FHA Requirements
A Good Loan Checklist Creates a Smooth Application
Before you start the FHA loan process, be prepared to provide some information to your loan officer. Have it ready now to save time later.
- Address to your place of residence (past two years)
- Social Security numbers
- Names and location of your employers (past two years)
- Gross monthly salary at your current job(s)
- Pertinent information for all checking and savings accounts
- Pertinent information for all open loans
- Complete information for other real estate you own
- Approximate value of all personal property
- Certificate of Eligibility and DD-214 (for veterans only)
- Current check stubs and your W-2 forms (past two years)
- Personal tax returns (past two years), current income statement and business balance sheet for self-employed individuals
In addition, you will need to pay for a credit report and appraisal of the property.
As the buyer and borrower, you will have items on your checklist that are required by your lender, the seller, and even the title company.
The closing checklist covers all the fees to be paid, the information to be provided, and the disclosures to be signed before the title is conveyed to you. Having this checklist ready helps you stay on track as a buyer, and ensures that your closing goes the way you expect.
- IDENTIFICATION
All parties at the closing should have valid ID. - POLICY OF TITLE INSURANCE
You must pay for title insurance that guarantees the property is free of previous claims or liens. - INSURANCE
Before you can close on the property, you need to secure homeowner’s insurance, which insures the property in the case of damage. - CLOSING FUNDS
You must bring all funds agreed upon, in the form of a cashier’s check or via electronic wire.
Take the time to discuss the items on your checklist with your realtor, to make sure there is nothing you’re forgetting, and to have the peace of mind that after the closing settlement you’ll be able to move into your new home.
FHA Loan Requirements
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
September 27, 2022 - FHA loans are typically easier to qualify for than conventional loans, but conventional loans may be cheaper in the long run. But for those who need the added credit score flexibility, an FHA loan is an option worth considering.
September 26, 2022 - Knowing the FHA loan rules for loan approval in certain regions of the country can be important especially if the home you want to buy may be located in a known flood zone. Homes in certain types of flood zones or Special Flood Hazard Areas are not eligible for FHA mortgages.
September 25, 2022 - FHA appraisers must follow certain rules governing the process including some that address specific systems in the home. Some FHA appraisal requirements depend on standards set by the local authority, while others have specific guidance found in FHA rulebooks.
September 17, 2022 - The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced a settlement in a housing discrimination case involving the Housing Authority of the City of Dallas (DHA), which requires the agency to pay a whopping $500,000 penalty to a former resident of public housing there.
September 15, 2022 - Does it hurt a borrower’s chances when applying for an FHA mortgage loan if there’s a debt owed to the federal government? Can unpaid federal taxes become a barrier to an FHA mortgage loan? The FHA recognizes two types of circumstances–tax debt and non-tax debt.
