Mortgage Loan Basics - What is an FHA Loan?

Getting a home loan is a pertinent step for allonly require PMI if you're putting less than 20% down
homeowners. With so many programs out there toon the home, but FHA home loans require it regardless
decide on, it may be difficult to reduce your options toof your down payment, or how much equity you have
a single one. FHA loans are one of the morein the residence.
commonly available options.. FHA stands for FederalWith an FHA mortgage, the FHA is taking on all of the
Housing Administration, and they provide a very reliablerisk. If you default on the mortgage, the FHA will pay
mortgage program. Be sure to keep FHA in mind as itthe bank the amount remaining on the mortgage loan.
can provide an superb program if you don't alreadyThis takes the burden off of the banks and puts it
have an FHA home loan.elsewhere. Therefore, the banks are now willing to
So what is FHA all about? The Federal Housingmake more home loans to people that they would not
Administration isn't actually a loan originator. They justnormally mortgage to. Therefore, you might be able to
provide the means for lenders to offer another formmeet the requirements for an FHA home loan even if
of financing for borrowers who meet the requirements.you have failed to qualify for other programs.
You can get them from banks or mortgageAnother big advantage of the FHA programs is that
companies.you do not have to make a large down payment.
The differentiation between traditional home loans andBecause such a low down payment is required, the
FHA home loans is that the Federal HousingFHA program allows for a lot more buyers to buy a
Administration actually insures the mortgage lender inresidence than would otherwise be able to do. Many
the case of borrower default. This insurance allowstraditional home lenders require a much higher
the mortgage lender to offer a more flexible programpercentage down, which eliminates a huge portion of
that means you might be able to get a betterthe market.
mortgage. With a traditional mortgage loan, either youAnother bonus of FHA home loans is that there is no
or the bank will insure the loan. FHA home loans havepre-payment penalty. Some mortgages carry steep
Private Mortgage loan Insurance built into the mortgagepenalties for paying off the home loan earlier than 30
loan - meaning if you have less than 20% equity in theyears. There isn't a worry about that with an FHA
home, you have to pay for that insurance.. The reasonmortgage loan because there are never pre-payment
for the PMI requirement is for the bank's protectionpenalties with a true FHA home loan.
from the unlikely event that you default on your loan.FHA is a great option for some, and for others, there
Private home loan insurance can add a lot of moneycan be better. Be sure to check with your loan expert
to your monthly payment and perhaps put the houseto help decide what decision is best for you.
that you want to buy out of reach. Traditional loans