FHA loans are a bit of a hard sell in this market because they're not a clean and simple process. Many sellers (depending on the market) are looking for offers that are cash with no contingencies at all. So coming with FHA financing is considered a ``weak'' offer.
Conventional is more favored by sellers. Why? Because they can get away with more shit. FHA has stricter rules and requirements for homes they will lend on. So more stuff the seller might have to fix. Conventional makes sellers assume you have more money than a FHA buyer as well.
With FHA loans, you also have to pay an upfront mortgage insurance fee. This can be financed, but it will cause your mortgage insurance payments to be more expensive than with a conventional mortgage. Inspection standards: To qualify as an FHA-eligible property, a home must go through a property standards inspection.
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.
Since your home must meet FHA property minimums, the appraisal process may include more requirements than a conventional home loan. The appraisal is required to be performed by an FHA approved appraiser and may have additional inspections which could result in a higher appraisal cost.
The FHA's three requirements are that a property must be safe, secure, and structurally sound to qualify for one of their loans. Properties cannot have adverse conditions that might imperil the homeowner, and must meet proper building codes. As a buyer, these standards protect you from buying an unsafe property.
Down payments and gift funds
The minimum down payment required for an FHA loan is 3.5% if you have a credit score of 580 or higher. If you have a credit score from 500 to 579, you'll have to put down at least 10% of the purchase price.
Which loan is better: FHA or conventional? To a large extent, that depends on you and your financial profile. Generally, a conventional loan is best for those with strong credit and a bigger home buying budget. If your credit score is below 620, a loan backed by the FHA might be your only option.
No, FHA loan PMI removal is technically impossible because PMI is for conventional mortgages only. FHA loans have MIP, which usually lasts 11 years or the life of the loan. To remove MIP, you must refinance into a conventional loan once you have enough equity.
However, FHA loans do come with some disadvantages. Aside from the higher cost of the loan, it could take longer to close on your loan too. And if there are any issues that pop up during the appraisal and inspection, it could delay or even derail your purchase.
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.
All FHA loans used for a home purchase require an independent property appraisal. The appraised value must be at least the same as the sales price. If the appraisal comes in lower, the borrowers must either come up with more money to make up the difference or have the home seller reduce the sales price of the home.
Must have an undamaged exterior, foundation and roof. Must have safe and reasonable property access. Must not contain loose wiring and exposed electrical systems. Must have all relevant utilities, including gas, electricity, water and sewage functioning properly.
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.
Common reasons for FHA loan denial include low credit scores, high debt-to-income ratios, insufficient income, insufficient funds for a down payment, and properties not meeting FHA guidelines.
Perhaps the biggest downside of taking out an FHA loan is that you're stuck paying mortgage insurance premiums (MIPs) for the life of your loan. MIP consists of two parts: the up-front mortgage premium, which is 1.75% of your base loan amount, and the annual MIP, which depends on various factors.
FHA flipping rules are designed to protect buyers from predatory flipping practices. The primary rule is the 90-day flipping rule, which restricts FHA loans on properties resold within 90 days of acquisition.
Sellers often prefer conventional buyers because of their own financial views. Because a conventional loan typically requires higher credit and more money down, sellers often deem these reasons as a lower risk to default and traits of a trustworthy buyer.
The first step in negotiating with sellers over FHA-required repairs is to understand your options as a buyer. You have three main choices: you can ask the seller to make the repairs, you can pay for the repairs yourself, or you can walk away from the deal.