Articles Tagged With: HUD

August 16, 2019

The New FHA Condo Rules

The Department of Housing and Urban Development official site announced new FHA condo loan rules in August 2019 that make it easier to purchase a condo unit, especially for condo projects not added to the FHA approved list. October 15, 2019 is the start date for the new rules that allow FHA loan approval for mortgages to buy condo units in projects that are not on the FHA approved list. Not all condo units are eligible for this consideration, and the FHA and HUD have issued a list of “single unit approval” requirements that include the following as described on the HUD official site: The individual condominium unit must be located in a completed project that is not FHA-approved; Condo projects that have 10 or more units are limited to | more...

August 15, 2019

FHA Announces New Condo Loan Rules

By Bruce Reichstein

The Federal Housing Administration has announced changes to its’ condo approval policies that could make it easier for house hunters to find and purchase condo units with an FHA mortgage. The changes are intended to increase lender flexibility and to adapt to changing conditions in the housing market. The FHA and HUD issued a press release on the new rules which states that the new rules …“will allow certain individual condominium units to be eligible for FHA mortgage insurance even if the condominium project is not FHA approved.” Under the old rules, a condo project had to be on the FHA approved list or added to it. As of October 15, 2019, the new FHA policies will, according to the FHA official site, include the following changes to FHA condo | more...

August 13, 2019

FHA Loan Rules For Second Residences

By Bruce Reichstein

One thing you will read often about FHA single-family home loans? They are only intended for owner-occupied residences. So why do some borrowers hear of some homeowners being approved for FHA loans for a second house? There is a provision in HUD 4000.1 that allows an FHA mortgage for a “second” primary residence, as well as a provision for what the FHA and HUD term “secondary residences” under certain conditions. The FHA loan rules say secondary residences are defined as follows: “Secondary Residence refers to a dwelling that a Borrower occupies in addition to their Principal Residence, but less than a majority of the calendar year. A Secondary Residence does not include a Vacation Home. “ FHA loan approval may be possible for a secondary residence when the following applies: | more...

August 6, 2019

HUD Announces Important Change To FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan Program

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued a mortgagee letter announcing a major change to the FHA Cash-Out Refinance Loan program. Effective September 1, 2019, the loan-to-value ratio for FHA cash-out loans is reduced from 85% to 80%. All FHA cash-out refi loans with FHA case numbers issued on or after 1 September 2019 will have the lower LTV. This has the effect of reducing the amount of cash back to the borrower on the transaction. The HUD press release states that the reduction is intended to protect against weaknesses in the housing market, and cash-out refinance loan defaults. The FHA has experienced an overall increase in cash-out loans as high as 250 percent according to HUD. In light of that statistic and other data, the FHA concluded | more...

July 22, 2019

FHA Home Loan Rules About Borrower Debt

By Joe Wallace

Do you know what your lender is required to do when you fill out an FHA mortgage loan application? Part of the lender’s job is to make sure that the loan applicant can realistically afford the new home loan, and making that determination means reviewing your current debt. HUD 4000.1, the FHA Lender’s Handbook for single family mortgages, has instructions for the lender in this area. It begins stating the lender’s responsibilities: “The Mortgagee must determine the Borrower’s monthly liabilities by reviewing all debts listed on the credit report, Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), and required documentation.” How is that accomplished? “All applicable monthly liabilities must be included in the qualifying ratio. ” Your lender will calculate your debt ratio using one method that includes only your current debt, and | more...

July 16, 2019

First-Time Home Buyers And Finding A First Home

By Joe Wallace

Are you looking for your first home? A Realtor.com survey reveals some interesting things about those looking for their first house, including some difficulties that affect many house hunters in today’s markets. The Realtor.com survey, conducted between March and June 2019, includes some demographic data about those exploring today’s mortgage rates and looking for suitable homes: 25 percent have been looking for a home in the past month 21 percent have been looking for 2-3 months 15 percent have been looking for 4-6 months 9 percent have been looking for 7-12 months 24 percent have been looking for more than a year And of that number, some percentages regarding problems house hunters are facing today. According to the survey, one of the main problems is locating an affordable home within | more...

July 15, 2019

FHA Home Loans And Flood Hazard Areas

By Joe Wallace

FHA home loans have rules for loan approval that include determining if a house is suitable for the mortgage. In some cases a home might not be approved for a mortgage because of its’ condition, but in others the location of the home may be a problem. This is true in cases where a home is located too near a high pressure gas pipeline, high voltage lines, or mining operations. But there is another aspect of this you should know-the FHA loan rules for homes located in certain areas prone to flooding. FHA loan rules in HUD 4000.1 state that the lender is responsible for making sure the property to be purchased with an FHA mortgage is not located in certain government-designated flood zones. From HUD 4000.1: “The Mortgagee must | more...

June 16, 2019

Six FHA Home Loan Tips

By Joe Wallace

Know Your FHA Home Loan Limits All housing markets are subject to variations, and not all of them have the same costs or median house prices. And not all housing types are available in a given market. The home in California averaging at one price range won’t be the same as a housing market in a less expensive area. FHA home loan limits for high-cost and low-cost areas are adjusted rather than featuring an one-size-fits-all approach, and those limits are adjusted annually. You should always check the current loan limits before committing to a new home loan to see what you can expect in your chosen market. FHA Loans May Be Available With Adjustable Mortgage Rates and You Can Always Choose A Fixed Rate Loan Instead The fixed-rate FHA mortgage | more...

May 31, 2019

HUD Announces $1.2 Million To Fight Housing Discrimination

By Joe Wallace

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced $1.2 in funding toward the fight against housing discrimination. The HUD official site made the announcement on May 30, 2019. The federal funding falls under the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to “support the efforts of 11 organizations to educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.” April, which is Fair Housing Month, saw the agency award $15 million to similar types of organizations nationwide “to conduct a range of fair housing enforcement, capacity building and education and outreach” all designed to end discrimination at all stages of the housing process. The Secretary of HUD was quoted in a press release stating,”HUD’s efforts to fight housing discrimination are force multiplied by local fair | more...

May 24, 2019

HUD Announces Minneapolis Housing Discrimination Case Settlement

By Bruce Reichstein

Sexual harassment that occurs in the context of seeking or keeping housing is a violation of federal law. Some house hunters and renters don’t realize this. They also may miss the fact that renters, house hunters, and home owners also have recourse when they are sexually harassed in the context of finding or keeping a rental property or owning a home. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a Fair Housing case brought against David Sheets, a Minneapolis property owner. According to the HUD official site, the agency has approved an agreement “between a Minneapolis property owner and a female tenant who alleged the landlord solicited sex from her in exchange for a reduction in her rent”. The Fair Housing Act makes sexual harassment associated | more...