FHA home loans: Features, benefits and eligibility
Government loans are a wonderful option for borrowers in need of a more expansive credit box, but they also feature a number of benefits for other consumers. Take a closer look at the FHA home loan, backed by the U.S. Federal Housing Administration and managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This increasingly popular mortgage requires a lower credit score to qualify and gives you the option to put as little as 3.5% down.
It’s always best to consult with a mortgage expert when deciding if an FHA loan is right for you and your life situation. In the meantime, prepare for that all-important conversation by using the FHA mortgage breakdown below.
Eligibility
FHA loans have no geographical or income restrictions like USDA loans, nor do they require military service like VA loans. Among government loans, then, FHA mortgages are especially appealing because more borrowers can apply!
Creditworthiness
As with conventional mortgages, lenders need to see a minimum credit score to validate FHA loan approval. FHA loans offer more forgiving credit qualifying requirements and therefore they allow more borrowers, including those with lower credit scores to become homeowners.
Loan types
Purchase
FHA interest rates are often very competitive with conventional mortgage rates. FHA products can take the form of a fixed rate and the FHA conforming loan limit is set at 65% of the national conforming limit of $766,550. With a 3.5% down-payment option, low rates and credit qualifying flexibility, FHA home loans are incredibly attractive to those who qualify.
Refinance
The FHA allows for both streamline and cash-out refinancing. With the streamline option, the goals are to get a lower rate and make a lower monthly payment, so the value of the new loan won’t be more than the current loan. In this scenario, establishing the home’s value isn’t factored so an appraisal isn’t necessary. In the cash-out option, the new loan will be larger, so the home’s value and borrower credit status will have to be re-evaluated.
Home improvement
The FHA offers home renovation loans that can be used during purchase or refinance transactions. Called FHA 203k loans, they come in two versions: The limited, or “FHA 203K streamline” 203k, and the full, or Limited 203k. The limited 203k is for smaller repairs and improvements that won’t require off-site habitation or exceed $35,000,1 whereas the full 203k is for major projects without a financial limit that likely require alternative living arrangements. This “consultant” 203k is so named because it requires the input and attention of a HUD representative throughout the renovation.
Fees
FHA home loans require a 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance fee and an annual insurance payment that ranges from .45% and 1.05%, depending on the loan term, amount and down payment.2 These premiums can be rolled into the monthly mortgage payment to make it easier on borrowers.
Additional properties
FHA home loans usually only apply to primary residences, but exceptions can be made when purchasing second homes. Among them are vacating a jointly owned property or relocating to another area not within reasonable commuting distance.
To learn more about FHA home loan benefits, contact a knowledgeable mortgage expert today!
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1 https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/203k
2https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/fha-mortgage-insurance