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The FHA Home Loan Program – 6 Great Benefits Of FHA Home Loans!

August 6th, 2010

You will find many home loan programs available to finance your new home purchase.  You need to research the different programs available and choose the one that best fits your needs. One of the best ones available is the FHA Home Loan Program.

Although the FHA Home Loan Program was designed for first time home buyers, anyone may apply for the program. Not only can a FHA Mortgage Loan be used to finance the purchase of a new primary residence but also you can use it to refinance your existing home mortgage loan.

There are many benefits to the FHA Home Loan Program.

1. Low Down Payment Requirement

A FHA home mortgage loan has a lower down payment than a conventional loan.

The down payment requirement currently is as low as 3.5% of the purchase price. And here is some more good news, the down payment funds can come from many different sources such as a gift from a member of your family, your church, or a withdrawal from your 401K. It could, of course, come from your own savings.

Because you can get the down payment funds from many different sources, it will make it a lot easier to purchase your home.

2. Seller Can Help Pay Your Closing Costs

The FHA Home Loan Program will allow the Seller to contribute up to 3% towards to your closing costs on your new home.

This will allow you to purchase a new home without any funds if you can get a gift from a family member for the down payment and ask the Seller to pay up to 3% of the closing costs. The closing costs that the Seller can pay include also the “prepaids” such as property taxes, home insurance, and interest.

3. The Interest Rates Are Low

The FHA mortgage interest rates are very competitive if not lower than most other home loan rates. Although in today’s mortgage market you will need around 620 credit score to get a FHA Mortgage Loan, the FHA interest rate is not tied to your credit scores.

If your credit score is 620 and another person’s credit score is 750 you both will get the same interest rate. On a conventional home loan, the person with the higher credit score would get lower interest rate.

4. No Limits On The Amount Of The Mortgage

There are not limits on the amount of FHA home loans, but there are limits on the property values you can purchase with a FHA loan. The limits on the property values are different throughout the country and you should check with a Realtor or lender in your area.

5. Streamlined FHA 203K Loan

If the property you want to purchase needs repairs you can get a Streamlined FHA 203K Loan.  With this type of loan you can finance the repairs into the mortgage.

6. You Can Refinance With A FHA Streamline Mortgage Refinance Loan

If you already have a FHA mortgage loan one of the great benefits is you can refinance using a FHA Streamline Mortgage Refinance Loan.

This type of refinancing loan is when you already have an existing FHA mortgage and you want to refinance it into a new FHA mortgage. You can do this without limited paperwork and a lot less cost.

The FHA Home Loan Program is a great way to purchase your new home with a low down payment, low interest rate, and the opportunity to refinance it with limited paperwork and cost.  The best place to get additional information is the Internet. You will find many websites with FHA Loans Information that will help you with the financing of your new home!

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7 Benefits Of A HUD FHA Loan – The FHA Home Loan Program!

July 24th, 2010

The American dream of owning your own home is live and well in the United States because of the FHA Home Loan Program. The market for FHA Home Loans is booming and it is now the largest supplier of home mortgages. You can make your dream of owning your own home come true now!

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has many loan programs available that will help you achieve your goal of owning your own home.

What Is A FHA Loan Mortgage?

FHA does not loan you the money to buy a house, what it does do is guarantee the loan. If the mortgage is defaulted then FHA will pay the lender.

This helps the lender because they will not have to write off the mortgage and suffer all of the loss.

Because of the FHA guarantee, lenders are certainly more willing the make more loans, and they will make them for larger amounts and also they will make them easier to get with fewer requirements.

Can You Qualify For A HUD FHA Loan?

Of course, there have to be some limitations and requirements in order to get a FHA Home Mortgage. Here are a couple of restrictions:

Debt To Income Ratio

There is not an income limitation but you do have to have a certain debt to income ratio. This means your debt can not exceed a certain percentage of your income.

Limit On Amount Of Mortgage

Also, there is a restriction on the amount of the mortgage based on the area that you live in. Each area or region is different, you need to check with your FHA lender to see what the limit is in your area.

Is A FHA Home Mortgage Right For You?

