What is the most Common Fha Loan?

Basic Info First: 203B Purchase

Down payment: 3.5%

Buyer can negotiate with Seller to pay Closing Costs: 6%

Who is eligible for FHA Financing:Everyone

Minimum Credit Score Accepted by Majority of Lenders: 580 Midscore

Minimum Credit Score Accepted by Very Few Lenders: 531 Midscore

What is FHA Mortgage Insurance?

FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses as the result of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage loans. The lenders bear less risk because FHA will pay a claim to the lender in the event of a homeowner's default. Loans must meet certain requirements established by FHA to qualify for insurance.

Why does FHA Mortgage Insurance exist?

Unlike conventional loans that adhere to strict underwriting guidelines, FHA-insured loans require very little cash investment to close a loan. There is more flexibility in calculating household income and payment ratios. The cost of the mortgage insurance is passed along to the homeowner and typically is included in the monthly payment. In most cases, the insurance cost to the homeowner will drop off after five years or when the remaining balance on the loan is 78 percent of the value of the property -whichever is longer.

How is FHA funded?

FHA is the only government agency that operates entirely from its self-generated income and costs the taxpayers nothing. The proceeds from the mortgage insurance paid by the homeowners are captured in an account that is used to operate the program entirely. FHA provides a huge economic stimulation to the country in the form of home and community development, which trickles down to local communities in the form of jobs, building suppliers, tax bases, schools, and other forms of revenue.

The History of FHA

Congress created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in 1934. The FHA became a part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Housing in 1965.

When the FHA was created, the housing industry was flat on its back:

• Two million construction workers had lost their jobs.
  
  
• Terms were difficult to meet for homebuyers seeking mortgages.
  
  
• Mortgage loan terms were limited to 50 percent of the property's market value, with a repayment schedule spread over three to five years and ending with a balloon payment.
  
  
• America was primarily a nation of renters. Only four in 10 households owned homes.
  

During the 1940s, FHA programs helped finance military housing and homes for returning veterans and their families after the war.

In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the FHA helped to spark the production of millions of units of privately-owned apartments for elderly, handicapped and lower income Americans. When soaring inflation and energy costs threatened the survival of thousands of private apartment buildings in the 1970s, FHA's emergency financing kept cash-strapped properties afloat.

The FHA moved in to steady falling home prices and made it possible for potential homebuyers to get the financing they needed when recession prompted private mortgage insurers to pull out of oil producing states in the 1980s.

By 2001, the nation's homeownership rate had soared to an all time high of 68.1 percent as of the third quarter that year.

The FHA and HUD have insured over 34 million home mortgages and 47,205 multifamily project mortgages since 1934. FHA currently has 4.8 million insured single family mortgages and 13,000 insured multifamily projects in its portfolio.

In the more than 60 years since the FHA was created, much has changed and Americans are now arguably the best housed people in the world. HUD has helped greatly with that success.

Mortgage insurance for standard purchase and refinance mortgages

• The Section 203(b) program provides low-cost insurance for fixed-rate mortgages and refinances.
• Low-cost mortgage insurance for adjustable-rate mortgages is available through the FHA's Section 251 program.
• Condominium buyers can obtain mortgage insurance for 30-year mortgage loans under Section 234(c).

Insured reverse mortgage

FHA reverse mortgages allow homeowners aged 62 and older to cash out the equity in their homes without obligating them to monthly debt repayments. The reverse mortgage isn't repaid until the homeowner sells the home or passes away.

Reverse mortgages are becoming popular in America. HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) created one of the first. The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is FHA's reverse mortgage program which enables you to withdraw some of the equity in your home. The HECM is a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages in general by calling AARP toll free at (800) 209-8085. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it's smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!

Top Ten Things to Know if You're Interested in a Reverse Mortgage

1. What is a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets you convert a portion of the equity in your home into cash. The equity that built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. FHA's HECM provides these benefits. You can also use a HECM to purchase a primary residence if you are able to use cash on hand to pay the difference between the HECM proceeds and the sales price plus closing costs for the property you are purchasing.

2. Can I qualify for FHA's HECM reverse mortgage?

To be eligible for a FHA HECM, the FHA requires that you be a homeowner 62 years of age or older, own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at closing with proceeds from the reverse loan, and you must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from an approved HECM counselor prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on (800) 569-4287 for the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA-approved lenders within your area.

3. Can I apply if I didn't buy my present house with FHA mortgage insurance?

Yes. It doesn't matter if you didn't buy it with an FHA-insured mortgage. Your new FHA HECM will be FHA-insured.

4. What types of homes are eligible?

To be eligible for the FHA HECM, your home must be a single family home or a 1-4 unit home with one unit occupied by the borrower. HUD-approved condominiums and manufactured homes that meet FHA requirements are also eligible.

5. What's the difference between a reverse mortgage and a bank home equity loan?

With a traditional second mortgage, or a home equity line of credit, you must have sufficient income versus debt ratio to qualify for the loan, and you are required to make monthly mortgage payments. The reverse mortgage is different in that it pays you, and is available regardless of your current income. The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow.

You don't make payments, because the loan is not due as long as the house is your principal residence. Like all homeowners, you still are required to pay your real estate taxes, insurance and other conventional payments like utilities. With an FHA HECM you cannot be foreclosed or forced to vacate your house because you "missed your mortgage payment."

