What is the FHA 12 month rule?

Asked by: Cameron Heaney  |  Last update: February 25, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (3 votes)

FHA First Mortgage Borrower must have owned property for 12 months AND if encumbered by a mortgage made payments for the last 12 months within the month due. Otherwise limited to 85% LTV. Standard 31/43 ratios, may be exceeded with compensating factor(s).

What is the FHA 12 month occupancy rule?

What are the FHA occupancy requirements for a home? The FHA requires borrowers to live in the home as their primary residence for at least one year. Can I rent out my FHA home after the first year? Yes, after fulfilling the initial one-year occupancy requirement, you can rent out your FHA home.

Can you sell an FHA home after 1 year?

You canot sell the house before 12 months. After that there is no one stopping you.

Can I move out of my FHA home before 1 year?

@Spenser Murphy FHA loans require a minimum one year owner occupancy period. So you would need to live there for one year before you could move out and rent it. It's the same for any owner occupant loan, so a conventional loan would be the same.

Is there a way around the 90 day FHA rule?

There are, however, some exceptions to the FHA 90-day flip rule and they are as follows: A builder who has built a new house, or who is selling to a borrower with FHA-insured financing. If the seller inherited the property. If the property is a resale by the HUD or its REO (real estate owned) program.

Homes with FHA Loans Must Be Owner Occupied for 12 Months!

27 related questions found

What is the FHA 6 month flip rule?

The FHA flipping rule requires investors to hold properties for at least 90 days before selling to FHA buyers. This rule impacts property flipping plans by imposing additional scrutiny on sales within 91-180 days. Investors need to factor these timelines into their investment strategies.

What is the FHA 75% rule?

If you're currently in the market looking to buy a triplex or fourplex with FHA financing, you need to see if the property's rents pass the Self-Sufficiency Test. To be “self-sufficient” means that 75% of the property's rents need to cover the monthly payments.

Can I rent out my FHA home after 1 year?

Rent Out Your Primary Residence

If you relocate for your job and need to buy a second home, you may be allowed to rent your current home purchased with an FHA loan as long as you lived there for at least 1 year. The rental income from your tenants should cover your mortgage payments.

How long do you have to live in a home bought with an FHA loan?

The FHA typically requires borrowers to occupy the property they're buying and use it for their primary residence for at least one year. By FHA standards, a primary residence is one in which the owner occupies the property for the “majority” of the year.

Can I keep my old mortgage for a new house?

At its core, a portability loan allows you to keep the same home loan interest rate and loan term when moving to a new property. This feature is particularly beneficial for those with fixed-term loans, as it avoids the break fees commonly associated with early loan termination.

What are the disadvantages of an FHA loan for the seller?

Why Do Sellers Not Like FHA Loans?
  • Buyers love FHA loans for their flexible guidelines and low down payment requirements. ...
  • The largest concern sellers have with FHA loans is the appraisal/inspection process. ...
  • Many sellers prefer conventional financing or any financing over FHA loans.

What happens if you buy a house then sell it a year later?

There is no formal or official penalty for selling a house after just one year, as there might be for, say, withdrawing funds from an IRA early. Some mortgages may carry a prepayment penalty for closing out the mortgage so early, but that's relatively rare.

What is the 12 month rule for FHA loans?

FHA First Mortgage

Borrower must have owned property for 12 months AND if encumbered by a mortgage made payments for the last 12 months within the month due. Otherwise limited to 85% LTV. Standard 31/43 ratios, may be exceeded with compensating factor(s).

Can I get a 2nd FHA loan?

Let's say you're relocating for a job, and it's beyond a reasonable commuting distance from your current primary residence. Even if you're financing your current home with an FHA loan, you may qualify for a second FHA loan for your new home even before you sell your old house.

What is the FHA 3 unit rule?

FHA's self-sufficiency test requires that the rental income from a 3-4 unit covers the property's expenses, including the housing payment. This test ensures that the property generates enough rent to be a sound investment and that you can make the mortgage payments and other obligations.

Can an LLC buy a house with FHA?

LLCs are ineligible for many types of residential mortgages, such as FHA and conventional loans. Still, there is specific financing available for LLCs. It just may come with more costs associated. Another route you can go is to buy the house personally and transfer it to the LLC.

How long do you have to keep an FHA loan before selling?

There are certain exceptions to the rule you're about to read, but in general FHA borrowers should know that homes resold 90 days or less after purchase cannot be financed with an FHA mortgage loan. That does not restrict the owner from trying to sell, but it does restrict the borrower who wants to buy.

Can I airbnb my FHA home?

FHA loan rules do not permit rentals of living units in the home purchased with an FHA mortgage if those rentals are for less than 30 days. The Airbnb business model is not acceptable under FHA loan rules, which means that if you purchase with an FHA mortgage, Airbnb operations are a violation of the FHA loan rules.

How does FHA prove occupancy?

The rules regarding occupancy require that you move into the property within 60 days and that you live there for at least a year before you sell or rent the property out. During that first year the number one way you would be caught is if someone reported you to HUD.

Can I Airbnb my primary residence mortgage?

Yes, you can Airbnb your primary residence, but you need to check your mortgage agreement and local regulations first.

What is the minimum down payment for an FHA loan?

For instance, the minimum required down payment for an FHA loan is only 3.5% of the purchase price.

Can I refinance an FHA loan?

Yes, you can refinance your FHA loan, and you have many different FHA refinance choices. The key is to select the loan type that makes the most sense for you and check that you meet the qualifications.

What is the FHA 3.5% rule?

FHA Loan Down Payments

The minimum down payment you're required to make on an FHA loan is directly linked to your credit score. Your credit score is a number ranging from 300 – 850 that's used to indicate your creditworthiness. An FHA loan requires a minimum 3.5% down payment for credit scores of 580 and higher.

What is the FHA six month rule?

FHA-specifics

If you can show proof that you have now been employed for at least a six-month period before requesting a FHA loan, AND that before any employment gap you worked for two-years straight or longer, you have the potential to get approved.

What is the FHA 10 11 rule?

You can remove MIP after 11 years if your original down payment was at least 10% of the purchase price. If your down payment was less than 10%, you must pay MIP for the life of the loan, unless you refinance.