A FHA Home Mortgage may not be right for you because of the limitation on the amount of money FHA will lend in your area. If you are looking at a $250,000 house and the loan amount limitation in your area is $200,000 then this type of mortgage will not work for you.

But, you can qualify for the FHA Home Loan Program then they can be great way to finance your new home or even refinance you existing home.

What Are The Benefits Of A FHA Home Loan?

1. You finance home improvements or repairs using a Streamlined FHA 203K Loan.

2. All FHA mortgages can be assumable. This can be a great benefit in the future if you want to sell your home and the interest rates are high.

3. The down payment is just 3.5% of the purchase price of your home. Most conventional home loans require at least 20% down payment.

4. Your down payment can be gifted to you.

5. Seller can pay your closing costs.

6. Credit scores can be as low as 585, but in today’s mortgage market most lenders requires at least a credit score of 620. So, if your credit scores are a little low then a FHA home mortgage may be for you.

7. Interest rates are low and very competitive with other types of mortgage loans. Because of the FHA guarantee most lenders will offer low interest rates.

With the low interest rates in the market and the abundance of homes on the market, now may be the time for you to persuade the American dream of owning your own home by financing it with a loan from the FHA Home Loan Program!

General

FHA Home Loan Program VS VA Home Loan Program – Which Is Best For You!

July 9th, 2010

The United States government provides many benefits to the members that are now serving or have serve in the past in the US military. Active and former members of the United States military can take advantages of benefits ranging from education incentives to compensation for disability occurred while in the military to even life insurance programs.  One of the most used and most important is the Veteran Home Loan Program that provides assistance in financing a home loan.

There are currently over 23 millions living veterans and just little less than 10% of these veterans have taking advantage of this great benefit. But there is also another government backed home loan that veterans may want to consider also. This government backed loan is the FHA Home Loan Program.  You will need more FHA loans information to decide if it is best for you than a VA home loan.

So if you are an active member of the military, a veteran, or even a surviving or current spouse of a veteran you may want to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both the VA Home Loan Program and the FHA Home Loan Program.

You need to be fully informed before you buy a home because it is a huge decision and making the wrong decision can cost you thousands of dollars in the future.

VA Home Loan Program VS FHA Home Loan Program

VA home loans are similar to many conventional home loans but they do have many great benefits that are not found in conventional loans such as: you do not need a down payment, your credit scores can be lower than what is required for conventional loans, and you can “rolled” the closing and loan fees back into the mortgage thus making it a 100% financing loan.

The FHA Home Loan Program is the most popular of home mortgage loan programs for non-veterans and is growing in popularity because of the tight mortgage market today.

They have some of the same advantages of the VA home mortgage loans such as: they are easier to refinance, more lenient on the credit scores to qualify, and certainly lower down payment than conventional loans. The FHA home loan down payment is currently 3.5 of the purchase price of the home.

VA Home Loan Eligibility Requirements

A veteran will have to get a Certificate of Eligibility that is issued to by the military to qualified veterans. The Certificate of Eligibility will also include the entitlement amount, which is the portion of the mortgage loan that the VA will guarantee.  You can get the Certificate of Eligibility from the VA or you can have your mortgage lender get it for you on the Internet.

One big difference from a VA home mortgage loan and a HUD FHA loan is almost anyone can get a FHA mortgage loan, only people that are or have been in the military can be a VA mortgage loan.

There are no income limits for FHA loans, but there are limits on how much a person can borrow and it varies from each county in the country. You can find out from your mortgage lender what the limit is in your area.

VA homes loans do have limits on how much you can borrow but the limits can currently go up to $729,000 in some parts of the country.

Another difference from FHA loans and VA loans is VA does not require a mortgage insurance premium called a PMI. FHA loans do require mortgage insurance (MIP).  By getting a VA home loan you will save this expense which can be quite costly over the years.

VA home loan makes sense if you are a qualifying member or veteran of the military and they will allow you to take advantage of today’s very low interest rate plus you can buy a home with 100% financing.

If you don’t want to tackle the slight hassle of dealing with the VA or you do not have available VA entitlement then a FHA home loan will make the most sense.

Whether you choose the Veteran Home Loan Program or the FHA Home Loan Program you will need to work with an approved mortgage lender who will help you through the mortgage and closing process.

