I specialize in Kentucky First Time Homebuyers FHA, VA, USDA & Rural Housing, KHC and Fannie Mae mortgage loans. I have helped over 900 Kentucky families buy their first home and refinance their current mortgage for a lower rate; Kentucky First time buyers $0 down still available with down payment assistance with KHC. Free Mortgage applications same day approvals. Web site is not endorsed by the FHA, VA, USDA govt agency. Text/call 502-905-3708 kentuckyloan@gmail.com
NMLS 57916 NMLS ID 1364
The credit score requirements for Kentucky FHA home loans:
FHA says on paper in their written guidelines that they will insure a FHA loan down to 500 - 579 with a 10% down payment or 580+ with a 3.5% down payment. However, in the real world of lending in the secondary market, most lenders will not adhere to these guidelines.
Most FHA investors will want a 620 middle credit score, but they're a few that will go by the written FHA guidelines above for credit scores, but very few. Your best bet is to get with a loan officer and get your scores up to at least 580 so you can have a better shot of getting approved and access to more FHA lenders.
Bankruptcy Requirements for Kentucky FHA Home Loans:
FHA states in their published guidelines that if you had a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you must wait 2 years from the discharge date to reapply for a FHA insured mortgage loan.
If you had a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and have a 12 month on-time payment history with the courts, you can potentially get approved for a FHA loan if you get permission from the trustee and qualify with the Chapter 13 payment plan in your debt-to-income ratio. If you have been in the plan for over 12 months, and have a good pay history, you can submit your paperwork for FHA approval.
For example, let's say you have been in the Chapter 13 repayment plan for 3 years and you want to buy a home using FHA financing. You could go ahead and petition the Chapter 13 trustee for approval from the courts to get a home loan. The trustee of the Chapter 13 courts will want to know your new loan payment with the home loan, so make sure you know how much you want to borrow before you apply,.
Collections on Credit Report Requirements for Kentucky FHA Home Loans:
:
If the credit report shows a cumulative balance of $2,000 or more for collection accounts:
The debt(s) must be paid in full prior to or at closing, or
Payment arrangements must be made with the creditor and the monthly payment included in the DTI, or
A monthly payment of 5% of the outstanding balances of each collection must be included in the borrower’s DTI.
Collection accounts of non-borrowing spouses in a community property state must be included in the $2,000 cumulative balance and analyzed as part of the Borrower’s ability to pay all collection accounts. Community property states are Arizona, California, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin
Short-sale or Foreclosure Guidelines for a Kentucky FHA Loan:
If you have experienced a short-sale or foreclosure, FHA states that you must wait 3 years from the date of the sale to obtain FHA financing again. And important note is this: The waiting period starts not when you were discharged from the home or bankruptcy, the waiting period starts when the home is sold and the deed transferred at the courthouse. This is important to remember because a lot of people think it starts when they vacate the home or when there bankruptcy is discharged if the mortgage was in the bankruptcy, but it does not!!! The date used to end the waiting period starts when the deed is transferred at the courthouse from the owner to back to bank or whomever buyus the home in the default.
Delinquent Federal Debt (Taxes, Student Loans) Kentucky FHA Loan Requirements:
If you have a delinquency with the Federal Government, this could hurt your chances of getting approved for a FHA backed Mortgage Loan. Here is why:
All FHA participants are ran through the CAVIRS Alert System administered by HUD to check to see if the mortgage applicant is delinquent to the Federal Government. This usually arises from an IRS income tax lien, overpayment on a social security claim, or lastly, a defaulted student loan.
A lot of the times FHA borrower don't realize that if they don't pay there Federal backed student loans, they go into default and this will hold you up from getting a FHA loan or possibly they will hold your tax refund.
If you have been delinquent on your student loans, you have to call and get on a 9 month repayment plan with them and they will clear you of your CAVIRS Alert. The payment plan can be as little as 5 or $10 a month, but the important thing is to get started so this will improve your credit rating too along with releasing the liens against you for other federal assistance like tax refunds, social security payments and benefits to name just a few.
I have done many FHA loans in Kentucky where they have rehabbed their student loans if they are backed by Federal government and got them loan after 9 months.
If you happen to have an agreement already worked-out with the IRS or student loan creditors, sometimes we can take that arrangement and get you approved sometime with FHA depending on the lender.
Child Support Obligations Kentucky FHA Loan Requirements:
If the credit report shows a delinquent child support agreement, the FHA Government Underwriter will want to see the current child support agreement and what the monthly payment is so as to make sure they have your debt-to-income ratio figured correctly. You can have a delinquency report of child support on your credit report and still get an FHA loan.
