Are you considering the purchase of a home? Are you struggling under the threat of losing your home? If so, consider how FHA can help. FHA loans are government-backed loans that often have a much lower interest rate than a conventional (traditional) loan. Before you right off these loans as impossible options, keep in mind that millions of people are benefiting from theme right now.

Here are five ways that FHA loans can help you to obtain the home you are looking for, or help you in other ways.

#1: Lower Interest Rates: The main benefit of FHA loans is to provide individuals with a lower interest rate. If the FHA is backing your loan, you are less of a risk to the lender. Therefore, they agree to offer you a slightly lower interest rate. This translates into an interest rate that could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of that loan. That is money in your pocket.

#2: Better Qualifications: Many lenders have increased their standards in lending money. If you do not have a credit score over 700, then our best bet to getting a low interest rate home loan is with the FHA loans. You do not have to have as much down to qualify for these loans either.

#3: Help Getting Out Of A High Interest Loan: Perhaps you have a high interest rate loan. You are paying much more than the current four to six percent loans that are available. FHA loans can help you to get a low rate even on refinances. Definitely, worth looking forward to since it will drastically cut the amount it costs to buy your home.

#4: You Need Help: There are a number of programs available through the FHA to help you to get out of a troublesome home loan. You can stop foreclosures and often stop your overall risk of losing your home by taking advantage of these programs. If you need this help, contact an FHA loan specialist today.

#5: You Are A First Time Home Buyer: For those who have yet to buy a home and are worried about doing so, FHA loans can help. These loans are highly affordable and they are ideal for the first time homebuyer unsure of what to do next.

FHA loans can help millions of people to get into the homes they want and need, or to protect them from losing their investment. Contact a professional today to learn if you qualify.

In the current market, if you can refinance, you probably should be. Refinancing is the process of obtaining a new loan that pays off your existing home loan. There are several reasons for wanting to do this, but the most important is to get a lower interest rate so you save money on your home loan. FHA loans can help you to refinance, as can other conventional lenders. The key here is to know when it makes sense to refinancing.

What’s Your Rate?

The first step in knowing if it makes sense to refinance is to know what your interest rate currently is. According to Bankrate.com, current 30-year mortgages are available at about 5 percent, which is a very low number. Those who wish to obtain a 15-year loan may even be able to pick up a home loan that is under five percent. If your current mortgage is at an interest rate that is higher than this, you could save money by refinancing.

Here is an example. Let us say you currently have a mortgage loan payment of $1400 per month and you owe $175,000 on your home and have another 28 years to pay on it. You are currently paying about 9 percent for the mortgage. If you keep this loan for the next 28 years, you will end up paying a total of $304,984 in interest alone, on top of the purchase price of the home.

Now, let us say you refinancing your home loan to a loan for 30 more years and pay 5.5 percent on the loan. Your mortgage payment is now under $1000 a month. At the end of your payments, you will have paid just $182,707 in interest payments towards the loan. As you can see, this is much more affordable than holding onto the loan you currently own.

You will likely need to pay closing costs and your homes appraised value still needs to be high enough to cover the mortgaged amount to qualify for a refinance. There are other qualifications you may need to make, too.

To find out if this is an option for you, get a quote from a lender. You may even qualify for an FHA loan through the refinance process. This can further lower your interest rate and make it even more affordable to buy your home. To refinance a home loan, contact an FHA loan specialist to find out if you qualify.

Foreclosure numbers are staggering and they are likely to continue until some type of aid is available to the average homeowner who is losing their job, unable to make payments or just made a poor financial decision. The FHA and HUD actually provide some help to individuals who are facing foreclosure or who wish to avoid it.

What To Do Now

If you are at risk of foreclosure, you need to do something now. Do not wait as this is a sign of your willingness to go through with the foreclosure. Instead, invest the time in getting help.

#1: Talk to an FHA housing counselor about your situation. They may be able to point you in the right direction in terms of stopping the foreclosure process. There IS help available for many people.