Owning a home is still the American dream and the government has two great programs to help you to achieve that dream, so get more information on the Veteran Home Loan Program and the FHA Home Loan Program and make that American dream happen for you!

General

FHA Home Mortgage – Can You Meet FHA Mortgage Guidelines For A FHA Home Mortgage Loan!

June 12th, 2010

In case you are considering purchasing a house soon you might think about the FHA Home Mortgage as your funding choice. A person might save substantial amount of money using this type of mortgage if you’re able to satisfy the FHA Mortgage Guidelines. Due to a few stringent guidelines established by the government not everybody may be eligible for this kind of mortgage loan.

A lot of people which use a FHA home mortgage to fund their house tend to be first time house purchasers.  The reason being is the lower down payment needed and much less restrictive credit requirements compared to traditional mortgages.  However, there are specific requirements you need to fulfill before you will get FHA Mortgage Loan.

The very first FHA mortgage loan requirement is you need to reside in the house you will buy. It needs to be your main place of residence. Those who are investors are unable to purchase a house with this type of mortgage.

FHA has a maximum mortgage amount for each and every county in the nation and this mortgage amount is based on taking into consideration the living expenses as well as prices of the area housing market.

The amount of down payment needed by FHA is presently 3.5% except if you possess credit scores less than 580, then you’ll need a 10% down payment. The majority of FHA loan companies are demanding a credit score with a minimum of 620 in the current mortgage marketplace.

An exception to this 3.5% down payment is the HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive Program.  This is a program were you are able to purchase a HUD home foreclosure with just $100 down.  You will get more information on the HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive Program .

An additional FHA home mortgage loan requirement is possessing a sound job history, ideally with the same company. To be eligible for a FHA house mortgage you need to have been at the same job for 1-2 years, and if you are self-employed you need to in the same type of work for that same time span. In case you are a recent graduate, your diploma or degree might be recognized rather than a work history.

If a house purchaser that is self-employed, they will need to produce 2 years of income tax returns along with a profit and loss income statement from their business if it is incorporated. The debt to income ratio for the home buyer shouldn’t be more than 41% to satisfy the FHA mortgage qualifications. However for those who have certain kinds of debt like student education loans they will permit your debt to income ratio to go up to 45%.

FHA loans are extremely well-liked these days simply because a down payment of just 3.5% is among the smallest down payment requirements on the market. The majority of traditional mortgages are actually demanding a 20% down payment.

The seller has previously been able to pay as much as 6% of settlement costs for the purchaser however that could be changing to 3% soon. Seek advice from your own FHA approved lender for any new updates.

Last point, even though a house inspection isn’t required by the FHA you are encouraged to acquire one. The government has specific requirements a house needs to satisfy, however it is totally different from a home inspection. But when a home does not satisfy the standards, the seller will need to have the required improvements or maintenance fixed prior to closing or get estimated costs placed into an escrow account. When the seller won’t make the improvements then there exist a great possibility you will not finance that home using a FHA mortgage loan.

The majority of the FHA home mortgage loan requirements are much less restrictive than conventional mortgages plus a FHA home mortgage should be less difficult to qualify for along with the low down payment it might be the only method the majority of individuals could purchase their dream home!

General

Benefits of FHA Home Loans – Plus How To Buy A Home With Only $100 Down Payment!

February 19th, 2010

If you’re about to purchase a house and you’re searching for a suitable mortgage loan, then you ought to think about FHA home loans. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. It is really a United States governmental agency created mainly to enhance the standards from the housing conditions, supply mortgage loans and also insurance coverage at really reasonable rates. These are generally provided by a mortgage provider that has been authorized through the federal authorities from the state.

FHA home loans are becoming a lot more popular than the traditional mortgage loan.

Basically acquiring a FHA Mortgage Loan is really simple when compared to a traditional mortgage. FHA Mortgage Loans enable individuals to buy a home with a really less down payment. The down payment could be as low as 3.5%. This allows a lot more individuals to afford their own houses. The down payment in a traditional mortgage is more than FHA loans; it’s generally 20% of the cost of the home.

