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.
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
January 7, 2023 - FHA mortgages, like most government-backed home loans, are intended for those who want to buy a home to live in, rather than a house to profit from. You can be a landlord after you buy a house with an FHA mortgage as long as you live there, too.
January 4, 2023 - Some borrowers aren’t sure whether to consider renovating a fixer-upper property in the new year or save themselves the time and labor by purchasing a house that is already up to code and ready to move into on closing day. Which option is better given current market conditions?
January 2, 2023 - Your loan officer might not be able to tell you when rates might slide back down to the 5% range again, but they will be able to tell you whether or not you should consider buying discount points, for example, that could lower your rate.
December 30, 2022 - A borrower waiting for just the right time for mortgage rates may be waiting for a while. But if you are still in the planning and saving stages of your mortgage, when you are ready to fill out loan documents you may find the mortgage market more borrower-friendly.
December 28, 2022 - Reviewing the sources of income and down payment funds? These are not new practices. But the reasons why this scrutiny exists has expanded over time. Today, you should not be surprised by more requirements to show the sourcing of your income or down payment.
December 24, 2022 - When planning to build or buy a home with an FHA loan, there are some basic expectations you should have going into the process. For example, you should not expect to be able to purchase a home using an FHA mortgage without a down payment.
December 21, 2022 - ​Some may be surprised to learn there are still financial relief options associated with COVID-19, but even at the end of 2022 there are new options for those who struggle with the financial aftermath of the global pandemic.
December 20, 2022 - FHA loan limits increase for the third year in a row in 2023. More borrowing power means the ability to buy a bigger home for some, for others it may mean the ability to add improvements or upgrades rather than a larger property.
December 18, 2022 - There are many mortgage industry trends to pay attention to when you are in the planning stages of buying a home with an FHA mortgage. Interest rates, house prices, the cost of third-party services like appraisals and home inspections. There is a lot to keep track of.
December 17, 2022 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to create a lawbreaker database meant to give consumers a more fully informed decision about non-bank options they decide to use in the home buying process. It is said to be creating this registry to fix a lack of full disclosure by non-bank entities.
SEE YOUR CREDIT SCORES From All 3 Bureaus
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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!
