FHA is generally better for people who don't have as much cash in savings. Allows for smaller down payment with some caveats (insurance for the entire life of the loan). Conventional is better if you have more savings and therefore can put more money down.
Conventional is also a bit more flexible when it comes to the condition of the property, and from my experience, sellers prefer a conventional offer over an FHA offer. FHA will usually have a better interest rate and allows for a lower credit score. Which one is best depends on your situation. Good luck!
FHA Loan: Cons
Here are some FHA home loan disadvantages: An extra cost – an upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) of 2.25% of the loan's value. The MIP must either be paid in cash when you get the loan or rolled into the life of the loan. Home price qualifying maximums are set by FHA.
Drawbacks include stricter requirements to qualify, large payments if market rates increase, lack of 5% equity requirement, and additional fees if borrower has a less than excellent credit score.
Conventional loans generally offer lower costs than other loan types, and if you meet credit score requirements and want a down payment of as low as 3%, a conventional mortgage might be the best solution for you. To find out what types of financing you qualify for, start the mortgage application process today.
Do FHA loans have higher monthly payments? That depends. FHA loans require mortgage insurance, which will increase your monthly mortgage payments. But so do conventional loans with less than 20 percent down.
Some reasons a seller might refuse an FHA loan include misconceptions about longer closing times, stricter property requirements, or the belief that FHA borrowers are riskier.
Conventional loans typically require a 620 minimum credit score and at least 3 percent for a down payment. This type of mortgage comes with a fixed or adjustable interest rate, and can be either conforming or nonconforming.
It's often easier to qualify for an FHA loan than for a conventional loan because buyers can have a credit score as low as 580 and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of 50% or lower. However, applicants with a lower credit score and higher DTI ratio may still qualify for an FHA loan.
A conventional loan is often better if you have good or excellent credit because your mortgage rate and private mortgage insurance (PMI) costs will decrease. But an FHA loan can be perfect if your credit score is in the high 500s or low 600s. For lower-credit borrowers, FHA is often the cheaper option.
The closing costs in your FHA loan will be similar to those of a conventional mortgage loan. These costs typically will be around 2% to 6% of the cost of your property. Your costs will be tied to things like your loan amount state the property is located in and lender fees.
The minimum down payment requirement for a conventional loan is 3% of the loan amount. However, lenders may require borrowers with high DTI ratios or low credit scores to make a larger down payment. Even if it's not required, if you're able to make a higher down payment, you may want to consider doing so.
FHA Rates for 700 Credit Score
As of early October 2024, the national average interest rates for FHA loans have shifted significantly compared to previous months. Here are the figures for FHA mortgage rates for borrowers with a 700 credit score: 30-Year Fixed Rate FHA Mortgage: Approximately 6.03%.
You can refinance an FHA loan to a conventional loan, but you'll need to meet minimum requirements. If you don't meet the equity minimum for a conventional loan, you'll need to account for continued PMI costs until you've reached at least an 80% loan-to-value ratio (or lower).
Higher Closing Costs
As noted above, conventional loans tend to have lower closing costs (and be cheaper in general) than government-backed options. However, the downside of conventional loans is that they don't offer as much flexibility to help you avoid paying those costs upfront.
There are no specific income limits for most traditional mortgage loans, such as conventional loans or FHA loans. Lenders typically focus on your income to qualify for a mortgage by looking at factors like your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, credit score, and overall financial stability.
An FHA loan is a government-backed conforming loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA loans have lower credit and down payment requirements for qualified homebuyers. For instance, the minimum required down payment for an FHA loan is only 3.5% of the purchase price.
Unfortunately, sellers often perceive the FHA loan approval process as risky because of the FHA's relatively lenient financial requirements and stricter appraisal and property standards.
The property needs to be free of known hazards that affect health and safety, the home's use, or may affect the structural soundness of the house and its marketability. These include, but are not limited to: Toxic chemicals. Radioactive materials.
A major benefit of a conventional loan is that the buyer often has higher credit ratings and more capital available for a down payment than with an FHA loan. On the other hand, FHA loans may be attractive to some sellers since they only require a small downpayment and have traditionally lower closing costs.
Are there income limits for an FHA mortgage? There's also no maximum income requirement for an FHA loan, so you don't have to worry about earning too much to qualify. These loans are ideal for those who want a lower down payment, and for those with lower credit scores.
The monthly mortgage payment on a $400,000 mortgage typically falls between $2,600 and $3,300. This range depends on several key factors like your chosen loan program, down payment size, and current interest rates.