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 19, 2023 - If you want to buy a fixer-upper, there are some issues to pay attention to before and after you apply for your loan you should be aware of. This is in addition to mortgage loan interest rate trends and changing prices in the housing market.
January 17, 2023 - A lot of people wrote off the idea of buying a home in 2022 because of the unprecedented seller’s market, inflation, and rising interest rates. But in the early days of 2023, some industry professionals are saying this may be a better year to consider your options.
January 15, 2023 - What are the major differences between FHA, VA, and conventional mortgages? No matter if you are buying an existing home or if you choose to have your house built from the ground up, there are some important differences to keep in mind about each type of loan.
January 12, 2023 - There are five things to know about FHA home loans that can help you make more informed decisions while you are still planning. You will want every advantage possible in preparing for the transaction. Here are five things to remember about construction loans.
January 10, 2023 - Want to know how to shop for a home in 2023? FHA home loan limits have increased for the third year in a row and many borrowers are wondering about their options to buy or refinance this year. Here are five things you can do to get ready.
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.
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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!