6. Can the lender take my home away if I outlive the loan?

No. You do not need to repay the loan as long as you or one of the borrowers continues to live in the house and keeps the taxes and insurance current. You can never owe more than the value of your home at the time you or your heirs sell the home.

7. Will I still have an estate that I can leave to my heirs?

When you sell your home, you or your estate will repay the cash you received from the reverse mortgage plus interest and other fees, to the lender. The remaining equity in your home, if any, belongs to you or to your heirs.

8. How much money can I get from my home?

The amount you can borrow depends on your age, the current interest rate, and the appraised value of your home or FHA's mortgage limits for your area, whichever is less. Generally, the more valuable your home is, the older you are, the lower the interest, the more you can borrow. You can use an online calculator like the one on the AARP website to get an idea of what you may be able to borrow.

9. Should I use an estate planning service to find a reverse mortgage?

FHA does NOT recommend using any service that charges a fee for referring a borrower to an FHA lender. FHA provides this information free, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are available for free or at very low cost, to provide information, counseling, and a free referral to a list of FHA-approved lenders. Search online or call (800) 569-4287 toll-free, for the name and location of a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you.

10. How do I receive my payments?

You have five options:

• Tenure - equal monthly payments as long as at least one borrower lives and continues to occupy the property as a principal residence.
• Term - equal monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected.
• Line of Credit - unscheduled payments or installments, at times and in amounts of your choosing until the line of credit is exhausted.
• Modified Tenure - combination of line of credit with monthly payments for as long as you remain in the home.
• Modified Term - combination of line of credit plus monthly payments for a fixed period of months selected by the borrower.

Insured energy efficient mortgage (EEM)

The FHA's energy efficient mortgage program insures financing to pay for home energy improvements. To qualify, the borrower must be eligible for an FHA-backed loan in the amount of the purchase price. A home energy rating report determines how much additional financing is needed to cover the cost of the energy improvements.

In 1992, Congress mandated a pilot demonstration of Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) in five states. In 1995, the pilot was expanded as a national program.

EEMs recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage. FHA EEMs provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase or refinance a principal residence and incorporate the cost of energy efficient improvements into the mortgage. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a downpayment on it. The mortgage loan is funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank, or savings and loan association, and the mortgage is insured by HUD. FHA insures loans. FHA does not provide loans.

Eligibility Requirements

	The borrower is eligible for a maximum FHA insured loan, using standard underwriting procedures. The borrower must make a 3.5 percent cash investment in the property. This 3.5 percent cash investment is based on the sales price or appraised value for a refinance. Closing costs are not included in the 3.5 percent calculation but may be used to satisfy the requirement. Any upfront mortgage insurance premium can be financed as part of the mortgage.
	Eligible properties are one to four unit existing and new construction.
	The cost of the energy efficient improvements that may be eligible for financing into the mortgage is the greater of 5 percent of the property’s value (not to exceed $8,000), or $4,000.
	To be eligible for inclusion in this mortgage, the energy efficient improvements must be cost effective, meaning that the total cost of the improvements is less than the total present value of the energy saved over the useful life of the energy improvement.
	The cost of the energy improvements and estimate of the energy savings must be determined by a home energy rating report which is done by a home energy rating system or energy consultant. The cost of the energy rating may be financed as part of the costeffective energy package.
	The energy improvements are installed after the loan closes. The lender will place the money in an escrow account. The money will be released to the borrower after an inspection verifies that the improvements are installed and the energy savings will be achieved.
	The maximum mortgage limit for a single family unit depends on its location, and it is adjusted annually. To find FHA maximum mortgage limits for any county in the country. The cost of the eligible energy efficient improvements is added to the mortgage amount. The final loan amount can exceed the maximum mortgage limit by the amount of the energy efficient improvements.

FHA "Kitty Condo"

A great way for young adults to get started buying their first home is by using the FHA "Kiddie Condo" Loan Program. This type of  mortgage allows a person to co-borrow with a blood relative (eg. parent, grandparent, sibling, etc.) who helps qualify for the loan using their income or assets. Both borrowers take title to the property and sign for the loan.

There are three big advantages to using this type of loan.
1. A low downpayment (as little as 3% of the purchase price).
2. A lower, owner-occupied interest-rate on the mortgage Vs the higher investment property interest rate.
3. Helps the new borrower establish a solid credit rating.

With a Kiddie Condo loan program, at least one borrower must occupy the property as his/her primary residence, but extra bedrooms could be rented out to help cover the cost of the mortgage payments. This is a perfect way for a college student, recent graduate, or anyone unable to obtain a loan on his/her own to buy a condo or townhome or single family home with the help of a family member.

The tax benefits, such as deducting mortgage interest and real estate taxes on a Federal Income tax return, can be divided among the owners, according to who pays the expense. See your tax advisor for details.

Make sure you read the section on credit as both borrowers must qualify.  If the owner occupant has little or no credit you should review the "non traditional credit" section and pay particular attention to the information on the 2nd page.

Note that the property DOES NOT have to be a Condo. If it is a condo then you need to make sure that the project is approved or the that the property can get a "Spot approval".