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 2023 Announced!
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.
For 2023, the FHA floor was set at $472,030 for single-family home loans. This minimum lending amount covers most U.S. counties. The FHA ceiling represents the maximum loan amount and is illustrated in the table below.
| FHA Limits (low cost areas) | |||
| Single | Duplex | Tri-plex | Four-plex |
|---|---|---|---|
| $472,030 | $604,400 | $730,525 | $907,900 |
Also for 2023, the FHA ceiling was set at $1,089,300 for single-family home loans. This represents the highest amount that a borrower can get through the FHA loan program. It applies to high cost areas in the United States and is illustrated in the table below.
| FHA Limits (high cost areas) | |||
| Single | Duplex | Tri-plex | Four-plex |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,089,300 | $1,394,775 | $1,685,850 | $2,095,200 |
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
March 22, 2023 - The timing of credit applications and the amount of debt you carry in your credit accounts are things your lender will take a close look at before deciding to approve or deny your mortgage. Ideally, you want to avoid missed payments at least in the 12 months up to the loan application.
March 21, 2023 - If you are thinking of buying a home with an FHA mortgage, one of the early questions you might be asking is whether or not to buy at all. Is it cheaper to rent or buy in today’s housing markets?
The short answer is that it depends on your own housing market.
March 20, 2023 - The FHA Adjustable Rate Mortgage is an option borrowers have when mortgage loan rates are high. The FHA ARM, as it is sometimes called, starts with a lower introductory interest rate with a fixed period and an expiration date.
March 19, 2023 - In March 2023, one of the major headlines was about the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. The failure of that bank left some worried that a repeat of 2008 was just around the corner. What wasn’t so expected as a result, at least by some, was a drop in mortgage loan interest rates.
March 18, 2023 - Some potential borrowers are confused by the economic reports from other sectors, wondering why in a time of inflation, people are spending money on travel and dining out even as they contemplate whether or not to buy a home this year.
March 17, 2023 - Planning to buy a home with an FHA mortgage or any other loan means considering your options carefully and making smart choices about your finances. It also includes knowing your financial strengths and weaknesses long before you start hunting for a property.
March 15, 2023 - When it’s time to refinance a home loan, there are two basic types of refinancing. One type is an appraisal-required refi loan, the other is a no-appraisal refinance. For FHA loans, the type of refinancing you get without an appraisal is the FHA Streamline Refinance Loan.
March 13, 2023 - Many believe that the Fed’s ongoing efforts to tame inflation are squarely to blame for the rise in mortgage rates. The Fed does not actively set mortgage loan interest rates, but those rates are affected by Fed actions such as increasing the costs of lending money.
March 11, 2023 - One-Time Close construction loans are an important financing option to consider when building a new home there. These low or no down payment construction loans can provide an affordable option for first-time homebuyers or repeat buyers looking to build their dream homes.
March 9, 2023 - Shopping around for the right lender is critical. You don’t buy a car without comparing dealerships, makes, and models. The same is true of buying a home. Like the used car buyer, taking the first offer of credit is likely a mistake if you haven’t compared prices and options elsewhere.
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!
