FHA Loan Requirements

FHA Loan Requirements in 2023

I describe here the complete FHA loan requirements. The Federal Housing Administration (known as FHA), is providing mortgage insurance in the mortgage loans ¹ concluded by FHA lenders ².

The loans granted by the FHA correspond always to single familiar and multi-familiar residencies within the country. FHA is the second largest provider of these residential mortgage insurances on the planet, after the European Union.

List Of FHA Loan Requirements

• Minimum FICO® scoring of 580 = Requires the borrower a down payment of 3.5 %.
• FICO® scoring between 500 and 579 = Requires the borrower a down payment of 10 %
• The accomplishment of other ancillary requirements such as peeling paint waivers, or the identity of interest certification.
• The borrower must be a legal resident of the United States.
• Proof of employment and evidence of regular income.
• The property must be the primary home of the borrower.
• The borrower must have a debt to income ratio < 43 %
• A Mortgage Insurance Premium is required.

A Federal Housing Administration mortgage loan is a loan that is protected from default by an insurance contract issued by the FHA. Thanks to this, prospective buyers do not need to save a lot of money for a larger downpayment and can purchase their home with just 3.5 % down payment. This percentage is quite a low down payment in comparison to standard mortgage loans.

Mortgages backed by the FHA are suitable also for a borrower who was subject to foreclosure or went bankrupt in the past.

Nevertheless, despite the aforementioned bankruptcy or foreclosure event, the applicant of these FHA backed mortgages must enjoy a decent FICO® scoring as one of the FHA loan requirements.

Thus, it is required scoring of 580 to be eligible for the 3.5 % down payment that is really very low and convenient. In the situation that your FICO® is lower than 580, you will instead have to pay a down payment of ten percent. Ensure always that your credit score is in good standing.

FHA loan requirements indicate that apart from previous bankruptcies or foreclosures, the FICO® scoring has to be studied, as well as other circumstances such as having a demonstrated steady source of income and being a legal resident of our country.

Requirements For FHA Loans Explained

Do you know your credit score? Do you know how that number affects you?

Knowing the range of where your credit falls is crucial. It can help you predict whether you will qualify for a credit card or in our case, an FHA loan.

Here is a breakdown of the different credit score ranges:

	Poor	Fair	Good	Very Good	Excellent
FICO® Score	300 to 579	580 to 669	670 to 739	740 to 799	800 to 850

Excellent score is 800 and higher: If you fall into this range you will be considered royalty by lenders. You will never be denied a loan and the loan APRs offered to you will be the lowest possible. A score in this range means that you have great financial capacity, knowledge, and discipline. It also means that you use a substantial amount of your credit on a monthly basis.

A very good score is 740 to 799: This is the range, as published in 2020, where 27 (twenty-seven) percent of the U.S.population is residing. In this range, you will have no problem getting approved for any type of loan, for example, of course, an FHA loan. In addition, you will enjoy good interest rates.

A good score is 670 to 739: This is the range where the average Americans are situated by the update of the year 2020. In this range, you will have a good shot at credit approval but your interest rates may be higher. You could perfectly apply to an FHA loan if you are located in this range, as the majority of Americans.

A fair credit score is 580 to 669: You will find in this range that if you are applying to credit, the interest rates tend to be on the higher side, as the borrower is riskier. And if you are approved for credit there may be restrictions on your loan. Nevertheless, the majority of FHA loans are for borrowers that are situated in this range. With a credit score of 580 or more, you can apply for an FHA loan and you will be required to perform a down payment of 3,5 % as we explained thoroughly above.

A poor credit score is 579 or below. With a poor rating, you could probably still qualify for a loan or mortgage, but the interest rates will be nauseating. You will pay more money over a long period of time because of the high-interest rates. In an FHA loan, you will be required larger down payment, which will be ten percent. In the lower ranges of the credit score rankings, you have very little chance of getting any loans and if you do, you will need the help of a subprime lender. The interest will be very high as it is regarded as a risky loan. An FHA loan may be denied.

If you are located in a lower range, with a poor credit score, it is recommended that you seek assistance to fix your credit before you apply for any loans.

The FICO® score is a number that represents a potential borrower’s creditworthiness. FICO® is a data analytics company that uses consumer credit files collected from different credit bureaus to compute their scores.

Your FICO® score is reviewed by lenders and is used to determine how likely you are to make timely payments on your mortgage. The higher the score, the better your chances are of getting a lower interest rate on your mortgage.

How Many Non-Occupant Co-Borrowers Are Allowed on FHA Loans

HUD, the parent of FHA, does not have any restrictions on how many non-occupant co-borrowers can be added to the main borrower. However, FHA does require that non-occupant co-borrowers be family members of the main borrower for a 3.5% down payment home purchase FHA Loan.

HUD Down Payment Guidelines on Home Purchase With Non-Occupant Co-Borrowers

Under HUD Guidelines, non-occupant co-borrowers who are not related to the main borrower by law, blood, and/or marriage can qualify. However, non-family members who become co-borrowers are added to the FHA Loan, the main borrower needs to put in a 25% down payment. To qualify for a 3.5% down payment FHA Loan, non-occupant co-borrowers need to be family members.

FHA Family Member

The concept of a family member in can impact the FHA loan requirements for a prospective borrower in several ways. If this individual is an FHA family member, they may be able to provide financial assistance towards the down payment, potentially lowering or eliminating the minimum required down payment.

Additionally, if the family member has a higher credit score than the primary borrower, it can help offset a lower credit score and potentially qualify the borrower for the loan.

However, if the co-borrower is not an FHA family member, the lender may require higher down payment or credit score requirements to mitigate the risk of having a non-family co-borrower. Therefore, the involvement of an FHA family member as a co-borrower or gift provider can influence the FHA loan requirements needed by a prospective borrower.

FHA Family Member And Credit Score

If an FHA family member provides financial assistance as a gift or co-borrows on the loan, it can help lower the down payment required and potentially offset a lower credit score of the primary borrower. However, if the co-borrower is not an FHA family member, the lender may require higher down payment or credit score requirements to mitigate the risk of having a non-family co-borrower.

Regarding credit score requirements for an FHA loan, the minimum required credit score is typically 580. However, if the borrower’s credit score is below 580, they may still be able to qualify for the loan with a higher down payment of 10% of the purchase price. If an FHA family member is a co-borrower on the loan and has a higher credit score than the primary borrower, it can help offset the lower credit score of the primary borrower.

On the other hand, if the co-borrower is not an FHA family member, the lender may require a higher down payment or a higher credit score from the borrower to offset the risk of having a non-family co-borrower. The specific requirements may vary depending on the lender and the borrower’s financial situation.