#2: Talk to your lender. Today’s lenders are more willing than ever to keep you in your home by finding a solution to foreclosure. When they call, tell them what is happening and what type of help they can offer. They may allow you to skip a payment or help you to refinance the loan into a lower rate.

#3: Find out if you qualify for HOPE for Homeowners, a program designed to provide resources to individuals who wish to remain in their homes but who are having trouble refinancing or getting into a more affordable loan.

Should You Keep Your Home?

Those without income may be unable to remain in their home since no amount of mortgage can be paid. If you do have a job and you do wish to stay in your home, find out if there are any options to help you to do so. If you lose your home to foreclosure, lenders will not lend to you for years to come. With the credit market being so tight, even with good credit, you will struggle to find a lender to buy another loan, or even a rental agent who will rent to you. In other words, if you can stay in your home, do so.

Those who may be having trouble with lenders or those who are unable to find the help they need otherwise, may wish to look for help directly from FHA loan specialists. The goal you have is to get help now. Do not wait since it only takes a few months before you are too far into the foreclosure process to stop it.

With the current economic crisis in line, many individuals are wondering what they should be doing about their current mortgages. The Federal Reserve is again considering a drop in the key lending rate paid by commercial lenders to borrow money. This rate then is translated to the average consumer at a higher level, of course. Nevertheless, when this key lending rate is cut by the Fed it does translate into a lower interest rate for most all consumers. Does this mean anything to you, as a mortgage holder?

It Should

For those currently with an interest rate higher than the average rate, consider your options for refinancing.  A drop in this lending rate would likely translate into a lower interest rate available for most qualified home buyers or mortgage borrowers. If you currently have a mortgage, you could, potentially, refinance the home loan you have. This would translate into a lower monthly payment and a lower cost in the home loan totally.

Here are some numbers to consider:

Let’s say you have a mortgage loan of $150,000 and your home is appraised for at least that much. Your current interest rate is 8 percent. You are likely paying about $1100 a month. When you finish repaying your mortgage loan, you would have paid more than $246,000 worth of interest alone (not including the original borrowed $150,000.)

If interest rates drop as they should, you could see current rates fall as low as 5 percent. You refinance your $150,000 mortgage for 30 years at this new rate. Your monthly payment would drop to about $805. More importantly, over the course of the loan, you would pay a bit more than $139,800 in interest, plus the principle. As you can see, that’s a sizable difference and it is your money, after all. It is over $106,000 of your money, in fact.

What To Do

If you know that your home’s value is high enough to refinance, you should consider it. If you are unsure, you can contact any of the FHA loan specialists available to help you. Remember that even those with credit that may not be perfect can qualify for FHA loans. In addition, these loans often help you to qualify for lower down payments on standard loans and easier refinancing terms if you currently have an FHA loan.

In other words, if interest rates do drop, you should be part of that benefit.

With the economy so low, you may be struggling to keep up with payments and you are worried about your job. This may be a good time to refinance. FHA mortgage refinancing is an option that many homeowners want to consider. Interest rates are very low right now, the lowest they have been in the last few years. Lenders are looking harder and faster for new borrowers that are qualified. Refinancing your home loan that is in good standing is relatively easy to do, right now.

3 Reasons To Refinance Now

Why should you refinance your home loan right now? Take into consideration the following 3 reasons.

#1: Interest Rates Are Lower

Interest rates are a fraction of what they normally are. Many economists believe they are at the lowest they will go. This means that you won’t get a much lower rate any time in the near future, assuming they are right. If you have a home loan that currently has an interest rate that is one or more percentage points higher than what FHA lender can provide you, consider the benefits of refinancing.

#2: Refinancing May Cut Monthly Payments

Another reason to refinance right now is that you could get a lower monthly payment, which can help many to put more money in the bank, have more money for every day needs and even help to feel more secure financing in the current economy. You can extend the terms of your loan to cut the amount you pay each month. Or, if your current interest rate is high, you will save money simply by refinancing at a lower rate.

