Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Getting The Most From FHA Loan Requirements 2011

By Johnnie Velazquez


The many foreclosures the past several years has put limits in place on government backed loans. The news is not all bad. In fact, most FHA loan requirements 2011 guidelines allows many to qualify that did not think they would be able to.

You do not need perfect credit to purchase your home. By stimulating the housing market, the government hopes to see home values rebound. If you are attempting a 3.5% down payment loan, you will need to have a score of 580 and above. You can see about getting any other fees negotiated in the contract such as closing costs. Many people find they have a score above 600.

Those with scores of 500 to 579 will need a minimum of 10% down. For those below 500, they are not eligible. Bankruptcies must be two years from the discharge date and still meet the credit score guidelines.

The purpose of FHA mortgages is to protect the lender from losses in the event they borrow can no longer make the payments. Mortgage insurance is mandatory for any FHA loan. These fees will need to be factored into your monthly payment. Premiums were increased in April of 2011. F

Since FHA does not lend the funds, they go through FHA approved lenders. These lenders have their own guidelines that might not allow you to get approved unless you have a minimum credit score of 620. Some lenders take mitigating factors into consideration. Although they are covered by the government, they still tighten requirements to prove their responsibility.

Some will be willing to look past your score to a point. If you had a bankruptcy, they can look at how you handled all payments since that date and how you improved your score. Even though the FHA guidelines have typical down payments of 3.5% to 10%, they can ask for higher. Many strict debt to income ratios are enforced. This allows them to have you meet the requirements of being able to afford your home.

It is always best to pull your credit report prior to getting a mortgage. This allows you to fix any errors. Once you pre-qualify, you will know your debt to income ratio and can make adjustments if needed. You might need to pay off some debt to get it within the parameters. It can be frustrating to try and buy your home and you have credit or income based issues that can delay or even put an end to the process. It is best to be prepared and then you can handle it ahead of time. Read more about: fha loan requirements 2011




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