FHA Loans: America's Favorite Mortgage
What appeals to many first-time homebuyers about FHA loans are the lenient eligibility requirements. But whether you're buying your first home, or just moving to a new one, the FHA loan program can help you finance a home with low down payments and flexible guidelines.
A popular FHA program is the fixed-rate mortgage, in which the interest rate remains the same through the term of the loan. With this constant interest rate, monthly payments don't change. Fixed-rate mortgages come with terms of 15 or 30 years.
Adjustable-rate mortgages have an interest rate that—after an introductory period—varies for the life of the loan. The interest rate changes annually, going higher or lower, reflecting the fluctuating market indices approved by the FHA. The FHA has a few adjustable-rate mortgage options that can suit the needs of many borrowers.
This construction loan is an FHA program that finances the lot purchase, construction, and permanent loan of a new home in a single mortgage. You need only qualify once and pay a single set of closing costs. Your fixed-interest rate is locked in and the entire loan is in place before construction on your new home begins.
The FHA offers this type of loan to borrowers who expect their income to increase. The Graduated Payment Mortgage initially has low monthly payments that then gradually increase according to one of five available plans, which have varying lengths and rates.
Growing Equity Mortgages (GEMs) are part of the FHA's Section 245(a) loan type that start off with lower initial payments, and increase according to a predetermined schedule over the life of the loan.
The FHA's Energy Efficient Mortgage program (EEM) finances energy-efficient home improvements for FHA borrowers. This helps homebuyers save money on household utility bills so that they can afford to make monthly payments on their home mortgage.
The FHA helps finance the purchase of condominiums with what is called a Section 234(c) loan. This loan can have a term of up to 30 years. It is primarily for residential condos that have at least two units and are located in an FHA-approved condominium projects.
FHA Loan Articles
July 2, 2023Buying a home is a significant milestone in life, and for many, it's a dream come true. However, the path to homeownership can be fraught with challenges, and one of the most concerning issues can be high FHA loan interest rates.
June 15, 2023When you buy a home with an FHA mortgage, cash for closing costs and your down payment is required. It would be easy to assume you simply give the lender cash in the specified amount and that’s the end of the story.
May 20, 2023Did you know there is an FHA loan option that lets you build a house from the ground up? You can use this mortgage to build on land you own or on land you buy as part of the loan. But you will want to address some issues comparing construction loan options.
May 3, 2023Sometimes when buying a home there may be a question of surplus or excess land. You likely won’t face this issue when buying a condo unit, but for other types of purchases, this may be an important factor in the appraisal process.
April 18, 2023Your lender is required to make sure you can realistically afford your mortgage, and that means verifying that your income is stable, reliable, and will continue after your mortgage has closed. What some don’t realize about this process is that there are standards for verifying income.
March 16, 2023Planning your FHA loan means asking some important questions early in the process. The most obvious question is associated with the type of home you want. How large a house do you need? FHA mortgages allow the purchase of homes with between one and four living units.
