By Daniel Riley
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) does not directly make loans to borrowers but rather provides insurance on loans made by approved lenders. FHA-insured mortgages can be obtained for single-family, multi-family, manufactured and mobile homes, and hospitals.
The FHA was created in 1934 by congress to help Americans to obtain a mortgage and purchase a home. Until the FHA came into being around 60% of Americans rented their homes, and most mortgages had high monthly payments, short loan terms, and stringent approval requirements. In 1965, it became part of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
FHA loans differ from conventional loans in a number of ways. The down payment required for a conventional loan is typically much higher than for an FHA-insured loan. FHA loans also have lower credit requirements than conventional loans, making them more available to a wider range of potential homebuyers.
FHA mortgage insurance appeals to lenders because it protects them against loss should the borrower default on the loan. That is the key difference between FHA mortgages and conventional mortgages – that lenders still get paid no matter what. Because FHA mortgages are more preferable to lenders than conventional loans, it’s far easier for a borrower to get approved for one. It is therefore quite often to a potential homebuyer’s advantage to pursue FHA-insured mortgages.
FHA loans offer borrowers several other valuable benefits, not least of which is those aforementioned smaller down payments. Unlike a conventional loan, which ordinarily requires 10-20% down, FHA-insured loans only require down payments as low as 3-5%. The FHA is also more flexible in calculating factors to determine whether or not to approve the loan, factors such as household income and repayment ratios.
The borrower is the one who pays for the mortgage insurance, usually by having it folded into their monthly mortgage payment. The cost of FHA mortgage insurance typically drops off when the balance remaining on the loan is greater than three-quarters of the property value or after 5 years, which takes longer.
Having insured over 30-million properties since its formation in 1934, the FHA is the world’s single largest mortgage insurer. It is funded completely by way of self-generated income, via the mortgage insurance payments made by its mortgagees (or borrowers). Currently, the FHA has nearly 5-million single-family homes and nearly 15,000 multi-family homes in its insured-mortgage portfolio.
The FHA is considered a boon to the housing market and the nation’s overall economy, as it promotes house building, jobs, schools, tax bases, and community development.
Somerset Mortgage Lenders has been in business since 1979. Whether you are looking to refinance your mortgage, consolidate your debt, improve your home, we can help. Call us toll-free at 1-800-675-9783 or visit us online.
6 Factors to Know if a Borrower is Qualified for a FHA Secure Refinance Loan
By Scott Tucker
The FHA Secure Refinance program was created in an effort to provide greater help for people who weren’t able to obtain FHA-approved loans. As mortgage provider, it’s your job to let homeowner clients know when they’re better off with a FHA Secure loan.
Current Non-FHA Loans
Clients with current adjustable rate loans that hadn’t been provided by an FHA-approved mortgage lender can apply for FHA Secure refinancing. The best way to approach such clients is to draw out their life stories first. Listen to what they’ve gone through just by taking out a non-FHA loan.
Now, highlight to them the various benefits they can enjoy if they take out a FHA-approved mortgage. Let them know that while they may have made a mistake in the past, FHA Secure Refinance gives them the chance to rectify the mistake.
Delinquent Non-FHA Loans
Don’t have clients dismiss their prospects just because they’re delinquent on their payments. Even if they’re not able to pay off their current loan in time, the FHA Secure Refinance program isn’t ready to turn their backs on them yet and neither are you!
Dependable Income
Of course, having a current non-FHA loan, whether of good standing or not, isn’t the only qualification that the FHA Secure Refinance program will be concerned with. Your client must also have a dependable source of income. The FHA isn’t fussy as to what kind of income it is. It may be from full or part-time work. It may come from regular payments from a trust fund, retirement pension, alimony, or some other source. What’s important is that your client will be able to prove its consistency.
Ability to Pay
Naturally, having a reliable source of income isn’t always synonymous to being able to pay off your debts and many are quick to prove this true. You must also ascertain that your client’s source of income is adequate to cover not just the costs of living but his monthly mortgage payment as well. If he’s not qualified to do so then he may not be qualified for a FHA Secure refinance loan.
In this instance, you’ll need to have a heart to heart talk with your client. You might even have to work with them closely and help them determine the actual total of their monthly expenses. You have to determine whether they’re truly unable to afford their mortgages or they’re just guilty of financial mismanagement.
The important thing to remember is not to give up on your client until you’ve exhausted all your options or you’ve realized that another option may be better for him.
Reason for Delinquent Payments
Earlier on, we’ve established that delinquent borrowers won’t be dismissed right away. That’s true. What could get their applications for a FHA Secure refinance loan, however, is if they’re unable to prove that their delinquency is due to higher interest rates or mortgage payments. Again, you might have to work with your client closely to determine whether this is truly the case or not.