One great exception to the 3.5% down payment is the HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive.  If you buy a HUD foreclosed home you may be able to buy it with only $100 down payment.  You can get more information by clicking HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive.

The federal housing administration has introduced various mortgage loans to general public. Depending on the comfort from the individual, a person can select either FHA adjustable rate mortgage loan mortgage, or can go for any fixed rate mortgage.

You will find special kinds of loans like the energy efficient loans, the graduated payment mortgage loan, and other loans for numerous other needs.

Once you’ve decided which kind of FHA mortgage suits your needs you are able to go ahead and make an application for FHA mortgage. Should you require any assistance in determining the best kind of mortgage for you, then you are able to approach a mortgage loan broker who would supply you with all the details of a FHA mortgage loan that would likely suit your needs.

Although obtaining a FHA mortgage is far easier than the traditional mortgage, a person still has to satisfy some FHA requirements. These requirements are according to the federal guidelines and it’s required for every person to fulfill each one of these needs before you can get a FHA mortgage.

Below are a few from the FHA basic guidelines to obtain a  FHA Mortgage Loan:

• The first and foremost necessity is that you simply have constant earnings, for a period of at least 2 years. You will be required to produce the history of the earnings for the past 2years. They’re interested in discovering if you’ve constant earnings every month and it will be even better if your earnings are increasing.

• The next point a mortgage lender want to see is your credit history. They’re interested in knowing about additional loans and debts that you might have. They would like to see if there is a lapse or overdue payments in your credit history.

• The last FHA loan requirement is that the mortgage loan payment for each month should not exceed 30% of the gross monthly earnings. For a lot more detailed info of other mortgage offers and needs for any FHA mortgage you should consulted a mortgage loan broker.

FHA Home Loans are a great way to buy your dream home if your credit scores are low or if you do not have a large down payment.  The HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive is also a great way to buy a home with only $100 Down Payment!

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FHA Home Loan Guidelines – 3 Major Changes Coming!

January 22nd, 2010

FHA Home Loan Guidelines will be changing in the near future. They are a few changes that may cost you more to get a FHA Loan and may prevent you from qualifying for a mortgage.

Change To The Amount of Mortgage Insurance Premium Cost.

One of the biggest announced changes to the FHA Policy is to Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). Mortgage Insurance Premium will be increased to help build up the capital reserves and bring back private lending. The capital reserves have been depleted because all of the home foreclosures.

The first step of the change will raise the up-front MIP from 1.75% to 2.25% of the loan amount. They are also planning on asking Congress for legislative authority to increase the maximum annual amount of MIP they can charge.

If they get this authority from Congress then the next step will be to shift some of the premium increase to the annual MIP from the up-front MIP. The shift will help the capital reserves to increase without having much impact on the borrower because the annual Mortgage Insurance Premium is paid over the life of the loan instead at closing. This change should go into effect some time in the spring of 2010.

Change To Minimum FICO Credit Scores.

New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will now be required to have a 10% down payment. In reality most lenders are currently requiring at least 620 FICO score to quality for FHA’s 3.5% down payment. This will help FHA to balance its risk and to continue to provide funds to the borrowers that have performed well in the past. This change will be posted in the Federal Register this February and after a required notice and comment period it should go into effect some time in early summer.

There is an exception to the 3.5% down payment required by FHA.  HUD currently has a HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive if you buy a HUD foreclosed home.  You can click here to get more information on this HUD $100 Down Payment Incentive.

Reduction Of The Amount Of Allowable Seller Concessions.

The current allowable a Seller can contribute to Buyer’s closing costs is 6% of the purchase price. This will be changed to just 3% which is in more in line with industry standards on Seller concessions. This change also will be posted in the Federal Register in February and after a required notice and comment period it will probably go in effect in the early summer.

These changes in the FHA Home Loan Guidelines could cost you your chance of getting a low down payment FHA mortgage. But there is still time to beat these changes if you get find a home to purchase and get it under contract by early spring.  You can click here to get more information about FHA Home Loan Guidelines.

FHA Home Loan Program is a great way to finance your new home with a very low down payment of just 3.5% and low credit scores. But things are changing with the FHA Home Loan Guidelines, you need to take action now to find your dream home now!

