FHA Mortgage Home Loan Texas
Texas FHA Loans offer many advantages. An FHA home loan is a government-subsidized loan that is not only popular with first time homebuyers, but with buyers who have already purchased a home before. FHA refinances are also very popular among home-owners who were initially placed in a high interest rate subprime loan. Subprime loans were initially created for home buyers with below than average credit scores. FHA home loans and refinances are not credit score driven and because of this, it is very attractive for people with not so perfect credit.
We are your Texas FHA loan experts. Whether you are just searching for more information about FHA loans, looking to buy a new house, or needing to refinance out of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage, our experts can guide you in the right direction. Since FHA Loans are backed by the Federal Government, they are Easier to Qualify For, require a Small Down Payment, Do Not Require Perfect Credit, have Better Interest Rates, and they provide Better Home Stability for buyers by helping them KEEP their homes during hard times such as now.
Whether you’re trying to determine if you qualify or if you’re interested in finding out what kind of documentation you’ll need to ultimately get your loan, our site can provide you the information you’re seeking. Additionally we’re more than happy to take your phone calls at 832-212-6969. We service Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and all of Texas.
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FHA Loan FAQ's
Can I get Down Payment Assistance?
At this time the only a gift can come from a relative. A new law was passed by Congress H.R. 3221, privately funded downpayment assistance (DPA) is eliminated as of October 1, 2008. Yes: There is an initiative the FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform and Risk-Based Pricing Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 6694), a bi-partisan bill introduced by Congressmen Green, Miller and Shays and Congresswoman Waters in July, would overrule this move and reinstate DPA indefinitely. As of this moment it has not passed and the elimination of programs such as Nehemiah which would allow for a gift funds from the seller up to 6% towards your down payment and/or closing costs have taken place. These funds could have been used for first time and repeat home buyers. HUD does provide funding to state and local governments for this purpose. To find out what programs you may qualify for, please contact your city, county or state government. You may wish to visit the following web site to find local housing programs in your state or local area: http://www.hud.gov/buying/localbuying.cfm
How can I improve my credit score?
There are many ways to go about improving your credit score. First you want to obtain a copy of your credit report. Often there are old on incorrect items on a credit report. Secondly you will want to look at balances on different accounts. The credit bureaus like to see the amount owed on a debt at 60% of the max limit or less. Keep in mind by law debts have to fall off 7 years after they are placed on the credit report. You also want to limit the amount of times that your credit is pulled by creditors. Luckily, mortgage companies and automobile dealership inquiries are treated a little differently, so they do not impact your credit as much as some others like credit card inquiries. The other option to improve your credit is to remove the negative and incorrect items from your report. This is most successful when working with a credit repair company. These programs generally take between 45-90 days, and can have a significant impact on your credit score.
How can FHA Help Me Buy a Home?
An FHA insured mortgage offers many benefits and protections that only come with FHA:
Easier to Qualify: Because FHA insures your mortgage, lenders may be more willing to give you loan terms that make it easier for you to qualify.
Less than Perfect Credit: You don't have to have a perfect credit score to get an FHA mortgage. In fact, even if you have had credit problems, such as a bankruptcy, it's easier for you to qualify for an FHA loan than a conventional loan.
Low Down Payment: FHA loans have a low 3.5% down payment and that money can come from a family member.
FHA can Help You Keep Your Home: The FHA has been around since 1934 and will continue to be here to protect you. Should you encounter hard times after buying your home, FHA has many options to help you keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.
FHA fixed interest rate mortgages cost less: FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the Federal government insures the loan. A fixed interest rate FHA loan will have a low interest rate compared to a sub-prime loan and the FHA loan will have fixed payments of principal and interest compared to an adjustable rate or variable interest rate mortgage or a mortgage with optional or variable payments.
You don't have to have perfect credit to get an FHA fixed rate mortgage: Even if you have had credit problems, such as a bankruptcy, you may still qualify for an FHA mortgage. Should you encounter hard times after refinancing your home, FHA has programs to help you keep you in your home and avoid foreclosure.
An FHA fixed interest rate mortgage may be used to refinance a new or existing 1-4 family home, a condominium unit.
Are FHA rates higher than conventional rates?
No, in fact, they are often lower than similar conventional loans. Because the Federal government insures your loan, lenders are able to offer very competitive rates. FHA also doesn't increase your rate based on your down payment, so you get the same rate whether you put 3% down, or 20% down. This is not the case with conventional financing.
Does FHA allow for seller paid closing costs?
FHA will allow the seller to pay up to 6% of the purchase price toward the buyer's closing costs. This is called a seller's concession. Most conventional loans only allow a 3% concession.
Do I have to be a first time homebuyer to qualify for an FHA loan?
Absolutely not. Anyone is eligible for an FHA loan as long as the loan is on a primary residence. Even if you have had FHA loans in the past, you are still eligible for FHA financing.
Refinancing Your Mortgage in Texas
There are 3 main reasons you would want to refinance your home:
1.) You are in an ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) and would like to be on a fixed mortgage.
2.) You would like to take cash out of your home equity for debt consolidation, investing, or for any other reason. (cannot do this in Texas with FHA)
3.) Your current mortgage rate is too highly and you would simply like to lower your monthly mortgage payments.
Fixed rate loans are the most popular programs for refinancing. This is where you have stable predicable payments each month and as a result offers the most security for yourself and your family. If you are currently in an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and would like the security of a fixed rate, a fixed rate program is the right program for you.
In some cases, Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) make sense. These are more risky as your payment will be fixed for a short period of time (2+ years) and then it will adjust according the index it is tied to. For best results, we recommend a financial consultation with our experts.
About Refinancing
Refinancing loans serve a variety of purposes. Whether you are looking to consolidate some debt and save hundreds of dollars per month, looking to lower you interest rate, or seeking to restructure your financial goals, we have the solution for you! The process generally involves the following steps:
• Speak with your assigned Loan Officer to discuss programs and options
• Complete a full mortgage application with the assigned lender
• Upon approval, supply the required documentation
• Coordinate with appraiser that lender chooses
• Send in loan package and clear conditions from the Bank
• Schedule closing
That whole process generally takes no more than 30 days. One nice advantage of refinancing is that you are allowed to skip one month of your mortgage payment after you close. Depending on when in the month your mortgage closes you can possibly not make the current mortgage payment and skip the following month as well. You can use this money to payoff another bill, fix up your home, or even go on vacation.
If you are looking to refinance and want the best rate and terms, and want an easy process with more favorable guidelines, we are the best choice for you!
Streamline Refinancing with FHA/VA
A FHA/VA Streamline Refinance allows you to refinance your current FHA/VA loan into another FHA/VA loan. A FHA/VA Streamline allows you to:
• Refinance into a lower rate and payment
• Convert you FHA/VA ARM into a fixed rate
• Shorten you loan term
• Requires VERY LITTLE DOCUMENTATION
There are several benefits to a FHA/VA Streamline Refinance. Generally, no appraisal is necessary. There are also no credit restrictions on an FHA/VA Streamline refinance. You income and employment are also not evaluated when applying for a FHA/VA Streamline loan.
There are only a few requirements to obtaining a FHA/VA Streamline loan, they are:
• You must have been in your current FHA/VA loan for a period of at least one year
• Your current FHA/VA loan must be current at the time of closing the new FHA/VA loan
• The new FHA/VA loan must offer a lower payment or shorten the term without increasing your payment by more than $50
• If current FHA/VA loan is an ARM, and the new loan a fixed, the interest rate on the new fixed loan may not be more than 2 percent higher than that of the ARM
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