When it comes to FHA home loan applications, many borrowers wonder about how long their paperwork will take to make it through the review process. The application phase of an FHA loan can be stressful for some borrowers.

FHA.com: Home Purchase and Refinance Loans

FHA Loan Programs for 2024

The most recognized 3.5% down payment mortgage in the country. Affordable payments w/good credit.

Are You Watching Your Credit Score?




- Improving Your Credit Score Has Never Been More Important -

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.
FHA Home Loans

Choose a Loan Type

FHA.com is a privately owned website, is not a government agency, and does not make loans.

How Long Do FHA Loan Applications Take to Process?

November 28, 2011

When it comes to FHA home loan applications, many borrowers wonder about how long their paperwork will take to make it through the review process. The application phase of an FHA loan can be stressful for some borrowers, especially those who have never applied before and don't know what to expect.

Did you know FHA loans have a rule that the lender must act on your application--and inform you know of that action--no later than 30 days after the application has been completed and turned in? There's just one catch--the application must be totally complete.

Some borrowers choose to submit partial information on credit data, withhold certain details of their employment history or other information , mistakenly believing omitting potentially unfavorable data might protect them from having an application rejected.

But leaving out any required information does not help the borrower at all-the lender cannot process a credit application that is not completely filled out. The FHA "30 day rule" does not apply in cases where incomplete forms have been given back to the lender. Borrowers should know a complete application is the only way the FHA loan process can move forward.

Leaving gaps in the application data could cause serious delays in the processing of an FHA loan application. FHA rules state clearly, "Your application will not be considered complete, and the 30 day period will not begin, until you provide to your lender or mortgage broker all of the material and information requested."

Borrowers concerned about past credit issues or other potentially negative information that could be required on an application form should contact the FHA for advice and housing counseling before filling out an FHA loan application. Doing so early in the process can help FHA loan applicants understand what must be done in order to improve their chances for an FHA insured mortgage. Doing so can also help borrowers understand how FHA loan requirements can be more lenient in some cases depending on the circumstances.

Do you know what's on your credit report?

Learn what your score means.