Articles Tagged With: Fixed Rate Mortgage

September 18, 2018

FHA Loan Rules And Investment Properties

FHA home loans are generally intended for owner/occupiers; there is an occupancy requirement for the FHA single-family home loan program that basically allows loans for principal residences and denies loans for those who do not intend to occupy the home within 60 days of loan closing (unless other arrangements are made for a delayed move-in which may or may not be possible depending on the lender). HUD 4000.1 has the rules that govern occupancy and the purchase of homes considered to be investment properties. HUD 4000.1 begins by defining what it considers an investment property to be: “An Investment Property refers to a Property that is not occupied by the Borrower as a Principal or Secondary Residence.” That is fairly simple, and the rules in this section go on to | more...

Protect Yourself When Shopping For A New Home

August 30, 2018

FHA Refinance Loans: Is There A No-Credit Check Refi?

By Bruce Reichstein

Some borrowers need to know: is there an FHA refinance loan that has no credit check? This question is more common than you might think and the answer depends on several variables. FHA Refinance Loans That Require Credit Checks There are many FHA mortgage loans that require both a new credit check and a new appraisal. Cash-out refinance loans are in this category, as are FHA reverse mortgages also known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (FHA HECM). The lender is tasked with making sure the borrower can afford the new loan and that the borrower is an acceptable credit risk. After all, cash is going back to the borrower in the case of both an FHA reverse mortgage and an FHA Cash-Out Refinance loan and the financial institution will need | more...

August 10, 2018

FHA Home Loans And Interest Rates: Explore Your Options

By Joe Wallace

Concerned about reports of home loan interest rates going up and wondering how to explore your options? There are many ways an FHA home loan can help you in your search for the right home; exploring all your options among several lenders is a great way to start researching and planning for your new mortgage. FHA Home Loan Interest Rates May Be Lower Than Conventional Rates For The Same Kind Of Mortgage The key to understanding your options when it comes to mortgage loan interest rates is knowing that your credit scores and other financial qualifications may affect the rate a lender offers you. Knowing that ahead of time can help you make smarter choices when shopping around for a lender. To start, compare conventional terms and requirements with the | more...

July 27, 2018

The Credit Check For FHA Cash-Out Refinances

By Bruce Reichstein

Is the credit check for an FHA cash out refinance loan the same as for a new purchase home loan? Borrowers want to know how their credit will measure up to lender standards when it’s time to apply for a refinance loan. Some make the same common mistakes in the months leading up to a refi loan application that others do when applying for a new purchase home loan. What can you do to increase your chances at refinance loan approval? Treat An FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan The Same As Your Original Mortgage FHA cash out refi loans require both a new credit check and a new appraisal. The reason for the new appraisal is to make sure you are getting the value in your home that market values currently | more...

Five Things You Should Know About FHA Refinance Loans

July 23, 2018

FHA Lenders With The Lowest Mortgage Loan Interest Rates

By Bruce Reichstein

Which FHA lender offers the lowest interest rates? This is a question on the minds of all FHA borrowers, whether you are looking for an FHA new purchase loan, an FHA cash-out refinance, or even an FHA Reverse Mortgage. The answer to this question, however, is more complicated than “Lender X offers the best rates”. It Pays To Shop Around For FHA Loan Interest Rates If you need to know the lowest interest rate offered by a group of lenders, you will need to check with each participating lender. But there’s a catch-interest rates fluctuate, and can change daily. The rates you see today may not apply tomorrow, and those interest rates are listed without reference to a borrower’s credit rating and credit history. Shopping around for an interest rate | more...

July 13, 2018

Should You Sell Your Home? The FHA Cash-Out Refinance Option

By Joe Wallace

There are a lot of websites urging home owners to consider selling your home, especially for those who own homes on the West Coast. Home owners on the West Coast and other increasingly profitable housing markets have the potential (at the time of this writing) to earn more than ever by selling a house. But borrowers looking to get cash from their homes in a housing market where property values are going up have another option to consider. It doesn’t matter if your home is in San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, or Nashville, if your home could appraise for more money today due to the influence of a hot housing market? It could be worth an amount worth considering in the form of an FHA cash-out refinance. If you are | more...

April 9, 2018

FHA Loan Appraisal Tips

By Joe Wallace

FHA loan appraisal tips can be hard to come by if you are a first-time home buyer and aren’t even sure about the right questions to ask. Do you need to clear up any confusion over the FHA appraisal? Keep reading, you’ll learn that the appraisal process is more simple and straightforward than it may appear at first glance. FHA Appraisals Are Ordered For The Home You Wish To Purchase That may seem alike a simple and obvious fact if you have some experience with the home loan process, but some borrowers might not realize that the appraisal stage of the mortgage comes when you find a home you are serious about buying. You won’t need to know the actual fair market value of a home that you’re just “window | more...

What Happens If I Pre-Pay My FHA Mortgage?

March 26, 2018

Do You Know What Kind Of FHA Home Loan You Need?

By Joe Wallace

Do you know what type of FHA home loan you need? There are many options with an FHA mortgage and not all of them involve purchasing a new home; you can apply for FHA rehab loans, FHA refinance loans, even an FHA reverse mortgage for qualified borrowers aged 62 or older. FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans For Building A New Home FHA loans do not require you to purchase property that has already been built; did you know there’s an FHA construction loan option that features only one loan application and closing date? Many participating lenders offer FHA One-Time Close construction loans; for those who financially qualify this allows you to have a house built for you from the ground up. You may find some lenders willing (or unwilling) to | more...

FHA Home Loan Approval Questions Part Two

February 5, 2018

Does Being A Co-Signer Affect My FHA Loan Application?

By Bruce Reichstein

Does being a cosigner on another loan or line of credit affect your chances at FHA home loan approval? It’s a good question to ask before you commit yourself to being named on another person’s loan. HUD 4000.1 has the FHA loan rules for “contingent liabilities” created when you cosign another person’s loan, starting with the basic definition of the term: “A Contingent Liability refers to a liability that may result in the obligation to repay only when a specific event occurs. For example, a contingent liability exists when an individual can be held responsible for the repayment of a debt if another legally obligated party defaults on the payment.” This section of the FHA home loan rules adds that contingent liabilities can include, “Cosigner liabilities and liabilities resulting from | more...

Home Buying Tips For The First Time FHA Borrower

December 13, 2017

FHA One-Time Close Requirements: Appraisals

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA One-Time Close / Single-Close construction loans feature a single loan application and closing date for both the construction phase of the loan and the “permanent” portion of the loan. Like other FHA mortgages, an appraisal is required on the property to be secured by the mortgage. In general, FHA loan appraisal requirements include the following guidelines on the timing, as found in HUD 4000.1, the FHA loan handbook: “The effective date of the appraisal cannot be before the FHA case number assignment date unless the Mortgagee certifies that the appraisal was ordered for conventional lending or government-guaranteed loan purposes and was performed pursuant to FHA guidelines.” While this may not normally be an issue for construction loans given the timing of the appraisal, another portion of the same section | more...