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FHA Home Loans Can Be Easy To Get!

October 19th, 2009

Buying a home is a dream that many people share. However, for those without a lot of income who don’t have great credit or a large amount of savings, it can be difficult to get the mortgage that makes home ownership a possibility. One thing that might make it easier to find a mortgage is to look into FHA Home Loans.

FHA Home Loans are loans that the Federal Housing Administration insures. There are a wide variety of lenders that have been approved to offer these loans. It is a good idea to shop around and find out the rates and conditions that a number of these loan providers are willing to offer you since there are no set terms required.

However, these FHA mortgages are available to people with lower down payments and lower credit ratings than conventional mortgages, so it is a good idea to check into them and see whether this type of mortgage would work for you. 

For those who don’t have enough money to make a large down payment, there are a couple different options available.

If you qualify for a conventional mortgage, you can get private mortgage insurance (also known as PMI) that will allow you to still get a conventional mortgage. If you don’t qualify for PMI or a conventional loan, then it is a good idea to look into FHA home loans. With these loans you usually need to be able to put down a down payment of at least 3.5%, but you don’t need as high a credit rating as you would for a conventional mortgage with this low of a down payment.

What can you use FHA Home Loans For?

1.  You can get FHA home loans to purchase one to four family homes.

2.  You can even use them to purchase mobile homes or factory built housing.

3.  If you are purchasing a home that needs to be fixed up, you can get a FHA 203K Loan that will include both the cost of the purchase and the cost of fixing the house.

4.  For those who already own their own home, you can refinance your loan to include the cost of fixing up your home or making it more energy efficient. This makes home ownership a much more reachable goal for many people.

As you can see you can use a FHA Home Loan for about any type of home ownership you want.  And the best advantage is you don’t have to have perfect credit scores.  Most Americans want to own their own home and with the help of FHA Home Loans that dream can come true for most Americans. 

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Bad Credit FHA Home Loan – Poor Credit FHA Loans Information For You!

September 14th, 2009

Every person that has ever made a purchase has at some point become aware of their credit score. For most of us, our credit starts out excellent and then we rack up some unnecessary debt and before we know it, we’re in over our heads. Our credit score is what any financial institution looks at to decide whether or not they are going to loan us money. When it comes to getting a loan for something huge like a home, having bad credit can make things tough. There are some financial institutions, however, that are willing to give a Bad Credit FHA Home Loan.

Obtaining one of these Poor Credit FHA Loans is a great option for people that have been denied a more traditional loan.

Traditional loans often offer lower interest rates and lower fees at closing time, but a Bad Credit FHA Loan can be just what some people need to get their credit history turned around. When credit scores go down, even if it is for something very small, it takes a long time to get them back up.

There are some very responsible people out there that just made a few small mistakes. Getting an FHA loan can really help them reestablish a solid credit score.  You can get more FHA Loans Information on this site.
 
Many banks offer loans through the FHA program which is a program that is funded by the government.

The loan process is very similar to that of a traditional loan, but as stated above, there are usually a few extra fees that are attached to the Bad Credit FHA Home Loan. You can think of these fees as some sort of penalty, and they often appear to be just that. The fees are well worth it, however, because for many people with bad credit, this is their only option.

The advantages of a Bad Credit FHA Loan far out weigh the disadvantages.  You only need 3.5% down payment, traditional conventional home loans require 20% down payment.  Your credit scores can be much lower and you still can qualify for poor credit FHA loans.  FHA interest rates are competitive if not lower than most conventional loans.

Reestablishing a good credit score can help in so many aspects of your life. That is why getting a Bad Credit FHA Home Loan is a worthwhile endeavor. Not only will it help you reach your goals of becoming a homeowner, but it will help you quickly raise your credit score so that someday you can take advantage of the more traditional offers that are available.

Poor Credit FHA Loans are one of the best ways to buy a home if you have less than perfect credit scores.  You can get still live the American dream of owning your own home.  Now is the time to do your research and see if you can get a Bad Credit FHA Home Loan!

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Bad Credit FHA Mortgage – You Can Still Buy A Home With Poor Credit!