It is okay to be paying child support, a lot of times it shows on a borrower's paystubs, and if so, we simply use that child support obligation to use for debt-to-income ratio qualifying.
Joel Lobb
Mortgage Loan Officer
Individual NMLS ID #57916
Kentucky FHA Gift of Equity and Gift Funds for Down Payment Requirements
Gifts may be provided by:
• Borrower's family member*; • the borrower's employer or labor union; • a close friend with a clearly defined and documented interest in the borrower; • a charitable organization; • a governmental agency or public entity that has a program providing homeownership assistance to: • low or moderate income families; or • first-time homebuyers.
*Family member defined as: • child, foster child, parent, or grandparent; spouse or domestic partner; • legally adopted son or daughter, including a child who is placed with the borrower by an authorized agency for legal adoption; • brother, stepbrother, sister, stepsister; • uncle or aunt • son-in-law, daughter-in law, father-in-law, mother in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law of the borrower.
Guidelines - Personal Gift Funds
• Primary residence 1-4 unit only • Funds may not be used to fulfill mandatory reserve requirements for manually underwritten files. • No borrower funds are required for down payment. • Cash on hand is not an acceptable source of donor funds.
Documentation - Personal Gift Funds
• Gift letter - See Requirements in "Notable Agency Differences" Above • If the gift funds have been verified in the borrower's account, obtain the donor's bank statement showing the withdrawal and evidence of the deposit into the borrower's account. • If the gift funds are not verified in the borrower's account, obtain the certified check or money order or cashier's check or wire transfer or other official check, and a bank statement showing the withdrawal from the donor's account. • If the gift funds are paid directly to the settlement agent, verify that the settlement agent received the funds from the donor for the amount of the gift, and that the funds were from an acceptable source. • If the gift funds are being borrowed by the donor and documentation from the bank or other savings account is not available, have the donor provide written evidence that the funds were borrowed from an acceptable source, not from a party to the transaction. Regardless of when gift funds are made available to a borrower, the lender must be able to make a reasonable determination that the gift funds were not provided by an unacceptable source. This usually requires a copy of the donor's bank statement.
Guidelines - Gift of Equity
• Family member is ONLY eligible donor for gifts of equity • Limited to 85% LTV unless: o residence is currently selling-family member's primary residence or purchasing family member has been renting residence 6 months prior to sales contract date.
Documentation - Gift of Equity
Gift Letter - See Requirements in "Notable Agency Differences" Above
Q: I am pretty sure I already know the answer to this question but here it goes anyway. My wife and I plan to move into a different house/condo in two years. Is it possible to lock into a rate now that would hold for a couple years? What is the maximum time limit to hold a rate lock?
A: That’s a great idea! We wish we could lock in these interest rates for two years or even more, but most lenders’ interest rate locks are for 30, 45, 60 or 90 days. Frequently, you get the lowest interest rate with the shortest rate lock. You can call around and see what lenders in your area are offering, but it’s unlikely that you’ll find any lender willing to give you a rate lock that extends past those days.
In some new-construction scenarios, home builders will work with lenders to offer their home buyers a longer rate lock period. While the costs for the longer term rate lock may be absorbed by the builder, that builder then knows that the buyer has been approved for a loan and that the loan interest rate is somewhat certain. This certainty would mean that the buyer should be able to close on the loan without issues.
When new-construction buyers sign a contract for a home, the home might not be delivered for a year or so. That home buyer may be able to afford the home given today’s interest rates but not tomorrow’s if rates go sky high. Typically, builders get a preferred lender to offer a type of loan product that would allow the rates to go up a tad but would give the home buyer the benefit of a lower interest rate if rates drop down.
But we haven’t seen a two-year rate lock, even in a new home building scenario. Having said that, some lenders will allow you to buy a rate lock so you might find a lender willing to give a 365 day rate lock or even longer, but that lender will charge you a fee (sometimes it’s significant) to lock that rate.
From your standpoint, you have to determine whether the cost of locking the rate is worth it. We can’t tell you what a lender would charge for the lock, but we know that the longer you want to lock in the rate the higher the fee. And, if you add that to the annual cost of the mortgage, it’s going to push that super-low rate a lot higher.
Here’s the thing: If you look all the way back to 1993 (according to Freddie Mac data), when mortgage interest rates fell a bit below 7% for the first time since 1971, we’ve had incredibly low interest rates. Over the past 10 years, mortgage interest rates have barely been above 5 percent. According to Freddie Mac data, the last time they were over 5 percent, was April 2010.
In other words, it’s likely that interest rates will still be low in two years, and if they’re not, you can refinance when they fall again. That’s the smart move.
