FHA Requirements
A Good Loan Checklist Creates a Smooth Application
Before you start the FHA loan process, be prepared to provide some information to your loan officer. Have it ready now to save time later.
- Address to your place of residence (past two years)
- Social Security numbers
- Names and location of your employers (past two years)
- Gross monthly salary at your current job(s)
- Pertinent information for all checking and savings accounts
- Pertinent information for all open loans
- Complete information for other real estate you own
- Approximate value of all personal property
- Certificate of Eligibility and DD-214 (for veterans only)
- Current check stubs and your W-2 forms (past two years)
- Personal tax returns (past two years), current income statement and business balance sheet for self-employed individuals
In addition, you will need to pay for a credit report and appraisal of the property.
As the buyer and borrower, you will have items on your checklist that are required by your lender, the seller, and even the title company.
The closing checklist covers all the fees to be paid, the information to be provided, and the disclosures to be signed before the title is conveyed to you. Having this checklist ready helps you stay on track as a buyer, and ensures that your closing goes the way you expect.
- IDENTIFICATION
All parties at the closing should have valid ID. - POLICY OF TITLE INSURANCE
You must pay for title insurance that guarantees the property is free of previous claims or liens. - INSURANCE
Before you can close on the property, you need to secure homeowner’s insurance, which insures the property in the case of damage. - CLOSING FUNDS
You must bring all funds agreed upon, in the form of a cashier’s check or via electronic wire.
Take the time to discuss the items on your checklist with your realtor, to make sure there is nothing you’re forgetting, and to have the peace of mind that after the closing settlement you’ll be able to move into your new home.
FHA Loan Requirements
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FHA Loan Articles and Mortgage News
November 30, 2023 - In the last week of November 2023, the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued FHA loan limits for 2024. There are different rates for single-unit homes all the way up to FHA loan limits for four-unit properties.
November 28, 2023 - What can a first-time homebuyer use an FHA mortgage to do? You can use it to build or buy a home. You can also use an FHA loan to renovate a home you already own or want to purchase and renovate. You can refinance and even apply for a reverse mortgage.
November 27, 2023 - Major career changes may make your lender reconsider your loan application until you have had enough time in the new job to prove your new income is likely to continue. Your lender typically needs at least 24 months as a self-employed person, freelancer, or new contact employee.
November 25, 2023 - The basic rule of thumb to know is the FHA policy for occupancy which requires at least one borrower obligated on the mortgage to take up residence in the home as the “primary residence” within a reasonable time of loan closing, typically 60 days.
November 23, 2023 - Most borrowers are told up front they cannot bring cash or checks to closing day. You must deliver payment to the lender in the form your loan officer requires. You won’t be able to make a down payment on an FHA mortgage in cash, and you typically can’t do it with a personal check.
