FHA - Federal Housing Administration loans

FHA loans are government-insured loans that are a good fit for homebuyers with limited income, limited credit who will use the home as their primary residence.

The FHA program was created in response to the rash of foreclosures and defaults that happened in 1930s; to provide mortgage lenders with adequate insurance; and to help stimulate the housing market by making loans accessible and affordable for people with less than stellar credit or a low down payment.

Fast Facts

Established in 1934
Eligible for first time homebuyers and previous home owners
Owner-Occupied Home Purchase
Low Down Payment - 3.5%
Credit liberal with credit scores varying between lenders (580-640) minimums
Generous Seller Concessions up to 6% of the purchase price
Down-Payments may be gifted
Ratios of 31/43
Mortgage Insurance of 1.75% up front and .85 annual (paid monthly)

FHA does limit the size of their loans. The loan size is determined by the county in which the property exists. For example the maximum allowable FHA loan for Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties is $274,850; for Volusia county - $271,050

FHA Loan Requirements

The requirements for FHA loans as set by the Federal Housing Authority include:

Borrowers must have a steady employment history or worked for the same employer for the past two years.
Borrowers must have a valid Social Security number, lawful residency in the U.S. and be of legal age to sign a mortgage in your state.
Borrowers must pay a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. The money can be gifted by a family member.
New FHA loans are only available for primary residence occupancy.
Borrowers must have a property appraisal from a FHA-approved appraiser.
Borrowers’ front-end ratio (mortgage payment plus HOA fees, property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance needs to be less than 31 percent of their gross income, typically. You may be able to get approved with as high a percentage as 40 percent. Your lender will be required to provide justification as to why they believe the mortgage presents an acceptable risk. The lender must include any compensating factors used for loan approval.
Borrowers’ back-end ratio (mortgage plus all your monthly debt, i.e., credit card payment, car payment, student loans, etc.) needs to be less than 43 percent of their gross income, typically. You may be able to get approved with as high a percentage as 50 percent. Your lender will be required to provide justification as to why they believe the mortgage presents an acceptable risk. The lender must include any compensating factors used for loan approval.
Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 580 for maximum financing with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent.
Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 500-579 for maximum LTV of 90 percent with a minimum down payment of 10 percent. FHA-qualified lenders will use a case-by-case basis to determine an applicants’ credit worthiness.
Typically borrowers must be two years out of bankruptcy and have re-established good credit. Exceptions can be made if you are out of bankruptcy for more than one year if there were extenuating circumstances beyond your control that caused the bankruptcy and you’ve managed your money in a responsible manner.
Typically borrowers must be three years out of foreclosure and have re-established good credit. Exceptions can be made if there were extenuating circumstances and you’ve improved your credit. If you were unable to sell your home because you had to move to a new area, this does not qualify as an exception to the three-year foreclosure guideline.
The property must meet certain minimum standards at appraisal. If the home you are purchasing does not meet these standards and a seller will not agree to the required repairs, your only option is to pay for the required repairs at closing (to be held in escrow until the repairs are complete).

Some unique advantages

FHA loans are assumable, which means if you want to sell your home, the buyer can “assume” the loan you have.
People who have low or bad credit, have undergone a bankruptcy or have been foreclosed upon may be able to still qualify for an FHA loan.

Typically an FHA loan is one of the easiest types of mortgage loans to qualify for because it requires a low down payment and you can have less-than-perfect credit.

Borrowers who cannot afford a 20 percent down payment, have a lower credit score, or can’t get approved for private mortgage insurance should look into whether an FHA loan is the best option for their personal scenario. Your Legends Realty professional can point you in the right direction for answers.