What credit score do I need to qualify for Kentucky FHA loan is one of the most common questions lenders hear. The short answer is you must have a minimum credit score of 500 to be eligible for an Kentucky FHA loan. Higher scores will get you better terms and a smaller down payment requirement. Anything lower than 500 disqualifies you from consideration for an Kentucky FHA loan.
There are two sets of credit score requirements.
One important thing to understand is that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) does not lend money directly to home buyers. You will fill out an application with a regular lender just as you would if you were applying for any other type of mortgage. What the FHA does is ensure your loan to help protect the lender in case you default. You will be required not only to meet the FHA guidelines to qualify for a loan but also meet any additional qualifications required by the lender. This means there are two sets of requirements you have to meet with your credit score.
1. The first set of requirements comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD oversees the FHA and determines what a borrower’s minimum eligibility requirements will be to obtain an FHA loan.
2. The second set of requirements comes from the mortgage lender. The mortgage lender has the right to add its requirements to those mandated by HUD.
What HUD requires of borrowers to be eligible for an FHA loan
The HUD Handbook 4000.1 includes the official guidelines when it comes to the FHA mortgage insurance program.
What lenders may require of borrowers to be eligible for an FHA loan
Lenders have the right to add requirements over and above the minimum requirements of HUD. These additional requirements are called overlays. Your lender may or may not require them. This is not something that should come as a surprise to you, however. Requiring a credit score of 580 to 620 is not unusual. In addition to your credit score, you must have a manageable debt level that lenders are comfortable with and enough income to repay your loan.
What credit score do I need to qualify for FHA loan?
These percentages show that the majority of borrowers who successfully qualify for FHA loans fall into the 600 to 799 range. While it is true that some successfully qualify in the low range of 500 to 599, you have a much better chance of being approved for a loan with good terms and a low down payment if you fall into the higher range.
The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people. NMLS ID# 57916, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
With an Louisville Kentucky FHA loan, you can finance up to 97.75% of the home value to reduce your current rate or current mortgage term – which is a higher percentage than a conventional loan. Louisville Kentucky FHA loans are often more flexible than other programs – extending funds to people who have had credit challenges and offering competitive rates for people who want to take cash out.
Why Purchase with an Louisville KentuckyFHA Loan?
There are many benefits to purchasing with anLouisville Kentucky FHA loan. You can take advantage of a low-fixed rate and put very little, or in some cases, no money down. With an FHA purchase, less than perfect credit is not a problem. In fact, lower credit scores or no credit scores can be approved. You might have a past bankruptcy and still qualify for an FHA loan! Additionally, a down payment can be a gift. With lower PMI than conventional loans, now might be a good time to take advantage of the benefits of purchasing with anLouisville Kentucky FHA loan.
The Federal Housing Administration has allowed FHA streamline refinances on federally insured mortgages since the early 80’s. Given that, many Louisville KentuckyFHA homeowners have utilized this program to lower their interest rate with relatively low or no costs. The Louisville KentuckyFHA Streamline Refinance Program has made it easy for borrowers to save thousands of dollars on their mortgage interest. The term “streamline” simply means there is very little documentation and underwriting that needs to be performed by the lender. No appraisal & no income verification required.
Yes. You can assume an existing FHA-insured loan or, if you are the one deciding to sell, allow a buyer to assume yours. Assuming a loan can be very beneficial, since the process is streamlined and less expensive compared to that for a new loan. Also, assuming a loan can often result in a lower interest rate. The application process consists of a credit check - no property appraisal is required. The borrower must also demonstrate that he or she has enough income to support the mortgage loan. In this way, qualifying to assume is similar to the qualification requirements for a new mortgage loan. We are dedicated to making yourLouisville Kentucky FHA loan as effortless and hassle free as possible. We look forward to helping you save thousands on your Louisville KentuckyFHA home mortgage.
Click below red arrow to apply for your free FHA Mortgage Today
Updated Guidelines for Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loans in 2018
Here is my Top 5 List for getting a Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loan:
1.A Low Down Payment – Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loans only require a 3.5% down payment. And what makes that even more attractive is that it can be a gift from a relative. Do you have a parent or sibling who would “Gift” you some money for a down payment? If so, it could be time to apply for an KEntucky FHA Mortgage Loan.
2.Flexible Credit Qualifying – HUD did NOT set a credit score requirement for qualifying for an KY FHA Mortgage Loan. However many lenders in the market today have drafted “Overlays” that set minimum credit score requirements. Most lenders like to see a minimum 620 credit score, but don’t get discouraged if you are not there yet. If you are close to 620, it is often just as simple as reviewing your credit to determine how to quickly raise it. If you are not close to 620, ask your FHA Mortgage Loan Originator if they have a program for you. Chances are, there is! Bankruptcies and prior foreclosures do not automatically disqualify you either.
