The housing market is struggling nationwide. That does not mean that your local market is struggling, though. Nearly all neighborhoods in the country have seen some fall in value. Yet, this does not mean that the horrors that are happening in some areas of California and Nevada are playing out in your back yard. Your area may actually have some strengths in it right now. Many markets are stable and many others are on the rise.

Before you right off the current condition to be too risky to invest in a home loan, find out what is happening in your local area. There are a variety of online appraisal websites that can give you a free estimate (which is not always 100 percent accurate, but close) to help you to see what is actually happening in your market. It may be that your area has just what you need: well-priced homes and affordable mortgage prices.

Contrary to what many people believe, there are still mortgage loans available to those who are qualified to get them. Does this mean you have to have a credit score in the 800’s to qualify? No. Those with scores much lower will qualify. To find out if you qualify, consider the following:

• Do you have steady employment?
• Do you have excessive debt: if so, you may not qualify if your debt is too high compared to the amount of money you are bringing in each month.
• Do you have a down payment: Down payment amounts are much lower for FHA loans, but some money to put down is necessary.
• Do you have good credit or better: Those with very low credit scores may not qualify for a home loan right now.

To find out if you qualify, it is best to talk with an FHA loan specialist one on one. They will help you to determine not only if you qualify but how much of a home you can purchase, the cost of a monthly mortgage payment, and the current interest rates available. It is highly recommended that you consider FHA loans since they are more affordable and they often cater to a wider array of home loan borrowers.

The local housing market and loan market is really the only concern you should have in terms of buying and selling property right now. While the big picture may seem dark, there are plenty of bright spots under that dark cloud. These are mainly average neighborhoods dotting the country and often are great places to call home.

You are likely hearing a lot about the FHA, or Federal Housing Administration. They have become the backbone of the housing market currently and likely will continue to play a significant role until the economic crisis and financial markets free up. This is a good thing since the FHA has a long history of providing stability in the American housing market. They could be the resource you need to get into a home loan.

While this blog is about the FHA and loan available through it, it may be important to take a step back and find out who this organization is and why they are even around.

The FHA was created by the National Housing Act of 1934. It was created during the Great Depression, as a way of helping to support the American people in finding loans to borrow money to buy homes. The goals of the organization are specific:

• Improve housing standards and conditions
• Provide home loan financing through an insurance program for mortgage lenders
• Stabilize the mortgage market

During the Great Depression, the banking system had fallen and home loans availability was next to nothing. People could not afford their homes. When the banks failed, any mortgages out during that time (which ere shorter term and had no amortization) were called due. This caused many homeowners to foreclose on their homes for lack of funds to pay back the loans. When the Federal Housing Administration was created, its initial goal was to help regulate the interest and terms of the mortgages. Now, more people could afford a down payment and the monthly payment of their loan.

Over the last 70 plus years, the job of the Federal Housing Administration has changed somewhat, but in most terms, it still has the same job of stabilizing the housing market, specifically in terms of the availability of loans to buy homes.

Today’s Job

The FHA provides a level of insurance protection for the commercial lender. You borrow an FHA approved loan through these commercial lenders. They agree to charge you a lower rate of interest for this protection. If you default on the loan, the lender is able to get a payout for your loan.

The FHA has become one of the backbones in the housing market right now and will continue to be so. Home ownership is one of the most important factors of success in an economy. This is why so much attention is being placed on this department of the government right now. To right the economy, the housing market has to stabilize.

If you are interested in getting a home loan, find out what FHA loans are available to help you accomplish this.

President-Elect Obama announced that he would appoint Shaun Donovan to head up Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. HUD is an important part of the mortgage industry, indirectly. This department is responsible for the housing within the country. In this administration, during this economy, this new Secretary will need to find ways to jumpstart the housing market to help individuals find the homes they need.

In his radio address on December 13th, Mr. Obama said this about the housing market: “To end this economic crisis, we must end the mortgage crisis where it began.” He continued, “This all started when Americans took out mortgages they couldn’t afford. Some were reckless, aware of the risks they were accepting. But many were innocent, tricked by lenders out to make a quick buck.” Later, he added, “This is deeply troubling. It not only shakes the foundation of our economy, but the foundation of the American Dream.”

Later in his broadcast, he mentioned that one in ten homeowners face some level of stress in regards to their homeownership.

What This Means To You

Depending on who you are and what your circumstances are, there is hope available. While the new administration will likely put in place programs to continue to support the housing within the country, there are many programs already in place to help struggling homeowners. Those facing foreclosure or the risk of getting behind on their mortgage should take the time now to contact an FHA loan specialist. Determine what your options are, including programs like HOPE for Homeowners and easy refinancing options already in place.