More Options for Qualified FHA Secure Refinance Loan Applicants
Now that you’ve guided your client all the way to the finish line, your final job is to ascertain that he makes the right choices till the end. Let him know, for instance, that he has the option to take out a fixed or adjustable refinance loan. When you take care of your clients with a FHA Secure Refinance loan, they’ll take care of you as well with their continued loyalty.
Scott Tucker tells you more on his free audio CD, free e-book, free faxed report, & free telephone seminar, all available for the asking, at www.MortgageMarketingGenius.com/newsletter
Costs of FHA Mortgage Insurance
By Daniel Riley
The Federal Housing Authority’s home buying programs require that a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 1.5% of the amount of the loan be paid upon closing. Fortunately, homebuyers can finance the cost of the MIP into their mortgage amount. An additional .50% MIP is added in the PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) of each monthly payment. Condominiums do not require the 1.5% up-front MIP, only the monthly .50%.
FHA loans carry a higher mortgage interest premium than conventional loan programs, which only demand MIPs as little as .5% (for those homebuyers putting 10% down), with a renewal rate as little as .3% in subsequent years.
It is a widely-known fact that FHA mortgages help a wide variety of Americans who otherwise would not be able to afford a home to buy one. FHA insured loans are not for everyone, however. Though the down payment and therefore up-front costs are lower on FHA mortgages, the monthly payments might possibly be higher.
There is no clear-cut rule to whether a specific FHA loan would cost you more or less than a conventional loan. Just as with conventional mortgages, different FHA mortgages have different interest rates and different loan terms based on numerous factors, not least of which is your credit. With a conventional loan, your credit is considered jointly with your income.
As FHA loans are designed more for low-to-moderate income households, an applicant’s credit is weighted even heavier. The result of this could potentially be higher interest rates and (with the additional cost of monthly mortgage insurance premiums) higher monthly payments than you could get by coming up with a larger down payment and getting a conventional loan.
Of course, that is not always an option for would-be homebuyers. Fortunately, many of the closing costs associated with FHA mortgages can be financed into the loans. The FHA also helps homebuyers by imposing limits on how much money mortgage companies can charge in certain fees, such as loan origination fees which, according to the restrictions placed upon FHA lenders, cannot be higher than 1% of the total loan amount.
The most striking fact about the cost of FHA mortgage insurance however is its cost to taxpayers, that being nil. FHA mortgage is totally self-funded, with the money paid by borrowers in mortgage insurance premiums going directly into an account which pays for the FHA’s expenses. The bottom line of this is that not only do FHA-insured mortgages and FHA mortgage insurance benefit borrowers and lenders alike, but all hardworking American taxpayers as well.
Somerset Mortgage Lenders has been in business since 1979. Whether you are looking to refinance your mortgage, consolidate your debt, improve your home, we can help. Call us toll-free at 1-800-675-9783 or visit us online.
Comparison FHA Home Loans and Conventional Home Loans
By Hendro Iskandar
by Hendro Iskandar
FHA home loans have basic requirements that must be met before qualifying for an FHA loan. FHA home loan requirements are standards that allow first time homebuyers the opportunities to meet mortgage qualifications. FHA home loans are easier to qualify for than conventional loans offered by lending agencies. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a mortgage program that helps those who would not normally qualify for a mortgage loan from a bank or other mortgage company, buy a home. To find FHA home loan requirements, searching the Internet can reveal a variety of publications on and about FHA home loans and FHA home loan requirements. FHA home loans are not loans granted by the government, but FHA home loans are mortgage loans that are guaranteed by the Federal Government.
While the qualifications for an FHA home loan are easier to attain to, the FHA home loan program still has specific criteria that must be met in order to get an FHA home loan. FHA home loans require that an FHA applicant have a good credit report reflecting the ability to make debt payments on time. Applicants for FHA home loans can also claim income from non-conventional sources, such as unemployment and child support. There is a low down payment required with an FHA loan, but homebuyers can pay more than the minimum of three percent, if they desire. Mortgage companies offering FHA home loan services will also calculate an applicant’s debt to income ratio and make sure that it falls within the guidelines set forth by FHA.
FHA home loans also offer a variety of innovative financing options for homebuyers’ consideration. There is an FHA home loan program that allows a homebuyer to include the costs of remodeling an older home into their mortgage note. There are FHA programs that appeal to older homeowners, generally 62 years of age and older, that offers cash for equity in a Reverse Mortgage, helping the elderly have an income. And, most energy improvements to a home can be included in the FHA home loan contract.
FHA home loans offer consumers a great option in mortgages. FHA home loans are generally offered at reasonable interest rates, and guarantee the mortgage company that the loan will be paid. To find out more about an FHA loan and how to apply for an FHA loan with the mortgage company of your choice, log on to the Internet and discover more. There are websites with information on the FHA programs available. The Federal Housing Administration also has an Internet site for reviewing FHA programs and their qualifications.
About Author:
About the author is Hendro Iskandar in FHA Loans. Provide up to date information in FHA Limits tips, tricks and so much more.
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