Articles Tagged With: FHA Loan Limits

September 11, 2013

FHA Loan Rules Updated: Maximum Loan Amounts For Streamline Refinancing

The FHA and HUD have updated some of the rules used to calculate maximum mortgage loan amounts for FHA Streamline Refinancing loans. According to Mortgagee Letter 2013-29, there are new guidelines to lenders on how the maximum amount is calculated, and what can be included in the loan amount when calculating the mortgage amount. “Mortgagees are reminded that when processing an FHA-insured streamline refinance mortgage, the new maximum mortgage amount must always be calculated starting with the outstanding principal balance on the existing mortgage, not with the payoff amount for the existing mortgage.” Borrowers should know the difference between the outstanding balance and the payoff amount. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) official site, “Your payoff amount is how much you will actually have to pay to satisfy | more...

August 28, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: Lender Requirements

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My husband and I both have credit scores of 628 and 635, and no late payments on any current accounts for over 1 year. Our mortgage broker told us in order to qualify for the 3.5% down we have to have a credit score of over 660 to qualify for FHA. Is this true? and if it is, do we qualify for any other FHA loan? It has been over 4 years since there has been anything derrogative on our credit reports, and the items that are on there from 4 yrs ago or more are due to an economic hardship of losing our business.” One thing home loan applicants should know about the FHA loan program is that FHA loan minimum standards for FICO scores and | more...

August 28, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: The Nature of FHA Loans

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “I am currently buying a home on a land contract and was hoping maybe I could get it run through FHA the pay off is I think around 19,000.00 it is a trailer with a garage on it. My credit isn’t good enough to run it through the bank. I’m hoping you can help me. I have been paying on it for about 4 & 1/2 years. Please if you can help me I would appreciate it. I live off SSI because I became disabled in 1995, and have been drawing my SSI since 1996. Thank you for your time and consideration.” This reader question is a good reminder that there are still plenty of myths floating around out there about FHA mortgages and the nature of | more...

August 27, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: Spouse Credit Issues

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My husband and I are looking to apply for an FHA loan. We just recently got married. He is more than qualified to apply on his own, with a good credit score and great income. I, unfortunately, have terrible credit and unresolved debts (prior to marriage). Is it possible for him to apply on his own without factoring in my debt? Our loan agent told us that I had have my credit checked and my debt would also be factored into the debt to income ratio, but not my income. Is this true?” The answer to this question is fairly simple–it depends on the laws of your state. The first thing a borrower in this situation should do is check to see if they are living in | more...

What you should know about FHA 203(h) Loans For Disaster Victims

August 21, 2013

New FHA Loan Rules For Borrowers With Financial Difficulties: Evaluating an “Economic Event”

By Joe Wallace

We’ve been taking a look at the new FHA loan guidelines for lenders who are working with borrowers who have had what the FHA terms an “economic event” that affects credit but may not necessarily be a good indication of a borrower’s ability to repay an FHA mortgage loan. FHA Mortgagee Letter 2013-26 describes an FHA program known as Back To Work. The mortgagee letter was issued in order to, in the words of the FHA, “provide minimum underwriting standards and criteria for evaluating borrowers who have experienced an Economic Event, as defined in this ML, that resulted in a severe reduction in income due to a job loss or other circumstances resulting in reduced Household Income; describe the use of housing counseling to qualify under the provisions of this | more...

August 15, 2013

FHA Extends Unemployment Foreclosure Avoidance Program Indefinitely

By Joe Wallace

The FHA has extended a program designed to help unemployed borrowers avoid FHA loan default and foreclosure. A recent FHA mortgagee letter announced, “the extension of the unemployment special forbearance policies detailed in Mortgagee Letter 2011-23, Unemployment Special Forbearance: Temporary Program Changes and Clarifications.” This program allowed FHA borrowers, “having trouble making their mortgage payments due to unemployment postpone or reduce their monthly mortgage payment while they look for work” according to a letter by Assistant Secretary For Housing Carol J. Galante, who also writes, “Beginning in August 2011, HUD required FHA servicers to offer suspended or reduced payments for at least 12 months or until the struggling borrower found a job.” That FHA loss mitigation program was set to expire August 1, 2013. But now, that program has been | more...

August 8, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: Minimum Employment Rules

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My son-in law has been employed for the past two years, but only 19 months with the current employer. He is paid on a 1099. Another job opportunity has been offered by a different company, and different industry, but he will be making more money with this second company. He also will be paid via a 1099. Will he meet the employment requirement under these circumstances?” FHA loan rules for employment verification are found in HUD 4155.1. This document gives instructions to the lender for verifying employment, among many other things. According to HUD 4155.1, “The lender is required to verify the applicant’s employment history for the previous two years. However, direct verification is not required if all of the following conditions are met: the current employer | more...

August 2, 2013

FHA Loan Reader Questions: Does My FICO Score Qualify Me For An FHA Mortgage?

By Joe Wallace

A reader asks, “My credit score is 595 would I qualify to get an FHA loan?” This question comes up quite often. Technically speaking, FHA standards for borrowers with FICO scores between 500 and 579 allow the lender to approve a loan for 90% of the maximum financing limit on that transaction–that means FHA standards would require a 10% down payment. Borrowers with FICO scores below 500 are NOT eligible for FHA loans according to the FHA official site. But one thing that’s very important to remember about FHA loan standards for FICO scores is that A) your credit scores are NOT the only criteria used for loan approval and B) the lender is free to require higher FICO standards. Borrowers may be hard pressed to find a lender willing | more...

August 1, 2013

FHA No Cash Out Refinancing Loans With An Appraisal

By Joe Wallace

FHA refinance loans include an option described in the FHA loan rules as a No Cash-Out Refinancing Loan With An Appraisal. These loans have rules that govern all aspects of the loan from the amount of the maximum mortgage amount (see below) and how much a borrower can receive in cash at the closing of the loan (the borrower may not receive cash back in excess of $500 at closing according to HUD 4155.1 Chapter Three Section B). How much is the maximum FHA loan amount for no cash-out refinancing loans? According to HUD 4155.1, “The maximum mortgage for a no cash out refinance with an appraisal (credit qualifying) is the lesser of the 97.75% Loan-To-Value (LTV) factor applied to the appraised value of the property, or existing debt.” Additionally, | more...

July 31, 2013

FHA Loan Answers: Alimony and Child Support as Verifiable Income

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan rules say that a borrower’s income must be verified in order for it to count when the lender makes debt-to-income ratio calculations necessary for approving (or denying) the mortgage loan. Verifiable income is defined basically as earnings that are stable, reliable, and likely to continue. A borrower’s full or even part-time employment would count in most cases. But the money a borrower makes, for example, by selling items on eBay, would likely not pass the “stable” or “likely to continue” requirements. When it comes to non-job “income” such as child support or alimony payments, FHA loan rules make provisions that allow this income to be counted under the right conditions. A borrower does not have to declare child support income under the Fair Housing Act, but it is | more...