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
May 30, 2023 - Knowing the down payment rules before you start saving for your home loan may make the entire process more efficient, especially if you know you’re required to give the lender the sources of your down payment money and document it accordingly.
May 27, 2023 - The reasons range from the obvious (low FICO scores) to the not-obvious-at-all (already having one FHA mortgage) and beyond. FHA loan rules say FICO scores between 500 and 579 technically qualify (with a higher down payment), but lender standards also apply.
May 25, 2023 - There are several reasons why a mortgage loan payment might increase. Some borrowers mistakenly assume their home loan payments will never go up, but depending on circumstances, the amount you owe each month may change depending on several variables.
May 24, 2023 - One important thing to know about FHA Rehabilitation Mortgages is that there are two types: one type is the rehab loan you get when you simply want to buy and repair a house, an FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage.
May 23, 2023 - What kind of FHA home loan do you need to buy a home? Do you want to build a home on your own lot from the ground up? That’s the job of an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, which differs from the type of FHA mortgage you need to buy an existing property.
May 22, 2023 - Your income matters if you want to buy or build a home with an FHA mortgage. But there are some misconceptions about home loan approval regarding income. Do you know the difference between the facts and the fiction about home loan income requirements?
May 21, 2023 - The FHA Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM loan, is a reverse mortgage option for seniors, allowing them to borrow against the value of their home without a monthly mortgage payment. HUD and FHA announced revised HECM rules that allow for faster payments.
May 20, 2023 - Time is running out to apply for FHA loan forbearance due to COVID-19 financial complications. Homeowners with FHA mortgages who experienced pandemic-related financial hardship could apply for relief through FHA loan forbearance options offered during the pandemic.
May 18, 2023 - If you want to buy a home and you’re a first-time home buyer, there are plenty of resources you can use to learn more about buying a home, finding contractors to perform home inspections or renovation work, and credit monitoring services that can help.
May 17, 2023 - New house hunters have to learn plenty of numbers associated with FHA home loans. The amount of your down payment is one of those; the amount of time your FHA mortgage insurance will last is another.
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!
