Before you get an FHA mortgage for a new or existing home, your loan and closing checklists will help you prepare properly for the loan process. Take the time to discuss the items on these checklists with your realtor and loan officer.

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

FHA Requirements

A Good Loan Checklist Creates a Smooth Application

FHA Loan Checklist

Before you start the FHA loan process, be prepared to provide some information to your loan officer. Have it ready now to save time later.

  • Address to your place of residence (past two years)
  • Social Security numbers
  • Names and location of your employers (past two years)
  • Gross monthly salary at your current job(s)
  • Pertinent information for all checking and savings accounts
  • Pertinent information for all open loans
  • Complete information for other real estate you own
  • Approximate value of all personal property
  • Certificate of Eligibility and DD-214 (for veterans only)
  • Current check stubs and your W-2 forms (past two years)
  • Personal tax returns (past two years), current income statement and business balance sheet for self-employed individuals

In addition, you will need to pay for a credit report and appraisal of the property.

As the buyer and borrower, you will have items on your checklist that are required by your lender, the seller, and even the title company.

The closing checklist covers all the fees to be paid, the information to be provided, and the disclosures to be signed before the title is conveyed to you. Having this checklist ready helps you stay on track as a buyer, and ensures that your closing goes the way you expect.

  • IDENTIFICATION
    All parties at the closing should have valid ID.
  • POLICY OF TITLE INSURANCE
    You must pay for title insurance that guarantees the property is free of previous claims or liens.
  • INSURANCE
    Before you can close on the property, you need to secure homeowner’s insurance, which insures the property in the case of damage.
  • CLOSING FUNDS
    You must bring all funds agreed upon, in the form of a cashier’s check or via electronic wire.

Take the time to discuss the items on your checklist with your realtor, to make sure there is nothing you’re forgetting, and to have the peace of mind that after the closing settlement you’ll be able to move into your new home.

FHA Loan Requirements

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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News

Mortgage Insurance Requirements by Loan Type

March 14, 2024 - Some loan types allow you to pay 20% down to avoid mortgage insurance altogether. Other loan types may allow you to make a larger down payment and stop paying mortgage insurance after 11 years. Other loans have no program-required mortgage insurance guidelines at all.

FHA Home Loan Down Payments: What to Know Before You Buy

March 13, 2024 - FHA home loan down payments are typically lower than many conventional mortgage equivalents, especially if you can’t afford the 20% down needed to avoid conventional private mortgage insurance, which is required on a conventional mortgage.

What to Know When Building or Renovating a Home

March 12, 2024 - Some want to build a home from the ground up, and that job requires an FHA One-Time Close construction loan. Others want to renovate an existing home using an FHA rehabilitation mortgage or its refinance equivalent.

Manufactured Housing and FHA Loans

March 10, 2024 - Roughly 20 million Americans have purchased manufactured housing, and most government-backed mortgage loan programs offer some type of home loan for these borrowers. That includes the FHA, which offers these types of home loans.

One-Time Close Loans Compared to Other Construction Loan Options

March 4, 2024 - If you want to build a house from the ground up using an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, you should research your options to ensure you’re making the right choice for the right project. Do you need an owner-builder loan, a renovation loan, or a construction-only loan?