FHA home loans are a great choice for Sarasota FL home buyers, especially first time home buyers with limited savings. In this post we will talk briefly of what the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) does and the great benefits to the Sarasota FHA Mortgage
First it should be noted that FHA does not actually lend homebuyers money directly. FHA only insures the loan with approved lenders and banks against loss. FHA loans are given to consumers though FHA approved lenders in Sarasota who lend money to buyers that have FHA insurance for the loans. FHA loans are meant to help people who by offering lower mandatory down payments. This is great for Sarasota first time home owners that have min savings.
Approved lenders and banks also like the FHA program because FHA insures that if the loans default, then the lender gets repaid out of the FHA insurance fund. The FHA loan program was initially developed in the 1930s as a way to help the housing market gain traction and it has helped millions of buyers purchase a home that would have otherwise not qualified for traditional conventional financing.
FHA loan benefits:
FHA loans have risen in popularity in recent years because lenders have increased requirements (especially down payments) for other loans. When compared to other types of loans, FHA loans are generally easier to qualify for due to flexible guidelines and lower down payment requirements.
How to get started and pre approved for FHA Loan:
The first step to qualifying for an FHA loan is to work with a loan officer to discuss your goals. The loan officer will discuss all the application and pre approval requirements. The entire process usually takes less than 30 min.
General FHA loan requirements include:
Credit score: The min FHA credit score standards will depend on the amount of money you put down on your new home – 3.5%, 5%, 10% ,etc. The min requirements generally start at 620 as of 2013.
Documenting an employment history over the last two years. FHA guidelines consider the last two years of employment and look at a steady pay history or employment with the same employer.
Homebuyers also must have a valid social security number and be a resident of the US. There are exceptions for resident aliens, but these exceptions can vary by lender.
FHA loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5% when buying a home – but the down payment may be a gift from family, etc under certain conditions.
The subject property will need to be inspected by an FHA appraiser (through the lender) and an FHA approved appraisal must be done. The home appraisal amount must be no lower than the sales price of the home.
FHA Debt to income. This can also vary from lender to lender, but generally all lenders want to see your debt to income ratios for housing expenses not exceed 35% of your gross monthly income. Your total debt should not be more than 45% of your gross monthly income.
Mortgage Insurance For FHA Loans: FHA UFMIP (more commonly know as PMI)
All FHA loans are required to have mortgage insurance – both in up-front mortgage insurance (UFMIP) as well as monthly mortgage insurance. Up-front mortgage insurance premium (UFMIP or MIP) is an insurance premium that is collected at time of closing and is paid directly to FHA. It is financed into the loan and is 1.75% of the loan amount, regardless of their credit score.
So as an example for a $200,000 loan you would pay 1.75% of the total loan amount or $3,500.
The monthly insurance depends on down payment, term, among other factors.
Questions? We are available to assist you 7 days a week. For quick service please submit the “Request Contact” form at the top right side of your screen. Mobile users can find the short Request Contact Form here. Please also be sure to visit www.FiveStarsMortgage.com for the latest mortgage info.
Serving Englewood, Laurel, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Sarasota, South Venice, Vamo, Venice and Warm Mineral Springs.
Homebuyers looking to purchase in more rural outlying locations of Sarasota County should also look into the USDA Housing Loan at https://www.fivestarsmortgage.com/usda-rural-loan
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