#3: A Fast, Easy Refinancing Program Is Available

If you already have an FHA insured mortgage, that is current, and you will be refinancing to lower your monthly loan payment, and do not plan to take any cash out of the loan, you can qualify for the FHA streamline refinance. It is a simple, no hassle way of refinancing. You simply need to work with an FHA loan specialist to help you to qualify. There is minimal cost, minimal documentation required and smaller underwriting requirements.

Worried?

I have spoken to a number of people right now that are worried about losing their home or their job. They fear that they will be unable to make payments, especially those that have a mortgage that will be adjusting in the next 12 months. Yet, there is hope available to help you through the process.

Refinancing FHA mortgage loans like this can help you to lower you monthly commitment. There are a variety of programs available to help you get into a home loan you can afford. You do not have to worry about your home, but you do have to be proactive. If you can save a few hundred dollars a month off your mortgage payment, would it e worth going through the process of refinancing? For most, the answer is yes.

Definitely take the time to consider the benefits.

When It’s Not Time To Refinance

There are some situations where refinancing FHA mortgages may not be in your best interest:

• If you have a comparable low interest rate already, there is likely no benefit to refinancing unless you change the terms of the loan.
• If you have very poor credit right now, you may need to work on boosting that credit before you will be able to qualify for an FHA loan.
• If your home is in foreclosure, and is too far into the process, there may not be the option to refinance.

Before you make that decision on your own, though, be sure to contact the FHA loan specialists here. They can provide you with guidance as to if you qualify and what the benefits of refinancing your FHA mortgage will be. Even if you are in foreclosure, they may be able to help.

The FHA, or Federal Housing Association, has grown in the last two years to a considerable size. This just shows how important this one agency can be when it comes to helping a country to get out of the mortgage hole it is in. The latest numbers are quite considerably. By the end of 2008, FHA will provide guarantees for as many as 3 in 10 American home loan borrowers. 

FHA provides only a guarantee to the loan, not the loan itself. Traditional mortgage lenders qualified to work with FHA still fund the loan and service it. Should the borrower default on the loan, FHA will pitch in to help cover the costs of the loan. This helps to insure the loan and therefore allows more lenders with assurance that they can lend to these buyers.

Many of the people that will be included in that picture are those with bad credit. Others are those who do not have any verification of income on the books (FHA loans can help hard to qualify lenders to get these loans.)

As you may know, the HOPE for Homeowners Program kicked in on October 1st, 2008 and gives FHA even more opportunity to help the average homeowner. The program is aimed at helping people to get better loans.  The program was put in place through Congress action and the Bush Administration. It gives FHA the ability to guarantee up to $300 billion in home loans. These are fixed rate home loans specifically for those who are struggling.  The program will be in place over the next three years.

What does this mean for the outlook? According to the Congressional Budget Office, there will be about 400,000 households in the US that will get FHA home loans in the coming years.  OF those, it claims that about one third of them will fall behind at some time on those loans.

What’s the risk?  There is risk here in the Hope for Homeowners program, according to some. They fear that the government is taking on some of the worst loans out there and that this could pose a risk.  Yet, FHA loan requirements are out there and they are much stricter than those offered subprime loans in the not so distant past.

FHA loans make sense and the ability of the FHA to provide this type of backing to the American family is necessary. The fact is: the only way to get out of the housing slump is to get good home buyers buying homes. This program and others like it, will continue to do that.

Are you a homeowner in the United States looking for the American Dream? If so, you may be in trouble if you still have an ARM, or Adjustable Rate Mortgage. As you likely know, the last year or two has been very bad for the housing market and ARM rates are one area in which the problem got worse. Yet, many of those who did pick up a loan since 2002 have had that loan adjust already. This is the shock that has hit the housing market. There may be more shock coming.

What’s A Mortgage Reset?

Mortgage resets adjust the interest rate on the home loan a person with this type of loan has.  For example, let’s say that you have a home loan with an interest rate of 6 percent for the first three years.  You picked up that loan in 2006 and have since had no problems paying your mortgage loan. Now, the reset period is coming to an end and you are worried. When your loan resets, what is the likelihood that the loan will be too expensive for you?

