FHA Guidelines
Buying a home can be daunting, which is why it helps to be as informed as possible. Learn all about the FHA loan process and what it takes to get approved.
An FHA loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration. It comes with low down payments for borrowers and protects lenders from financial risk if the borrower defaults on the loan. Lenders have to meet certain criteria for their mortgages to be termed "FHA-approved," and borrowers must also satisfy a number of requirements to qualify for one of these loans.
The FHA has a maximum loan amount that it will insure, based on county and the property size. These caps, known as the FHA Lending Limits, are updated annually and are influenced by the conventional loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHA loan limits for single-family homes in 2024 range from $498,257 to $1,149,825.
A big selling point for FHA loans is the low credit score requirement. Homebuyers with insufficient credit histories, who find it difficult to qualify for conventional loans with higher minimums, can more easily meet the FHA's minimum credit requirement of a 580 FICO score. Learn about what goes into the make-up of you credit score, and how you can work to increase it.
As with any mortgage, you'll incur some fees that need to be paid at the closing of your home loan. These charges are collectively called closing costs and they typically amount to 3% of the loan amount. FHA closing costs encompass all the fees and charges owed at the closing of a mortgage, such as appraisal fees, inspection fees, deposit verification fees, and home inspection fees.
In order to continue backing home loans, the FHA collects a monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium. These funds are used to protect the lenders—in that case that FHA borrowers default on their mortgages—and to fund the agency itself. Homebuyers with an FHA loan pay an Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium, as well as the Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premium.
It's important that the FHA ensures that borrowers are not signing up for mortgages they cannot reasonably afford, which is why it is mandated that all potential homebuyers' debt-to-income ratios fall within certain set maximums. This helps lower the number of foreclosures since borrowers aren't bound to a mortgage they cannot afford.
FHA Loan Articles
February 12, 2024When you are approved for an FHA One-Time Close Construction loan, you get a single loan that pays for both the costs to build the house, and serves as the mortgage. One application, one approval process, and one closing date.
November 22, 2023In the last days of November 2023, mortgage loan rates flirted with the 8% range but have since backed away, showing small but continued improvement. What does this mean for house hunters considering their options to become homeowners soon?
November 4, 2023In May 2023, USA Today published some facts and figures about the state of the housing market in America. If you are weighing your options for an FHA mortgage and trying to decide if it’s cheaper to buy or rent, your zip code may have a lot to do with the answers you get.
October 14, 2023FHA loan limits serve as a crucial mechanism to balance financial sustainability, regional variations in housing costs, and the agency's mission to promote homeownership, particularly for those with limited financial resources.
September 25, 2023Mortgage rates are hitting prospective homeowners hard this year and are approaching 8%, a rate that didn't seem very likely last winter. With so many people priced out of the market by the combination of high rates and a dwindling supply of homes.
September 19, 2023The FHA Handbook serves as a crucial resource for mortgage lenders, appraisers, underwriters, and other professionals involved in the origination and servicing of FHA-insured home loans. It outlines the policies and requirements for FHA-insured mortgages.
