What is a FHA Mortgage Loan?

What is a FHA Mortgage Loan?  The FHA 203(b) Mortgage Loan is the most “basic” FHA-insured mortgage loan. There are several types of FHA-insured loans … a whole alphabet soup of them.  This is the one buyers talk about when they apply for a home loan.

FHA loans are Not Just for First Homebuyers. FHA loans can also be used to:
•  move up to a bigger home
•  downsize to a smaller one
•  Buy a second/vacation home
•  Refinance an existing mortgage loan
•  However … You can have only one FHA-insured loan at a time. You can’t have a FHA insured loan in your name and get a second loan.

But before we go too much further …Let’s Talk About Some Basics.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a federal agency that insures loans made by FHA-approved lenders. The FHA’s objective is to assist in providing housing opportunities to families who cannot meet the qualification requirements for conventional mortgage loans.
•  FHA does not set interest rates. Rates are determined by market conditions and negotiated between the buyer and the lender.
•  FHA does not lend directly. The money comes from participating lenders. FHA works with these lenders to insure quality, regulatory compliance, and fairness in the lending process.
•  FHA Mortgage Insurance provides FHA-approved lenders with protection against the risk that homeowners will default (foreclosure) on their mortgage obligation. The comfort level of FHA insurance enables these lenders to consider applications from buyers with as little as 3.50% down payment, credit scores in the mid-600 range and low interest rates.

FHA 203b Loan Guidelines:
FHA sets the guidelines to qualify for a 203(B) mortgage. There are a lot of them. Participating lenders may add “overlay” criteria to qualify for their version of the 203b mortgage. For example; FHA sets minimum credit score of 580 to qualify for this program. Most lenders require a minimum score of 640 to qualify. Talk candidly with your mortgage broker about your situation and about his access to lenders who offer FHA mortgages with the overlays that address your needs.
Here is an overview of the more attractive features of a FHA 203b mortgage:
•  Owner occupied homes only — you must intend on living in the property.
•  The program is not restricted First-Time Home Buyers.  Any qualified borrower may utilize these loans for financing the purchase of a new home.
•  FHA insurance enables lenders to offer the program at a lower interest rate than might be available to a buyer with similar circumstances who opts for a conventional loan product.
•  The FHA 203b program allows for a 3.5% down payment. These monies can come from the borrowers’ own savings or can be a gift from family members. The program also allows 100% of the closing costs can be in the form of a gift.
•  The FHA 203(b) will consider the income of non-occupant co-borrower to help qualify for the loan. This is a great way for parents to help young buyers purchase their first home.
•  Seller Concessions: Home sellers can elect to contribute up to 6% of the house purchase price toward the closing costs associated with the loan. Buyers should discuss this option with their Realtor® when negotiating the purchase contract.
•  The 203(b) loan can be structured as a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loan. There tends to be more flexibility in calculating household income and debt-to-income ratios.
•  The FHA 203(b) can be used to a single family, a duplex, a 3 family, or a 4 family multi-unit, owner occupied property. Remember, with a 3-4 unit loan, the down payment requirement is greater and the buyer must have 3 months mortgage, taxes and insurance payments (PITI) available in savings after the loan closes.

Now Let’s Talk About Mortgage Insurance.
To cover the risk of a borrower defaulting on the monthly payments, FHA charges an Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) as well as an annual Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP).  The cost of this insurance is paid for by the borrower. The UFMIP is typically added to the base loan amount and becomes part of borrower’s monthly payment. The annual MIP is divided into monthly installments and included in the borrower’s monthly obligation.
Recent legislation has made FHA insurance more expensive. Give me a call. Let’srun the numbers to see if an FHA 203(b) is the best option for you and your family

Bottom Line
When your mortgage is insured by FHA, you become a secure and desirable borrower. Lenders are willing to extend benefits to you can’t find with conventional loans. The major benefit of FHA Loans is that you can qualify for a loan with a low down payment. Most conventional loans require a 20% down payment. FHA loans require a 3.5% down payment. With a gift for the down payment and seller concessions for the closing costs, you could move in with very little out-of pocket expense. Plus, should you have low credit scores or low income, you will still be able to take advantage of the benefits that make FHA Loans so affordable. Talk to your loan officer, or give me a call, to see if this is the Right mortgage option for you.

What is the FHA?

What is the FHA?
The FHA’s main objective is to assist in providing housing opportunities for low and moderate-income families. FHA insured mortgage loans are a type of public assistance and historically have allowed lower income Americans to borrow money for the purchase of a home that they would not otherwise be able to afford. Anyone who is a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident alien, or a non-permanent resident with a work visa and who meets the FHA’s lending guidelines can apply for a FHA-insured mortgage loan.

The Federal Housing Administration, commonly known as “FHA”  is an agency of the federal government that provides mortgage insurance on loans made by FHA-approved lenders. Congress created the Fedral Housing Adminstration in 1934. The FHA became a part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1965.

Every loan … credit card car loan, or mortgage … carries a certain element of risk. Lenders are most concerned with the risk of default … the risk that homeowners won’t repay their mortgage loan. Low down payments and low credit scores increase lenders concern about risk. The smaller the down payment, the greater the risk that the borrower will walk away from the house when times get tough.

FHA mortgage insurance provides FHA-Approved Lenders with protection against losses as the result of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage loans. The lenders bear less risk because FHA will pay-off the lender’s mortgage in the event of a homeowner’s default. The added comfort level of FHA insurance enables lenders to consider applications from buyers with as little as 3.50% down payment and credit scores in the mid-600 range. Loans must meet strict requirements established by the FHA to qualify for insurance.

As my Dad used to say, “Nothing in life is free.” The cost of this mortgage insurance is passed along to the homeowner. An up-front mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP) equal to a percentage of the loan amount is due at closing. This UFMIP is normally added to the loan amount and financed over the term of the loan. In addition, there is a monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP), also referred to as PMI … that is included in the monthly payment. 

In summary … FHA enables homebuyers to own their own home with a small down payment. Little equity means greater risk to the lender. Greater risk means higher interest rates. FHA mortgage insurance reduces lender concerns. Borrower pays UFMIP and MIP to reduce lenders’ risk.  When compared to conventional financing, an FHA-insured mortgage loan provides those homebuyers with limited cash and lower credit scores with the best low-cost financing option.

Avoid disappointment and future regret! NOW is the time to buy! Call me today for details on FHA financing. I’m here to help.