What about those who are looking for a home to purchase? Are they safe to buy? Many of the predator lenders are gone. They have lost their funding since investors are no longer willing to gamble with high risk mortgages. It is safe to borrow money. Commercial lenders are actively seeking borrowers who are qualified to borrow. Interest rates are very low and FHA loans are readily available to help those who are able to make payments to get into homes.

While you may not be able to improve the economic crisis fully, you can improve your financial security by considering new loans now. Home prices are low. Home interest rates on loans are low. Programs are in place for refinancing quickly and affordably. Determine if you qualify for a home loan through an FHA specialist. You may be happy to learn there are so many options available.

As a potential homeowner may find it difficult to qualify for a home loan in the current real estate mortgage market. With credit markets moving in every direction, it becomes very important for those who may want to buy a home to make wise decisions. FHA loans could be the way that people get into the homes of their dream homes, safely.

Today, the FHA helps to provide insurance backing for more than one third of all homes in the United States. Just a handful of years ago, few people took advantage of these loan programs. Many saw them as something for people who were non-creditworthy. Yet, this is no longer the case. In fact, it is safer to get your home mortgage loan through these FHA programs than it is to get your loan from other methods. In addition, it may even be less expensive.

Are FHA Loans The Only Option?

Much of the credit market’s liquidity has dried up. In many situations, it has become difficult to obtain these loans. Regardless of what is happening to help encourage banks to lend, it will still be likely that only well qualified individuals will be able to get affordable home loans through conventional loans. These loans are available, but there are fewer of them receiving approval than ever before.

FHA loans are more readily available. While they are not the only game in town, they definitely are becoming the most accessible option. In some markets, 60 to 80 percent of home loans are now FHA loans. These government backed loans are simply safer for the investor. They provide a bit of extra leverage for the investor to get back some of his money should you default on your home loan. Many of these investors have been burned by the recent foreclosure mess. They want protection for their investment. FHA loans provide this type of protection.

It is important to note that FHA loans are not government loans specifically. The government does not lend to borrowers. Rather, they provide a level of insurance to the commercial lender. You will still get your loan through a commercial bank. The only difference is that there is an insurance protection for the lender. If you default, the government will refund the lender up to a certain point for their loss. This reduces the risk of the lender.

FHA loans are a good option for many homeowners because of lower interest rates. Yet, until the housing market strengthens and the credit markets thaw, these loans are going t be the biggest game in town.

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.

While there are many proposals in the works to help the ailing mortgage industry, one group seems to still be struggling to get into a decent home loan even with good credit. That is the self employed. Mortgage loans have always been somewhat difficult to get if you do not have a standard job, but the current trends seem to make it a bit harder.

Are You Self Employed?

The credit markets are starting to thaw and that means that more people are able to qualify for home loans. Those that are self-employed are still struggling to get the same treatment.

Self employed individuals, such as doctors, attorneys, small business owners and even accountants, may have good or better credit and a sizable back account, but without that steady paycheck, many lenders have shied away from loaning to these individuals. The problem is the lack of a W-2, the document that most people get in the mail at the end of the year stating that they worked for a company and earned a set amount of money. Rather, self employed individuals seeking a home loan will need to use an income tax return instead. Tax deductions that many of the self-employed receive often lessen the income, too, making it harder to prove that they do make enough to afford a home loan.

What Can You Do?

If you are in this position, where you are struggling to get a home loan because you are self employed, you may qualify for FHA financing. The FHA provides more flexible terms for borrowers. There are still specific goals that need to be met, including minimal down payments on the home and a decent credit score. Yet, the FHA loans are often easier to obtain for those who have trouble proving their income. These loans can be the best opportunity for individuals who may struggle to qualify for other types of loans.

According to some lenders, credit is the most important factor in obtaining a home loan. Yet, for the self employed, even high credit scores (in one case a woman was denied a home loan even though her net worth was three times that which she was requesting and her credit score ranked in the high 700’s) can hold you back. Proving to lenders that you are a good credit risk can be tricky, but it is something you must do.

FHA lenders can help you to avoid some of those obstacles. You still need to show income proof and you will need to be qualified for the home loan. FHA requirements are much lower. You will still need to meet qualifications including:

• 2 years worth of income tax returns
• If you have less than one year of self employment income to prove, you may not be eligible without some other proof of employment prior to this
• Federal business income tax returns for the last two years, for all corporations of “S” corporations and all partnerships
• Profit and loss statement and balance sheet showing your income
• A credit report from your business, in some cases

The FHA lender will need to take your income over the last two years (which you need to have proof of,) and will average it over that time. Provide them with additional information, such as income growth patterns over the last months. A detailed letter explaining expenses as well as any fluctuations in income is important.

With a good credit score, there is help for those who do have the need for a home loan even if they are self-employed.  FHA specialists can help you to qualify for these loans.

