mortgagee may include up to 60 percent of the value of assets, less any existing loans, from the Borrower’s retirement accounts, such as IRAs, thrift savings plans, 401(k) plan, and Keogh accounts, unless the Borrower provides conclusive evidence that a higher percentage | more...

Where can my FHA loan down payment come from?

April 19, 2018

Where Can My FHA Loan Down Payment Money Come From?

By Joe Wallace

Where can my FHA loan down payment money come from? It’s an important question to ask, and some borrowers might not understand the difference between closing costs that are not part of the down payment compared to what is allowed to be counted toward it. FHA Loan Down Payment Requirements For most forward FHA mortgages, the down payment requirement includes a minimum of 3.5% of the adjusted value of the home. Some FHA home loans such as refinance mortgages don’t require a down payment; FHA rehab loans for those in Federally declared disaster areas are not required by the FHA to make a down payment regardless of whether the rehab loan is a forward mortgage or a refi. Is My Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium Part Of My Down Payment? | more...

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...

March 16, 2018

How Much Is My FHA Home Loan Down Payment?

By Bruce Reichstein

How much is my FHA home loan down payment? That is a very important question to ask, since borrowers will need to save up for the down payment, or use approved sources for it. There is no specific dollar amount specified for your FHA home loan down payment, since the down payment is calculated using the adjusted value of the property following an FHA appraisal. Borrowers hoping for a specific dollar amount should estimate the amount of a possible down payment using a figure that is reasonably contained within the house hunter’s price range. This dollar amount will be an estimate only since the true value of the home for down payment purposes won’t be available until after the appraisal process is complete. FHA loan rules specify that for most | more...

March 13, 2018

No Down Payment FHA Loans?

By Bruce Reichstein

Are there no down payment FHA loans? Some borrowers feel the pinch when trying to save up for closing costs, inspections, and the required minimum investment FHA loan guidelines say are mandatory for all FHA loans. Why do some people mistakenly believe FHA home loans are available for no money down? Partially because they are mistaking FHA loans for the VA home loan program which does offer a zero down option. But that’s not the only reason. Some borrowers may have heard that others may have taken advantage of state or local down payment assistance programs, resulting in a reduced down payment expense for the borrower. These programs are not available via the FHA or HUD, and you will need to find any down payment assistance in your housing market. | more...

March 9, 2018

FHA Loan Down Payment Rules You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan down payment rules you should know include requirements for source funds, and what contributions by “interested parties” mean for a borrower’s minimum cash investment. FHA loan rules for down payments are found in HUD 4000.1, which has a lot to say about how much should be put down for a new purchase home loan transaction, and where that money can come from. FHA Loan Rules For Down Payments: FICO Score Requirements Did you know that your FICO score can affect how much down payment you are required to make on your mortgage loan? FHA loan rules specifically require a minimum credit score of 580 or higher to qualify for the lowest down payment of 3.5% (of the adjusted value of the home). 580 is the FHA minimum; your | more...

March 6, 2018

What Can I Add To My FHA Mortgage Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

What can I add to my FHA mortgage loan? There are several options for things you can add to the loan, but it’s important to remember that cash back to the borrower for new purchase home loans is not permitted except as a refund. But you are permitted to add funds to the mortgage loan to cover certain expenses you wish to finance into the home loan. What follows is information on FHA loan program rules only. Your chosen participating FHA lender may have additional requirements above and beyond what is mentioned here. FHA Loan Funds For Energy Efficient Mortgages If you are buying or refinancing a home loan with an FHA mortgage, you have the option to apply for additional loan funds that will be used for approved energy-efficient | more...

February 27, 2018

FHA Home Loan Down Payment Rules You Should Know

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loan down payment rules you should know include the minimum amount down, acceptable sources of down payment funds, and how other closing costs and associated expenses related to your down payment requirements. Do you know how your chosen FHA lender will calculate your down payment? Knowing before you apply can help plan and save for this and other required closing costs. FHA Loan Down Payments: A Minimum Required Investment FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 refer to the down payment as a minimum required investment (also referred to as an MRI for short), not to be confused with the borrower’s Total Required Investment, described in HUD 4000.1 as: “Total Required Investment refers to the amount the Borrower must contribute to the transaction including the Borrower’s downpayment and the | more...

February 26, 2018

How Much Will My FHA Home Loan Be?

By Joe Wallace

How much will my FHA home loan be? That is a question many borrowers want to know, and the answer can be more complicated than just taking the sale price of the home and doing the math. FHA home loan maximum amounts are determined by factors including the maximum FHA loan guaranty for the housing market you are buying the home in, your credit history, the amount of your down payment, and more. The final amount of your FHA mortgage loan is affected by your down payment, the FHA loan limit in your area, and other factors. FHA Home Loan Limits FHA home loan limits are not the same in all housing markets. Some parts of the country are considered low-cost areas and have a lower FHA loan guaranty limit | more...

Who May Contribute To My FHA Home Loan? Interested Party Contributions

January 22, 2018

FHA Loans And Cash Back At Closing

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA loans and cash back at closing-many borrowers want to know if they can take cash out on an FHA mortgage loan and the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. FHA home loan rules allow cash back as a routine part of the transaction for FHA Cash-Out Refinancing and for FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) also known as FHA Reverse Mortgages. In general terms, the borrower is not permitted cash back on “forward mortgages” used to buy property rather than refinance it. A borrower is permitted to have an escrow account for certain mortgage loans that allow payouts to contractors or for the purchase of materials, supplies, and other required items for renovation, upgrades, or construction. But that isn’t the same thing as cash back to the | more...