Tighter FHA Requirements for FHA Lending
Filed under FHA Credit, FHA First Time Home-Buyers, FHA Guidelines, FHA news, FHA refinance, FHA requirements · Tagged:
Expect to see increases in mortgage insurance for FHA mortgage loans typically have a low down payment requirement of only 3.5%, so borrowers must pay for mortgage insurance to offset that risk. Unlike private mortgage insurance, FHA borrowers are able to finance the mortgage insurance, thereby spreading its cost over the loan term.
The first change that will immediately impact borrowers is the FHA’s increase of the required up-front mortgage insurance premium to 2.25% of the base loan amount. This would add an additional $1,447 to a $300,000 mortgage. New Borrowers will see a minimum FICO credit score and 10 % down payment requirements. New borrowers will now be required to have a minimum FICO credit score of 580 to qualify for FHA’s 3.5% down payment program. Borrowers with a credit score below 580, while still able to qualify for a FHA loan, must now put down at least 10% of the purchase price–an amount that may be prohibitive for many borrowers with poor credit.
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The FHA is making an effort to lower its overall risk and improve the financial soundness of its insured loans, which in turn allows for the continued support of home buying in the United States. In doing so the FHA must find a way to keep their insurance fund’s capital ratio returns above the Congressionally mandated 2%, while continuing on their overall mission of aiding borrowers in underserved communities and facilitating the recovery of the housing market. These changes, along with the other FHA reforms will have varying effects on borrowers interested in a FHA home loan. For borrowers with low credit scores, some of these changes, such as the higher down payment percentage, will significantly affect their ability to buy a home. In the short term, the changes may motivate borrowers to lock into the old FHA guidelines before the new changes become effective.
FHA Mortgage Refinancing
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FHA mortgage refinancing has risen as a preferred FHA lending option for borrowers with good and bad credit. In the last few years, FHA refinance loans have become a popular option because the FHA rates are low and the credit guidelines are more forgiving than conforming lending guidelines.
Talk to a licensed FHA professional about your qualifications and see if FHA is a good fit for refinancing your mortgage. Read the entire FHA refinance article online. In the last 3 years, FHA refinance loans have increased their market-share for home loans nationwide.
