What Is An FHA Loan And Why Ask For It?

There are lots of reasons to ask for an FHA loan. Why not take advantage of the many benefits and protections that only come with FHA:

Loan Amounts - All the way up to $729,750 for high cost areas with as little as 3.50% down. Call to see what maximum loan amount your county goes up to.

Refundable UFMIP – When you refinance out of your FHA home loan within a certain amount of time.

Easier to Qualify - Because the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures your mortgage, lenders are more willing to give loans with lower qualifying requirements.

Less than Perfect Credit - Even if you have had credit problems, such as bankruptcy, its easier for you to qualify for an FHA loan than a conventional loan.

Low Down Payment - We have a low 3.50% down payment, and that money can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization. Other loans don't allow this.

Costs Less - FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the loans are insured by the Federal Government. Always compare an FHA loan with other loan types.

Help You Keep Your Home - FHA loans have been around since 1934 and will continue to be here to protect you when the other banks cannot. Should you encounter hard times after buying your home, FHA has many options to help keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.

There is more to buying your home than the monthly house payment. Why not ask for an FHA loan that will help you buy your house and keep it too? Tell your lender you want an FHA loan for all the reasons above. FHA is a wise choice.

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 and often require 20% down payments, 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 takes longer to accomplish.

How is FHA funded? FHA is the only government agency operating entirely from self-generated income and costing taxpayers nothing. Proceeds from the mortgage insurance paid by homeowners are captured in an account used to operate the program. FHA provides a huge economic stimulus 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.