From qualifications required to fees and costs of both loan types, sellers must pay attention to the details when making their decision. One of the top reasons why some sellers opt for conventional mortgages is because they routinely require a higher credit score than FHA mortgages.
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.
FHA loans generally accept modest credit scores: Borrowers with lower credit scores or credit challenges are frequently approved. Conventional loans generally favor higher credit scores: Borrowers tend to need moderate to high credit scores to receive opportune loan terms and rates.
These loans are perfect for borrowers with a strong credit history and the funds for a more substantial down payment. Conventional loans offer the ability to avoid the costs of mortgage insurance while also giving borrowers the option of fixed or adjustable rates.
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.
A lot of first-time homebuyers think they need a 20% down payment to qualify for a conventional loan. That's simply not true. Conventional loan down payment requirements are as low as 3%. That's only $9,000 down for a $300,000 home, or $6,000 down for a $200,000 home.
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.
Lower Interest Rates
While conventional loan interest rates are typically a bit higher than FHA rates, you could still get a lower interest rate and save money if current refinance rates are lower than when you first took out the loan. A lower interest rate could potentially save you thousands of dollars.
Your monthly payment for a $300,000 mortgage and a 30-year loan term could range from $1,798 to $2,201, depending on your interest rate and other factors. Learn more about the upfront and long-term costs of a home loan. Aly J. Yale is a personal finance journalist with more than 12 years of experience.
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.
Why? They feel that buyers who can secure any other financing option are 'stronger buyers. ' FHA buyers have a reputation for having low credit scores, little money to put down, and less than optimal qualifying requirements. Sellers want a 'sure thing' when they sell their home.
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.
One of the main advantages of FHA loans is the lower down payment requirement. With a credit score of 580 or higher, you could qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5%. Even with a credit score between 500 and 579, you might only need a 10% down payment.
In some ways, an FHA loan could make it easier for you to buy a home, especially if you don't have a lot of money saved for a down payment. In other ways, an FHA loan might make it harder to buy a home, especially if you're in a competitive housing market where simultaneous offers are common.
To summarize: FHA has its own panel of certified appraisers that must complete their appraisals, while Fannie Mae does not. FHA also has a longer, more detailed list of minimum property standards than conventional.
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.
Mortgage lenders can approve conventional loans without the typical delays incurred with FHA or government-backed loans. Also, with a conventional loan, sellers do not face an exhaustive FHA inspection, which sometimes then requires time-consuming repairs. Conventional loans come in all different types and sizes.
In most cases, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional loan. When you apply, your lender will check your credit history to determine if you have qualifying credit. If you don't, you might not get approved for the loan.
Conventional loans can be helpful in several different situations including, first-time homebuyers, buyers who want to refinance, those who want to buy a second property (which is not allowed with government-backed loans), buyers with higher credit scores, or those who can put more money down.
Conventional loan
If the buyers provide between 10% and 25% for a down payment, sellers may pay up to 6% in seller concessions. If the buyers provide more than 25% for a down payment, sellers may pay up to 9% in seller concessions.
The term “conventional” is used to distinguish these “regular” home loans from programs such as FHA and VA, which do receive government backing. In California, home appraisals are usually required for conventional mortgage loans, especially in purchase scenarios.