FHA Loan Qualifications

What is an FHA loan and do I qualify?

In 1934, Congress established the federal housing administration. This agency built the foundation for more affordable loans, enabling many Americans to buy a home with little money down and low interest rates. The government insures lenders against borrower default on FHA loans, which reduces the risk to lenders and allows them to offer lower interest rates. Additionally, the FHA has set fairly liberal underwriting guidelines that make FHA loans available to a large group of people. This high demand also helps keep the interest rates low.

If you are looking to buy a home with little money down, an FHA loan may me right for you. To help you know if you could qualify for this type of loan, consider the following guidelines:

Income Qualifications

The past two years of complete income tax returns with schedules and W-2s as well as the past two months of pay stubs are used to establish your income. Your monthly gross income (before taxes) is used to determine the loan amount you can qualify for.

Your housing ratio should not exceed 29% of your monthly gross income. This means that the amount you pay each month to cover the principal, interest, taxes, and insurance for your home divided by your monthly income should not be greater than 0.29.

Your total debt ratio should not exceed 41% of your monthly gross income. This means that your mortgage payment, auto payment, and any other debt lasting more than 10 months divided by your monthly income should not be greater than 0.41.

If you have filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must be at least two years from discharge date before you can qualify for an FHA loan.

Down Payment

Most FHA loans require a down payment of 3.5% of the cost of the home. Unlike some other types of loans, this does not have to come from your savings or reserves. The down payment can come as a gift from a family member or from a down payment assistance program.  -Dawn Kornovich   



Shell Island FL 

About Home Loans With Dawn

As a Mortgage Banker, I have 18 plus years of experience in the home loan and new home construction industry. I’ve built a reputation of customer service that is exemplified by the number of repeat clients as well as referrals from past clients. The staff at Gold Star Financial includes a number of people that are veterans to the industry and bring a wealth of experience that is beneficial to my clients. I am dedicated to meeting your financial goals whether it is purchasing a new home or refinancing your current home. Gold Star offers discounts to our current Military and Veterans. We are proud of you and your service to this Country and Community!!!
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