FHA Home loans in dallas

Are you having trouble getting pre-approved for a home loan, or having difficulty making your monthly mortgage payments?

We are your Dallas 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 FHA Loan Experts at Canopy Mortgage, LLC can guide you in the right direction for a loan in Dallas.

What is an FHA Loan?

An FHA loan is a loan insured against default by the FHA. In other words, the FHA guarantees that a lender won’t have to write off a loan if the borrower defaults – the FHA will pay. Because of this guarantee, lenders are willing to make large mortgage loans.

FHA Requirements & Qualifications

Credit score – One of the primary market benefits of an FHA loan has always been that credit scores were not a factor. A borrower with excellent credit scores could definitely have their loan approved more easily, but someone with some credit problems could still get approved – provided they had a well-documented, common-sense explanation for their credit problems. They could show that the issue had been resolved. Despite not relying on credit scores, FHA foreclosure rates went down while conventional mortgage foreclosure numbers went up, despite their almost excessive reliance on credit scores. The FHA underwriter will evaluate the entire credit profile to determine the borrower’s likelihood of repayment. Past credit issues may be overlooked if new credit has been re-established. Also, other compensating factors may apply. Generally, a credit score of 580 is needed for automated approval, and a few banks will underwrite a file with scores as low as 540.

Bankruptcy okay – Chapter 7 bankruptcies are allowed if discharged over 2 years ago (or 1 year with extenuating circumstances). Chapter 13 bankruptcies are allowed with a minimum of one year of on-time plan repayment and trustee approval.

Little or no money needed – FHA loans allow the seller to pay up to 6% of the sales price toward the closing costs. Additionally, Congress has temporarily eliminated Down Payment Assistance programs. There is a movement in the legislature to reinstate these community programs. You can, however, receive a gift from a family member for the down payment. Give your loan officer a call to find out the up-to-date guidelines concerning down payment assistance.

Housing history – FHA does not require a rental or other housing history if it is not available.

Non-occupying co-borrowers allowed – FHA allows a non-occupying relative to co-sign the mortgage. The non-occupant’s income and assets can be used for qualification purposes. Parents typically use this to help their children purchase a home. The name for this is the “kiddy condo loan.”

Property types – 1-4 unit, condos, town homes, modular homes, and manufactured homes.

No cash reserves required – Unlike most conventional loans, FHA does not require you to have cash reserves on 1-2 unit properties. A borrower’s profile is graded on an FHA scorecard. The FHA scorecard takes into consideration income, assets, job tenure, debt-to-income ratio, and credit scores. Having reserves can help strengthen the overall credit profile.

FHA First Time HomeBuyers

Once you apply, your FHA Loan Officer will guide you along the path of homeownership.

While FHA mortgages haven’t been as popular in recent years because of the perceived amount of bureaucracy associated with obtaining a loan backed by a government entity such as the HUD, new legislation is in the works to help make them more consumer-friendly.

First-time homebuyers represent a large share of the lending market and receive a lot of attention. Many do not have established credit histories or a substantial amount of money to put down for a down payment (because they are usually fresh out of college or still early in their careers). Currently, FHA loans require a 3.5% payment to obtain financing and have different loan limits in each county.

FHA Refinance

FHA fixed-rate loans are the most popular programs for refinancing. This is where you have stable, predictable 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 FHA is the right program for you.

Refinancing into an FHA loan is a very similar process to refinancing using conventional financing. In fact, both loans require almost identical paperwork. FHA actually has cheaper mortgage insurance than traditional.

Streamline Refinancing

An FHA Streamline Refinance allows you to refinance your current FHA loan into another FHA loan. An FHA Streamline allows you to:

• Refinance into a lower rate and payment
• Convert your FHA ARM into a fixed rate
• Convert you 203(k) rehab loan into a 203(b) FHA loan
• Shorten your loan term

There are several benefits to an FHA Streamline Refinance.

Generally, no appraisal is necessary. There are also no credit restrictions on an FHA Streamline refinance. Your income and employment are also not evaluated when applying for an FHA Streamline loan.

There are only a few requirements to obtaining an FHA Streamline loan:

• You must have been in your current FHA loan for a period of at least one year
• Your current FHA loan must be current at the time of closing the new FHA loan
• The new FHA loan must offer a lower payment or shorten the term without increasing your payment by more than $50
• If current FHA 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.

The Process of Refinancing

1. Speak with your assigned FHA Loan Officer to discuss programs and options
2. Complete a full mortgage application with the assigned lender
3. Upon approval, supply the required documentation
4. Coordinate with the appraiser that the lender chooses
5. Send in the loan package and clear conditions from the Bank
6. 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 payment may not be able to be made, you may not be able to make the current payment, and skip the following month as well. You can use this money to pay off another bill, fix up your home, or even go on vacation.

We provide a variety of information if you are considering a refinance of your current loan.

You can learn about your refinance options, including an FHA Refinance, as well as other types of loan refinances.

It is essential to be aware of current interest rates to ensure that the value of refinancing outweighs the cost.

Do not be discouraged if you believe you have challenged credit.

Please get in touch with us for today’s rates or apply now to receive a free quote and free credit report!

FHA Rates

FHA loans offer very competitive rates. They are generally similar to, if not lower than, rates on conventional loans. Lenders can offer these great rates because the Federal government insures the loans. This means that the FHA, not the lender, takes on any risk involved with your loan. This allows you to get lower rates for the following loans:

• Purchase a mortgage with less than 20% down payment
• If your credit is less than perfect or under 740
• If you need a co-signer
• Refinance of a current FHA loan
• Purchase or refinance of a three or 4-unit property
• Lower rate of mortgage insurance than conventional

FHA can offer rates for these and other loans because the lender does not absorb the risk. Therefore, they do not have to pass that risk along to you. In fact, Fannie Mae, the backer of most conventional loans, has recently announced new rate adjustments for borrowers with credit scores below 740. FHA does not have these adjustments.

If you fall into any of the above categories or have less-than-stellar credit, you should see what an FHA loan could do for you.

FHA Loan Limits

Currently, FHA loans have different loan limits in each county in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Contact Danny Nassar – (512) 743-5512 – for information about current loan limits.

FHA Loan FAQ

Can I get Down Payment Assistance?

At this time, the only gift that can come from a relative. A new law, H.R. 3221, eliminated privately funded downpayment assistance (DPA) 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, that 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 gift funds from the seller up to 6% towards your down payment and/or closing costs, has not taken place. These funds could have been used by 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 get in touch with your city, county, or state government. You may wish to visit the following website to find local housing programs in your state or local area.

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 or incorrect items on a credit report. Secondly, you will wish to review 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 that by law, debts have to fall off 7 years after they are placed on the credit report. You also want to limit the number of times that creditors pull your credit. 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 and 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:

• 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 subprime 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 costs.
• 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 can 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 the 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 need 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 for a primary residence. Even if you have had FHA loans in the past, you are still eligible for FHA financing.