Articles Tagged With: FHA Home Loans

August 8, 2017

How Soon Can I Sell My Home? FHA Loan Rules Part Two

How soon can I sell my home? In our previous blog post on this subject, we examined the FHA loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, and what it has to say about how quickly you can sell a property purchased with an FHA mortgage once the loan has closed. In general, FHA loan rules don’t have much to say about what the owner of record does with the property (with regard to selling it) once it has been purchased and occupied as per FHA loan requirements. The spirit of the FHA loan rules seems to be that the owner should be free to sell without restriction. But FHA loan rules do have something to say about buying a home shortly after it has been purchased from another. There are restrictions on “flipping”, | more...

August 2, 2017

Where Can I Apply For An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Where can I apply for an FHA loan? Borrowers who are at the start of their home loan journey might not realize that not all home loans are created equally, that not all types of mortgages are offered by lenders, or what it means to get pre-qualified for a mortgage. What you should know to start is that FHA mortgages are not the same as conventional home loans. That is why not all lenders offer FHA mortgages. The FHA home loan program has requirements which must be met in order to be an approved FHA lender. When you find a participating lender offering FHA mortgages, you should know that these lenders have taken steps to meet FHA requirements, standards, and have received plenty of guidance on what is acceptable under | more...

July 25, 2017

What Can I Improve With An FHA 203(k) Mortgage?

By Bruce Reichstein

An FHA 203(k) mortgage is basically a rehab loan, which can be used as a new purchase loan or a refinance loan for the purpose of repairing/rehabbing an eligible property. The FHA single family home loan handbook, HUD 4000.1, has a list of requirements and guidelines for FHA 203(k) loans, which includes a set of allowable improvements as well as a list of things FHA loan money cannot be used for. Let’s examine what is permitted with an FHA 203(k) loan first. Borrowers who are approved for an FHA rehab loan may use the loan for any of the following projects acceptable to the lender: – costs of construction, repairs and rehabilitation; – architectural/engineering professional fees; – the 203(k) Consultant fee subject to the limits in the 203(k) Consultant Fee | more...

July 17, 2017

What Is An FHA Construction Loan?

By Joe Wallace

The FHA single family loan handbook tells us that FHA home loans are for a variety of different types of purchases including existing construction, “new construction” which means a home recently built but never occupied by an owner, and “proposed construction” loans which allows the buyer to apply for a loan to fund both the construction phase and the “permanent” phase of the mortgage. How do FHA construction loans differ from new purchase loans? Aside from the obvious (new purchase loans for existing construction move faster than construction loans do thanks to the lack of a construction phase for the existing construction loan) there are some important considerations to think about when contemplating your construction loan options. Is An FHA Construction Loan Right For Me? If you need to get into | more...

July 17, 2017

Is There An FHA Construction Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Is there an FHA construction loan? Let’s look at what the FHA single family home loan handbook (HUD 4000.1) says about these transactions: “FHA offers various mortgage insurance programs which insure approved Mortgagees against losses on Mortgages. FHA-insured Mortgages may be used to purchase housing, improve housing, or refinance existing Mortgages. Purchase/Construction to Permanent The Borrower may finance the purchase of an existing one- to four-unit residence, and may also finance construction of a one- to four-unit residence through a Construction to Permanent Mortgage. Properties to be acquired through an unrecorded land contract must be treated as a purchase.” That information is found on page 130 of HUD 4000.1. But some borrowers may be confused by this, having approached a lender only to be told “we don’t do FHA construction | more...

July 14, 2017

What Is An FHA Loan And How Does It Work?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA loan and how does it work? There are many differences between conventional and FHA mortgages, and those differences could mean significant savings depending on your home buying needs and goals. What An FHA Loan Is Not An FHA loan is a mortgage loan, first and foremost. It is intended to buy or refinance a property. An FHA “forward mortgage” or new home loan not intended to act as a personal loan, with cash back to the borrower at closing time. FHA loan rules don’t permit the borrower to apply for a loan greater than the adjusted value of the property plus additional costs that may be rolled into the loan. While your FHA mortgage may be greater than the total adjusted value of the property, you | more...

July 12, 2017

What Is An FHA Loan Down Payment?

By Bruce Reichstein

What is an FHA loan down payment? Simply put, your down payment on a home loan is an investment paid up-front which is separate from other loan expenses. The original idea behind making a down payment likely had something to do with the idea that a borrower who has invested a serious portion of cash up front on the home purchase has a greater interest in paying their mortgage, not defaulting on the loan, and being a successful home owner. FHA loan rules which govern the down payment are found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook, and have plenty to say about the amount and sourcing of an FHA mortgage loan down payment. What Is An FHA Loan Down Payment? The FHA loan handbook describes the down payment, also | more...

Which Credit Score Will My Lender Use For My Home Loan?

July 11, 2017

When Is An FHA Loan Better Than A Conventional Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

When is an FHA loan better than a conventional loan? Many potential FHA borrowers ask this question. Do you know how FHA loans stack up against their conventional loan counterparts? Purchase And Refinance The FHA Single Family Loan program features loans for both new purchases and refinancing. If you are considering a refinance loan in your home buying strategy, an FHA mortgage may be the right move for you. If you buy FHA and refinance FHA, you can take advantage of the FHA-to-FHA only Streamline Refinance loan to get into a lower mortgage payment and/or interest rates. We’ll cover the refinancing aspect of FHA mortgage loans more closely in another blog post. FHA Loan Interest Rates FHA home loans feature interest rates that are often competitive with their conventional loan | more...

July 6, 2017

Who Should Get An FHA Loan?

By Bruce Reichstein

Who should get an FHA loan? There are a variety of options with FHA mortgages, and depending on your financial goals and needs, you may find an FHA mortgage is the right choice for you, especially if you are interested in lower interest rates, and a more competitive down payment requirement. FHA Loans Are For Those Who Need A Lower Down Payment You should get an FHA mortgage loan if the idea of paying as much as 10% down doesn’t work for you. FHA mortgage loans require a minimum 3.5% down payment, which is based on the adjusted value of the property you are purchasing. It is important to know that your credit history will play an important part in determining your down payment in some cases; borrowers who have | more...

July 5, 2017

Who Are FHA Loans Good For? Part Two

By Joe Wallace

Who are FHA loans good for? We’re examining this issue to help clear up some myths and misconceptions about the FHA loan program including the notion that FHA loans are only intended for first-time home buyers (FHA loans are available to all financially qualified borrowers) and the idea that FHA mortgages have an income limit that prevents those with greater incomes from applying (not true). Who Are FHA Loans Good For? FHA loans are good for both first time buyers and those who have returned to house-hunting after owning property. For second-time house hunters (and beyond) the most important thing to remember is that FHA loans have an occupancy requirement and you can only purchase a primary residence with an FHA loan. No timeshares, vacation homes, or other “occasional occupancy” | more...