July 29th, 2009

Everyone can agree that this past couple of years has been incredibly hectic and filled with immeasurable suffering as it relates to the bursting of the housing bubble and subsequent economic downturn that sent the United States spiraling in to one of the biggest credit crunches since The Great Depression.  You know your credit is not the best and you have heard that there are programs that will help people with bad credit to get a mortgage.  One of these programs is the Bad Credit FHA mortgage.

With record foreclosures and unemployment rates, that are barely showing minute signs of slowing, it has become harder than ever to qualify for and receive a mortgage loan as banks recoil against the fierce backlash they helped create. This is especially true if your credit is less than perfect, which happens to be the case of a considerable number of people in this country, especially given current situations.

So, what do you do if your credit isn’t the best, but you know you can make the payments on a house if someone will just give you the chance? Enter the Bad Credit FHA Mortgage.

Now, before excitement clouds your judgment, it is imperative to understand exactly what a Bad Credit FHA Mortgage is and how it can help you.

For starters, a FHA Mortgage is one that is backed by the Federal Government in the event you default on your home, it is not a government loan as many people believe. With the government willing to guarantee the banks will get there money and not have to write off a bad asset, the banks, in turn are typically more relaxed on their qualifying standards than if you were applying with the bank or mortgage company right out.

Too, in addition to being easier to qualify for a mortgage loan, even with less than perfect credit, there are a number of other benefits you can receive by getting an FHA loan, such as: a lower down payment than a traditional mortgage, interest rates that are comparable with those that the bank may offer, and the ability to use money from just about anywhere to pay for your down payment.

While a Bad Credit FHA Mortgage can help you get started, or restarted, on the path to home ownership, keep in mind, that the banks still do not have to lend to you, but an FHA guarantee will certainly help your chances.

So, if you are in the market to purchase a home, make sure you ask your loan officer about whether or not a FHA Mortgage loan is right for you.  You will find that a Bad Credit FHA Mortgage may be your only hope to own your dream home in these tough economical times.

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FHA Loan Mortgage Refinance – Use A FHA Housing Loan To Refinance Now!

June 13th, 2009

You probably have heard that now is a good time to refinance your home mortgage loan because of the lowest interest rates in decades.  Refinancing a mortgage can be a good idea if you have a lot of equity in your home and need money for personal reasons.  One type of refinancing is the FHA Loan Mortgage Refinance.  

It can be used for consolidating bills, college tuition, home improvements or even a great vacation. Qualifying is easy even if you have a low credit score or low income. Homeowners with more expensive homes or higher incomes also may qualify.

There are several types of loans available to home owners but these loans only apply to principal residences. There are several simple ways to apply. You can go to a bank or go directly to an online site to get an application and quote.

One of the things you can do if you have a high adjustable rate mortgage is get it lowered.

If you need cash an FHA Loan Mortgage Refinance can mean you can get up to 95% of the value of your home. This is called Cash-Out Refinancing. This financing is available to everyone that has paid down their principle and has a significant appreciation in the value of their property.

A Cash Out is just what it sounds like, a loan so that homeowners can refinance their existing mortgage and access cash. New regulations from Congress has raised the loan limit across the country. In some places doubling the limit from $300,000 to $600,000 depending on the value of the home.

FHA Streamlined Refinance loans is another way to go. It allows you to refinance quickly with much less paperwork.  

FHA Loan Mortgage Refinance is often done without new appraisals and very little credit restrictions, lower interest, no income requirements and little or no documentations.  The only stipulations in this kind of loan is that you must presently have an FHA housing loan and be in good standing as an existing FHA housing loan customer.

Getting the equity out of your home to pay off credit card debt is a smart move.  This could be a real saving on your tax returns.  Home equity interest is usually tax deductible and credit card interest is not.  Please consult your tax specialist for your situation.

Also, the interest on a home equity loan is usually lower than credit card interest.  When you are rated on your credit score the companies look differently at credit card debt and home equity debt.  By checking out the sites online and answering some simple questions you can get a good overall picture of the pros and cons of refinancing.

Yes, now is a good time to refinance your FHA Housing Loan and a FHA Loan Mortgage Refinance could be just what you are looking for!

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