3.The Seller Can Pay Your Closing Costs – That’s right. You need to have a quality Realtor who will help you negotiate not only the best price for the home, but also that the seller will pay your closing costs. HUD allows Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loans to have the seller pay up to 6% of the purchase price. Sounds good so far, a down payment gift and seller paying closing costs!
4.Flexible Income Qualifying – The standard for income qualifying ratios is 31/43 which means that up to 31% of your monthly income can be used to pay your monthly household mortgage payment; and up to 43% of your monthly income can be used to qualify for ALL monthly expenses. Those ratios can go up to 55% if you have good credit and a good income history allowing you to qualify when others might not.
5.Qualify Without Your Spouse’s BAD Credit – This is a tricky one but it is also not well known. You can effectively qualify for an Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loan without your spouse’s Bad Credit. FHA will look at your spouse’s credit but cannot decline your loan due to your spouse’s debt or credit score. So if you have a spouse with a crummy credit profile, you should take a look at Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loans to see if it will work for you.
What are Kentucky FHA Loans?
FHA stands for Federal Housing Authority. FHA Loans provide low-cost insured Home Mortgage Loans that suit a variety of purchasing options. Whether you’re buying a home or want to refinance your mortgage, FHA loans might be right for you. If you’re unsure about your credit rating, or have concerns about a down payment, FHA loans can give you piece of mind with super low closing costs and flexible payment options.
What factors determine if I am eligible for an FHA Loan in Kentucky?
To be eligible for FHA Mortgage Loans, your monthly housing costs (mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, and insurance) must meet a specified percentage of your gross monthly income. Your credit background will be fairly considered. You must be able to make a down payment, cover closing costs and have enough income to pay your monthly debt.
What is the maximum amount that I can borrow?
The maximum amount for an FHA Mortgage is determined by:
Maximum Loan Amount in Kentucky: The Maximum FHA Loan amount allowed for FHA Home Mortgages varies from county to county in Kentucky. The highest maximum FHA Home Loan right now in Kentucky is $271,050. The lowest maximum amount available in any county is $271,050. The lowest maximum amount available in any county is $285,000. To see what the limit is in the county in which you’re interested, please refer to the Kentucky FHA Loan Limit chart at the bottom of this page.
Maximum financing: In Kentucky, the maximum FHA financing will be 97.75% of the appraised value of the home or its selling price, whichever is lower.
How much money will I need for the down payment and closing costs?
Kentucky FHA loans require the home buyer to invest at least 3.5% of the sales price in cash for the down payment and closing costs. If the sales price is $100,000 for example, the home buyer must invest at least $3,500. However, the home buyer can use gifts from family, funds from local, state or government agencies, or other sources for the down payment.
What property types are allowed for FHA Loans in Kentucky?
While FHA Guidelines do require that the property be Owner Occupied (OO), they do allow you to purchase condos, planned unit developments, manufactured homes, and 1-4 family residences, in which the borrower intends to occupy one part of the multi-unit residence.
There are three main types of FHA Refinance loans available in KY.
FHA Rate/Term Refinance
The FHA Rate/Term Refinance is for borrowers who currently have a conventional fixed rate or ARM mortgage and wish to refinance into an FHA Mortgage. This program helps borrowers who wish to have a stable, fixed rate FHA Insured Loan.
Cash-Out Refinance
An FHA Cash Out Refinance is perfect for the homeowner who wants to access the equity that they have built up in their home. This program is beneficial to homeowners whose property has increased in value since it was purchased.
Streamline Refinance
The FHA Streamline Refinance is designed to lower the interest rate on a current FHA House Loan or convert a current FHA adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed rate. An FHA Streamline Refinance can be performed quickly and easily. It requires much less hassle and paperwork than a normal refinance including no appraisal, no qualifying debt ratios and no income verification.
Kentucky FHA Mortgage Loans—updated Guidelines
Kentucky home buyers with sketchy credit who are unable to qualify for conventional mortgages may now find it more costly and difficult to obtain loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
New rules that went into effect this month adjust the two types of mortgage insurance paid by consumers for loans insured by the F.H.A., which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
One change raises the annual insurance premium, paid monthly by the borrower, setting it at 0.85 percent to 0.9 percent of the loan balance, depending on the down payment or equity owned; the amount used to be 0.5 percent to 0.55 percent. The other change lowers the one-time upfront insurance premium that borrowers must pay, to 1 percent of the loan balance from 2.25 percent.