As a homeowner struggling to make your monthly payment, you may have to choose between things like seeing a movie, Christmas presents or even food on the table just to keep the roof over your head. In a recent press release, HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a new loan modification program, which has plans to offer individuals struggling with their mortgage some help.

Note The Changes

The program, being called Hope for Homeowner, has undergone some further modifications. The goal is to get lenders to participate, something that has to happen for anyone to get their loan under the microscope for improvement. The new modifications to the program allow the lenders to write off less of the loan value than in prior situations.

The homeowner will benefit from this program because the lender will renegotiate the mortgage with them. They get a lower monthly payment and therefore have the money they need to make the monthly payment. In order to help make this possible, the loan terms (the length of the loan) can now go to as much as 40 years.

The Hope for Homeowners program is designed to help individuals to get into new loans if they are struggling with their own. The goal is to make the loans affordable for each borrower, so that foreclosure can be avoided. To do this, the rules of the program state that the monthly payment on the mortgage cannot be more than 31 percent of the homeowner’s monthly income.

The rules also allow for the lender to write down the loan to 96.5 percent f the home’s actual value. This is up from the 90 percent it was when the program first came to be this summer.  Another change is in the amount of debt that the home has. As a homeowner, you may not have household debt of more than 43 percent of your monthly income.

In order to qualify for the Hope for Homeowners program, your home loan must have originated prior to January of 2008. You also have to have a loan amount that is lower than $550,440.

Do You Qualify?

Many people may qualify for this program. Others may not. All should make the move now to find a solution to their current financial situation.  The Hope for Homeowner program is one option that many people have, and anyone who may be struggling right now to make their loan payments should contact a loan specialist to get some help in qualifying.

If you are otherwise struggling with your debts, even if you do not quality for this specific program there is still help available to some. Refinancing your loan is an option. There are also program in place to help you to liquidate the lien you have on your home through a second mortgage or equity line, so that you can actually qualify for the Hope for Homeowners program or refinance your home otherwise.

These changes to the program may in fact help encourage more lenders to start working with their struggling borrowers. You do not have to wait to see if your lender approaches you, though. In fact, you likely should not do this. Rather, you should work with an FHA loan specialist or other lender to try and find a better solution for your loan. In many situations, homeowners are never aware that they do have options for saving their home.

In fact, even if you are not behind on payments or struggling to make them, these professionals can help you to refinance your loan into more affordable terms or to help you simply to save money.

Announced on Friday, the two largest lenders in the country, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will not pursue foreclosures on some homes set to go on the chopping block in the coming months. More than 16,000 homes will be able to stave off foreclosure until January 9^th.  The only homes that may not qualify are vacant homes.

While the gesture buys these homeowners time, it is not a lasting fix. For any homeowner who may be included in this process, the two powerhouse lenders are trying to determine if you qualify for the new loan modification program that occurred recently. 

What are the options for someone who is in this situation or perhaps even someone that is heading into it? Let us look at what you can do now, even if you are not directly feeling the effects by these foreclosures halting.

#1: Do nothing, buy yourself some time over the next few months if you do have a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae backed loan. If you aren’t fighting the foreclosure, you have a bit longer to find a new place to live. This is not the recommended option for most, though.

#2: Contact your lender and find out if the lender is offering a loan modification program. If you have a loan backed by either of these agencies, they you will find they will be willing to work with you to find n option, if one is out there.

#3: Contact your lender (even if you do not have a Fannie or Freddie backed loan) and as for loan modification or help in getting your loan caught up. Many lenders will work with you, even during the foreclosure process, since they are losing a sizable amount of money from each foreclosure.

#4: Call a foreclosure specialist or FHA approved specialist to give you the help you need. These professionals can work with you to find out what help is available and give you advice on what all of your options are (not just those that your lender wants you to consider.) This is the best recommendation for anyone struggling with their mortgage.

Unfortunately, while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do get a lot of attention since they are government backed companies, they are not the only lenders out there who are facing large numbers of foreclosures. In fact, the two only have about 20 percent of the delinquent loans on the books.

An estimated 4.4 million people are struggling to make ends meet and may undergo foreclosure in the coming year according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  Each of these individuals is struggling to make ends meet and most of them need some type of support now, before the process worsens.

Many people will qualify for the new loan modification programs. If you are unsure if you do, or you need to know your options, don’t wait. There is nothing worse than waiting too long only to find out that you could have saved your home last week (after a certain amount of time, the foreclosure process is difficult to stop.)

For those who are struggling with foreclosure, contact a professional FHA specialist to get help now. If you are not currently suffering from foreclosure yet, but you are worried that this will become a problem for you in the coming months, act now. While the government is not going to protect your loan totally, there may be options including refinancing r restructuring of the loan. These options can help you to get back on track before the problem worsens.

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.