There is a new wave of mortgage resets set to hit the country in the next months, and will likely continue through 2010 as a number of “option ARM’s” were put in place. These are subprime loans and some are not.  The point is, they are adjusting in the coming months which will cause a new wave of homeowners unable to pay their payments.

Do Something Now

If you are a homeowner with an option ARM or any other adjustable rate loan, now is the best time for you to make a change. What you will need to do is get that loan refinanced as soon as possible, before the loan is in fact adjusted.

FHA can help you to get into a more affordable loan if your loan has recent or will do so prior to the end of 2010.  This will be an outstanding opportunity for you to get a lower interest rate, fixed loan that likely could save you a substantial amount of money.

The worst thing you can do is wait it out. Right now, interest rates are very low. Even those with credit scores that are low may qualify (currently the FHA will accept credit scores at 580 or above.) You have the opportunity to save substantially.

Estimates are that some $500 billion worth of mortgages will be affected in the next four years by these adjustable rates. The FHA can help many to get out of this problem.

With all the latest legislation passing through Congress specifically aimed at the housing market, it’s getting not only harder to get loans but more difficult to understand it all.  Luckily, the HOPE for Homeowners Program looks to be one with a basic breakdown.  The program has authorization under the National Housing Act, which was amended earlier in the year by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. 

What Does It Say?

HUD issued Mortgagee Letter 2008-29 detailing what this program includes.  First, it gives any current or delinquent borrowers the ability to refinance into a 30 year fixed rate loan through FHA. In order to qualify for this aspect, you must have made at least six payments on the mortgage prior to requesting the refinance. 

Additionally, the program is designed for those who have a debt to income ratio higher than 31 percent with their current home loan.  The original loan must originate prior to January 1st, 2008. 

• Payment to income is limited to 31 percent while debt to income is limited to 43 percent.
• These numbers may be higher, according to the program, following a three-month trial modification put in place through the program first. 
• There is a maximum loan of $550,440 on all loans through the HOPE for Homeowners program, (referenced as the H4H program.) 
• There is also a restriction of a 90 percent loan to value in place on these loans.
• All homes must be owner occupied homes, on one unique properties
• FHA approved appraisers must appraise the properties within three months prior to the closing
• Origination fees are capped at 1 percent
• Buyers do not pay closing costs and prepaid items upfront
• A 3 percent upfront mortgage insurance premium and annual premium up to 1.5 percent will be applicable.

One of the unique aspects of the HOPE for Homeowners program is that lenders must insure that appraisals are complete within the letter of the law.  In other words, they are responsible for any poor or fraudulent appraisals that lead to an FHA insured mortgage.  Inflated home values, considered one of the problems within the housing market crash today.

More Information

The HOPE for Homeowners program promises to offer outstanding opportunities for homeowners to get out of the hole they are in.  Namely, they are able to get into FHA loans with a fixed rate, often lowering the amount they must pay monthly.

The program is available to those who have government loans and conventional prime loans, as well as Alt-A loans and the worrisome subprime loans. This includes most types of mortgages, too, including negative amortization, payment option and interest only mortgages.  There are legal restrictions, for example, any state or federal fraud conviction within the last ten years can disqualify an individual from obtaining the loans.

For homeowners struggling with their current loans, falling within these areas, there is no doubt that the HOPE for Homeowners Program offers a lifeline.  It is highly encouraged that you seek out FHA lenders to get the process started.

FHA, or the Federal Housing Administration, is a backbone to our lending industry in the United States. What FHA does is provide lenders with reassurance that the loans they provide as FHA backed loans are safer than those without this backing. Borrowers of FHA programs come from a wide selection of people; including those with less than stellar credit, those looking for the lowest interest rate possible, and people looking for backing from the rocky market. The good news is that FHA loans can be refinanced.

Of Particular Importance

As a homeowner currently, you may be looking for help in getting out of a bad mortgage. It could be that you have had a rate adjustment, or you could be facing other circumstances in which you simply can’t afford the loan you currently have on your home. It is happening to millions in the country right now. FHA is there to help.

