FHA Loan Requirements
Whether you're a first time homebuyer, moving to a new home, or want to refinance your existing conventional or FHA mortgage, the FHA loan program will let you purchase a home with a low down payment and flexible guidelines.
- The Facts About FHA Credit Requirements and FICO® Scores
- Do FHA Loan Requirements Apply to All Borrowers?
- Your FHA Loan Credit Qualifications
FHA Limits for 2019
FHA loan limits were established to define how much you can borrow for a HUD-backed mortgage. Each state has different limits, so be sure to look up your state to understand what is available for your FHA home loan.
Down Payment Grants for FHA Loans
Paying the upfront costs of buying a new home can be challenging. To help overcome this hurdle, many local and state agencies offer down payment assistance in the form of grants or second mortgages.
SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
November 5, 2019 - Why do borrowers who want to build a house on their own lot turn to an FHA One-Time Close construction loan instead of conventional construction loans? Perhaps for reasons that include a lower mortgage loan interest rate and a lower down payment requirement.
November 3, 2019 - The idea of planning for ten years or so to buy a home is actually a fairly sound one if you consider having to save up for the down payment, closing costs, moving expenses, and new appliances where needed.
November 2, 2019 - Raising awareness of the lead paint issue is a priority with HUD if the number of awareness campaigns the agency has run over the years is any indication. FHA assumes that homes built before the 1978 lead paint ban went into effect are presumed to be contaminated.
November 1, 2019 - Do you need a home loan? Are you looking for a lower down payment? Borrowers often want to know who offers the lowest mortgage loan interest rates and the lowest down payments, not realizing that they have a say in what is offered.
October 31, 2019 - In August of 2019, the Department of Housing and Urban Development official site was updated to include new guidelines for loss mitigation procedures and foreclosure prevention help for qualifying borrowers affected by natural disasters in federally-declared disaster areas.
October 30, 2019 - The most important rule to know starting out is that you do not have to have (in most cases) an existing FHA mortgage to refinance; you can have a conventional, VA, USDA or other non-FHA mortgage and qualify for a refi.
October 29, 2019 - For some borrowers, the advantages of FHA and VA construction loans include being able to design a home to a specific need or plan, especially if the house hunter needs to install features not considered common among the available home sales in the area.
October 28, 2019 - You can build on your own lot using an FHA mortgage, even as a first-time home buyer. You will get the same 3.5% down payment minimum on an FHA construction loan as you would buying existing construction real estate.
October 27, 2019 - When is housing counseling required for an FHA mortgage? There are different types of housing counseling. One type is intended for any potential home owner and can help with advice on buying a home, how to avoid loan defaults, and help with understanding mortgage credit issues.
October 25, 2019 - If you are buying a home with an FHA mortgage, your seller may be able to help thanks to a rule that permits the owner of the home to contribute up to six percent of the sale price of the home (but no more) toward approved closing costs.
SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
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Learn what your score means.
Homebuyer Terminology
If you’re getting ready to shop around for mortgage options, it’s a good idea to brush up on some of the technical terms in our Mortgage Glossary. You’re going to be hearing a lot of them!
