So, you’ve decided to buy a home, you’ve selected the best realtor in town, and now the realtor has given you the task of becoming pre-approved.  The next step is to contact a lender who can guide you through the pre-approval process.

Once you find a mortgage lender, you will complete a mortgage loan application.  From that application, your mortgage lender will identify the loan products for which you are eligible and will probably make a recommendation.  If an FHA loan has been recommended to you, here’s an overview of that product.

One downside to an FHA loan is that the minimum property standards are more demanding than a conventional loan.  The guidelines require the following criteria be met:

If a property has missing handrails, chipping paint in a home built prior to 1978, or termite damage that could impair the structural integrity of the property, it will not qualify for FHA financing unless the repairs are made prior to closing on the home.

If you find out the underwriter is requesting repairs to the home prior to closing, your realtor will try to negotiate repairs with the seller.  If the seller isn’t willing or able to make the repairs, you may be able to switch to a203(k) renovation loan.  With a 203(k), you can finance the cost of these repairs into your loan, and you will be able to close before the repairs are made.  The lender will then hold the repair funds in an escrow account and disperse them to the contractor(s) performing the work to your home.

If the seller is a bank, it is less likely they will agree to make repairs, but I have had it happen before.  The most important thing to remember when dealing with a property sold by a bank is to have patience.  It will take longer to get an answer back from them, but they may be willing to comply knowing that anyone trying to obtain FHA financing will run into the same hurdle.

Here’s some good news:  FHA interest rates will be lower than conventional interest rates.  Because of this, even though the mortgage insurance is more expensive, the monthly payment isn’t significantly higher.

FHA mortgage insurance used to drop off of the loan, but the rules changed in 2013.  The only way to get rid of FHA mortgage insurance now is to refinance into a conventional loan.  If you are buying your forever house, it may be a good idea to look into that at some point.

If you have questions about whether an FHA loan is the best product for you when buying a home in Solano (Vacaville, Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisun City) or Napa please contact me and I will help you work through your options!  

Nicole Solari