FHA will provide refinancing into better loans to qualified buyers. You don’t have to have the highest credit score to get this help, either. FHA is allowing borrowers who do not have a strong credit history but are attempting to make their mortgage payments, help in getting into new loans. You may be approaching your limit and risking default, or you may already be in default. If this is the situation, look into FHA loan refinancing options for you. Many people will qualify for these loans and that means getting to stay in your home long term.

Of particular interest to those struggling with their loans is the FHA’s program: FHA Secure. If you are planning to sell your current home because you are on the verge of facing foreclosure, this is a potential option for you to stay in your home, too.

Who Qualifies For Help?

There are many people that will qualify for FHA Secure, but it is best for those who:

• Have been “good” borrowers in the past
• Have had their mortgage adjust and because of that adjustment are now facing problems making monthly payments
• Are on the verge or actually in foreclosure
• Had good credit but their current situation has ruined their ability to refinance their loan elsewhere through other loans
• Have a maximum home value or mortgage value of $417,000
• Need immediate help, all proceedings from FHA Secure need to be initiated and closed before the end of the year (unless renewed)

Do You Need Help?

Those who are struggling with their current mortgage will want to seek out help through FHA Secure. Even if you do not meet the qualifications for this program, FHA offers various opportunities for help. FHA loan refinancing is an option even if you currently do not have a FHA backed loan. Federally Insured Loans are designed to provide you with the ability to get a lower interest rate. They also help people who otherwise may not qualify for their loan.

If you are considering buying a home, you will not need FHA refinancing, but you may still want to qualify for an FHA loan for your new purchase. Talk with a specialist about the options available to you. These loans are available to a variety of people in a number of different credit scenarios.

As with any loan, you will need to show proof that you can afford the loan. If you are unable to make payments due to lack of employment, you may not qualify for an FHA loan, or any loan. Many people will qualify for this program, even those who do not have great credit.

Find the help you need for FHA loans through FHA Secure or other FHA loan programs currently available.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have steadily been keeping up with the news on mortgages and what is happening in the industry. Let’s give a brief recap because no matter what you read, you are going to find that many copies are returning to offering FHA products as a part of their equation. I honestly cannot blame them because there are so many people dealing with situations that they didn’t even know they would face. Consequently, they need viable options and FHA provides realistic solutions.

As recent as yesterday, I read that Sun West Mortgage Company has launched a web-based training series, its free and on comprehensive FHA and reverse mortgage. As a person that has taught web-based training, it is a huge advantage and allows many different people to attend that otherwise might not have the opportunity.

I must applaud them for being one of the companies that steps out and offers this program in another format. Mortgage professionals can schedule themselves for the class and even without knowing the details of this class; I do believe that it should be researched. Find out the ins and outs of the different classes and how it can benefit your career as you are in a position to help many homeowners.

I read another article that stated Green Valley Mortgage in Bloomingdale recommends if you are a first-time buyer to consider an FHA mortgage. The senior loan consultant for Green Valley Mortgage outlined some of the requirements for an FHA loan. When I read there are some down sides and one of them being that the mortgage must be $275,200 or less it made me want to stand up and say — choose a starter home and do not focus on your dream home. You will set yourself up for success versus failure if you begin with a starter home. Depending on the area where people want to live, you should be able to find a starter home within the parameters of an FHA mortgage.

The next topic that continued to be discussed was reverse mortgages. Understand that the reversed mortgages are being offered to the older home owners. What I wasn’t aware of and you know how much I love learning is there are three types of reverse mortgages. The types are FHA-insured, lender insured and uninsured. As with anything, the parameters are different for each. Research, research and more research. Even with an older home owner, especially if this is an elderly parent, I would also recommend they in particular talk this option over with an adult child or even a lawyer to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of, nor going to lose your shirt because you did not foresee a situation.

Whether you are a first-time buyer, someone who seeking options to avoid foreclosure or even an older home owner looking at options, FHA offers many solutions that should be considered. If you do not fit into one category that does not mean another option is not available. As I have stated throughout, do your research and find out what is best for you. It is a new year and let’s make better decisions.

Dr. Taffy Wagner