FHA Loans

FHA home loans are mortgage loans that are insured against default by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans are available for single family and multifamily homes. These home loans allow banks to continuously issue loans without much risk or capital requirements. The FHA doesn't issue loans or set interest rates, it just guarantees against default.

FHA loans allow individuals who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage obtain a loan, especially first time home buyers. These loans offer low minimum down payments, reasonable credit expectations, and flexible income requirements.

FHA loans have been helping people become homeowners since 1934.

What is an FHA Loan?

In 1934, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was established to improve housing standards and to provide an adequate home financing system with mortgage insurance. Now families that may have otherwise been excluded from the housing market could finally buy their dream home.

FHA does not make home loans, it insures a loan; should a homebuyer default, the lender is paid from the insurance fund.

  • Buy a house with as little as 3.5% down (or $0 Down FHA Loan)
  • Ideal for the first-time homebuyers unable to make larger down payments.
  • The right mortgage solution for those who may not qualify for a conventional loan.
  • Down payment assistance programs can be added to a FHA Loan for additional down payment and/or closing cost savings.

What Documents Are Needed for an FHA Loan?

Your loan approval depends 100% on the documentation that you provide at the time of application. You will need to give accurate information on:

Employment

  • Complete Income Tax Returns for past 2-years
  • W-2 & 1099 Statements for past 2-years
  • Pay-Check Stubs for past 2-months
  • Self-Employed Income Tax Returns and YTD Profit & Loss Statements for past 3-years for self-employed borrowers

Savings

  • Complete bank statements for all accounts for past 3-months
  • Recent account statements for retirement, 401k, Mutual Funds, Money Market, Stocks, etc.

Credit

  • Recent bills & statements indicating account numbers and minimum payments
  • Landlord's name, address, telephone number, or 12- months cancelled rent checks
  • Recent utility bills to supplement thin credit
  • Bankruptcy & Discharge Papers if applicable
  • 12-months cancelled checks written by someone you co-signed for to get a mortgage, car, or credit card, this indicates that you are not the one making the payments.

Personal

  • Drivers License
  • Social Security Card
  • Any Divorce, Palimony or Alimony or Child Support papers
  • Green Card or Work Permit if applicable
  • Any homeownership papers

Refinancing or Own Rental Property

  • Note & Deed from any Current Loan
  • Property Tax Bill
  • Hazard Homeowners Insurance Policy
  • A Payment Coupon for Current Mortgage
  • Rental Agreements for a Multi-Unit Property

Buying your first home?

FHA might be just what you need. Your down payment can be as low as 3.5% (or $0 down FHA Home Loan) of the purchase price, and most of your closing costs and fees can be included in the loan. Available on 1-4 unit properties.

Want a fixer-upper?

FHA has a home loan option that allows you to buy a home, fix it up, and include all the costs in one loan. Or, if you own a home that you want to re-model or repair, you can refinance what you owe and add the cost of repairs - all in one loan.  Known as an FHA 203K loan, which is backed by the federal government and is for buyers who want to renovate a home. An FHA 203K loan allows the borrower to finance the home, plus provides financing to do the necessary renovations to the home.

We’re here to make the 203K home loan process easier, with tools and knowledge that will help guide you along the way.

Financial help for seniors

Are you 62 or older? Do you live in your home? Do you own it outright or have a low loan balance? If you can answer "yes" to all of these questions, then the FHA Reverse Mortgage might be right for you. It lets you convert a portion of your equity into cash. Use our Reverse Mortgage Calculator to 

Rebuilding After a Disaster

The FHA 203(h) loan is specifically designed to help homeowners rebuild and recover after a natural disaster. If your home has been damaged or destroyed by a qualified disaster, this loan can provide the funds needed to repair or rebuild your home. With the support of the Federal Housing Administration, we can assist you in accessing the necessary financing to get your life back on track.

Want to make your home more energy efficient?

You can include the costs of energy improvements into an FHA Energy-Efficient Mortgage.

How about manufactured housing and mobile homes?

Yes, FHA has financing for mobile homes and factory-built housing. There are two loan products – one for those who own the land that the home is on and another for mobile homes that are - or will be - located in mobile home parks.

FHA vs. Conventional Home Loan

The main difference between a FHA Loan and a Conventional Home Loan is that a FHA loan requires a lower down payment, and the credit qualifying criteria for a borrower is not as strict. This allows those without a credit history, or with minor credit problems to buy a home. FHA requires a reasonable explanation of any derogatory items, but will use common sense credit underwriting. Some borrowers, with extenuating circumstances surrounding bankruptcy discharged 3-years ago, can work around past credit problems. However, conventional financing relies heavily upon credit scoring, a rating given by a credit bureau such as Experian, Trans-Union or Equifax. If your score is below the minimum standard, you may not qualify.

FHA loans have been helping people become homeowners since 1934. How do we do it?

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - which is part of HUD - insures the loan, so your lender can offer you a better deal.

FHA allows a buyer to purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down. They tend to be more lenient on areas such as credit, funds to close and co-borrowers.

Most loans use a method of analyzing credit called credit scoring in the underwriting process. Studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between low credit scores and higher mortgage delinquency rates. As a result many lenders have established minimum credit scores at which they will accept loans. Unfortunately, a lack of credit, old delinquencies or incorrect information on the credit report can cause a low credit score. FHA does not have specific credit score requirements. Although a high credit score may assist in getting the mortgage approved, a low score is not automatically cause for denial. If the credit scores are low, then it is up to the borrower to demonstrate his/her ability and willingness to pay the loan back. This allows the borrower to explain the circumstances surrounding the credit difficulties and have that explanation considered in the underwriting process.

The underwriter on an FHA loan will review the credit and payment history of a customer concentrating on the most recent 12 to 24 months. If the customer has had a good payment record over the past 12 to 24 months they can often get approved for a mortgage even when Conventional financing has turned them down. An experienced loan officer can help the customer clearly tell their story and will often make suggestions as to how to make the file more acceptable to FHA. Because of FHA's leniency, some borrowers with past credit problems elect to use FHA for loans when they have a substantial down payment rather than getting a higher interest rate conventional loan. FHA tends to be more flexible than Conventional financing in the money needed to purchase the home.

In an FHA mortgage the customer must put at least 3.5% of the sales price into the transaction. Some of this money may be used for down payment and the rest for closing costs . Keep in mind, however,that the total cost to close on an FHA is commonly over the 3.5%. With the down payment, closing costs, money to establish escrows for taxes and insurance plus interest to finish out the month of closing, the total costs can be closer to 6 or 8% of the sales price.

The interest rate that you select will also have a bearing on the total costs. If you select a lower rate so that you can reduce your payment, you may end up paying additional money towards "points". At the same time if you are comfortable with a slightly higher payment you may find a lender that is willing to reduce the costs to close in favor of a higher interest rate.

FHA allows the borrower to get the funds necessary to close from several sources. They include such areas as personal savings, gifts, grants, loans from retirement accounts and seller contributions.

Generally a bankruptcy won’t preclude a borrower from obtaining a FHA Loan. Ideally, a borrower should have re-established their credit with a minimum of two credit accounts such as a car loan, or credit card. Then wait two years since the discharge of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or have a minimum of one year of repayment for a Chapter 13 (the borrower must seek the permission of the courts). Also, the borrower should not have any credit issues like late payments, collections, or credit charge-offs since the bankruptcy. Special exceptions can be made if a borrower has suffered through extenuating circumstances like surviving a serious medical condition, and had to declare bankruptcy because the high medical bills couldn't be paid.