| The federal government has a program of offering | | | | provided the new owner qualifies under FHA guidelines. |
| guarantees for loans. The easiest type of real estate | | | | It is possible that the lending agency will be more |
| mortgage loans to qualify for are Federal Housing | | | | lenient, in times of financial distress. |
| Administration (FHA) loans. The FHA guidelines for loan | | | | Why an FHA Loan Might Not be for You |
| qualification are more flexible than other mortgage | | | | There are dollar limits according to the local area of |
| loans and require only 3% down payment or less. | | | | how much mortgage FHA is willing to guarantee. If you |
| FHA Loan Qualifications | | | | need a large mortgage, this might not be the right |
| You must document 2 years of steady employment, | | | | program for you. Additionally, upfront federal mortgage |
| preferably with same employer, with the last two | | | | insurance premium and ongoing premiums is often |
| years showing the same or increasing income. Your | | | | more costly than private mortgage insurance. If you |
| credit report should have less than 2 dings showing 30 | | | | are a home buyer with a good credit school, you may |
| day late payments in the past two years. Any | | | | easily find standard loans with very little down that are |
| bankruptcy must be at least two years with no credit | | | | more competitive than FHA loans. |
| problems since then. You must have three years of | | | | As always, you should compare FHA loans against |
| good credit since any foreclosure. Your mortgage | | | | other mortgage options. FHA loans appeal particularly |
| payment can only be about 30 percent of you gross | | | | to home buyers with less cash reserves as FHA does |
| income. | | | | not require borrowers to have reserves of up to three |
| Benefits for FHA Mortgages | | | | months of payments after closing. Lenders want to |
| It is easier to use a gift towards the down payment | | | | make sure that you will get off to a good start making |
| and closing costs. You will find there is no prepayment | | | | your monthly payments. |
| penalty. Sometimes an FHA loan is assumable | | | | |