|
FHA loans are federal assistance mortgage loans in the United States insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The loans may be issued by federally qualified lenders. We work with some lenders who are willing and able to finance FHA loans well below the normal credit score requirements. For example, a borrower can get a bad credit FHA loan with a 500 credit score and a 15% down payment. There are other bad credit FHA loan options that require a smaller down payment with a slightly higher score.
FHA loans have historically allowed lower income Americans to borrow money for the purchase of a home that they would not otherwise be able to afford. Recent changes to the guidelines indicate that a larger down payment may be needed in the future. Complete the FREE RATE QUOTE form and we will help you figure out whether you qualify with no obligation at all.
FHA loans will be underwritten to ensure the borrowers have the ability to repay the loan, will require escrow for taxes and insurance, and will continue to offer unprecedented foreclosure prevention assistance. The FHA has never permitted and will not include pre payment penalties or teaser rates that are common in exotic mortgages and have caused much of the current market troubles. If your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase, you will be required to have MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium) which is a percentage of the loan and can be financed. Come back for the latest FHA news to be sure that this premium can still be financed. See more below on MIP
To qualify for FHA loans, eligible homeowners must meet the following five criteria:
- A history of on time mortgage payments;
- Three percent cash or equity in the home;
- A sustained history of employment; and
- Sufficient income to make the mortgage payment.
FHA does not make loans. Rather, it insures loans made by private lenders. The first step in obtaining an FHA loan is to complete a confidential free rate quote to see if you qualify.
Second, the lender assesses the prospective home buyer for risk. The analysis of ones debt to income ratio enables the buyer to know what type of home can be afforded based on monthly income and expenses and is one risk metric considered by the lender. Other factors, e.g. payment history on other debts, are considered and used to make decisions regarding eligibility and terms for a loan.
The FHA mortgage insurance programs (MIP) help low and moderate income families become homeowners by lowering some of the costs of their mortgage loans. FHA mortgage insurance also encourages lenders to make loans to otherwise credit worthy borrowers and projects that might not be able to meet conventional underwriting requirements, protecting the lender against loan default on mortgages for properties that meet certain minimum requirements.....including manufactured homes, single and multifamily properties, and some health related facilities. The basic FHA mortgage insurance program is Mortgage Insurance for One to Four Family Homes.
To see what the FHA loan limits are in your area, click on the FHA Loan Limit Calculator below.
FHA Loan Limit Calculator (City/State/Zip Loan Limit Calculator)
Related Links
FHA Loan Information - From the HUD web site
Definition Of An FHA Loan - Wikipedia
Rising FHA Default Rates - Washington Post
FHA To Raise Mortgage Insurance - New York Times
FHA Sets Tighter Lending Requirements - The Wall Street Journal
FHA Raises Fees and Tightens Loan Standards - MSNBC
Things To Know About An FHA Loan - Bankrate
|