The upfront premium is paid in a lump sum at closing or added to the loan balance, unlike the monthly premium, which is paid over the life of the loan in addition to the interest and principal.
The decrease in the upfront premium, welcome though it might seem to some customers, does little to offset the effects of the monthly increase, called “really pretty hefty.”
Kentucky F.H.A. loans are usually taken out by buyers who cannot qualify under the stiffer down-payment requirements of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the government-controlled buyers of loans. F.H.A. requires 3.5 percent, while Fannie Mae typically requires 5 to 15 percent or more, depending on the type of loan.
The changes, under an example provided by the F.H.A., mean that a borrower who puts 3.5 percent down on a $154,000 house with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 5 percent (such a consumer typically earns a gross annual income of $54,000, according to the agency) and who finances the upfront premium into the loan will see monthly mortgage payments, including taxes, interest and the two insurance premiums, rise to $1,238 from $1,205. The example is based on median data, including property taxes put at about 2.5 percent of home value. That increase includes the drop in the upfront mortgage insurance, to $1,486 from $3,344 — but also includes the rise in the monthly insurance premium, to $111 from $68.
Last August, President Obama signed into law a bill authorizing the F.H.A. to increase premiums to shore up its insurance funds; the agency had been authorized to raise the annual premium to as much as 1.55 percent.
Conventional loans, which conform to Fannie and Freddie underwriting guidelines, do not require upfront mortgage insurance. But some may require monthly private mortgage insurance, if the borrower puts less than 20 percent down toward the purchase, or has less than 20 percent equity in a refinancing.
Kentucky F.H.A. borrowers, meanwhile, can stop paying the monthly mortgage insurance only after five years and when their loan-to-value ratio reaches 78 percent, at which point they have 22 percent equity in their home.
Kentucky F.H.A. loans are typically offered by niche direct lenders, and because of the insurance, they often carry interest rates equal to or slightly below those of conventional loans.
In October, the F.H.A. set a minimum FICO score of 500 for borrowers who want an Kentucky F.H.A.-insured loan — the first time a minimum was set. It also introduced a new minimum down payment of 10 percent for borrowers with FICO scores below 580. (Those above 580 still pay a minimum 3.5 percent.)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Apply for Free for your Louisville Kentucky Mortgage-Takes only 3 Minutes
Getting an HUD Insured Home Loan with Low Down Payment
FHA loans are attractive for first-time home buyers with a less than perfect credit history and who find it difficult to come up with the 10 to 20% down payment.
FHA loans are once again gaining popularity due to a variety of reasons. Their market share dropped significantly during the period from 2000 to 2007 due to the surge in popularity of sub-prime loans and loans that allowed zero down payment. However the recent sub-prime crisis and the flurry of foreclosures led to most of the lenders tightening the mortgage requirements. FHA loans are once again becoming a viable option for low-to-middle income families for acquiring home loans. The recent bridge loan for the $8000 tax credit which is limited to FHA loans may well be another boost for the popularity of FHA loans.
How FHA Loans Work
The FHA loans are available to purchase or refinance a principal residence. Federal Housing Administration(FHA), which is a part of HUD do not fund a loan, instead they insure the loan. The mortgage loan is funded by a lending institution, such as a mortgage company, bank or savings and loan association.
Borrowers are required to pay a small upfront mortgage insurance premium(1.5% of the purchase price) and a small monthly mortgage insurance (MMI) premium.
Advantages of FHA Loans
1. Low Down Payment- The minimum down payment requirement for FHA loans is 3.5%. Combined with a HUD down payment assistance grant or other similar programs, the borrower can often purchase a home with zero down payment.
2. Less than perfect credit history- FHA loans are ideal for borrowers with less than perfect credit history who will find it difficult to qualify for a conventional loan. Since the loan is guaranteed by the government, lenders will
3. Ideal for first-time home buyers- The typical first-time home buyer is someone who is young and in the early stages of their career. They will have other student debts and will find it difficult to come up with the 5 to 20% down payment required for a conventional loan. They are also likely to have a blemished credit history. FHA loans are much more suited to this type of home buyers because they allow for higher debt-to-income ratios, less than perfect credit history and lower down payment.
4. Down payment can be gifted by a family member or non-profit organization- One significant advantage of FHA loans is that the down payment can be gifted by a parent, a government agency or a non-profit organization which will allow people with out money for down payment to buy a home.
5. Foreclosures and bankruptcy- While borrowers whose homes have been foreclosed or who have gone into bankruptcy will have to wait for a longer period to get a conventional loan, FHA will allow a home purchase two years after a Bankruptcy and three years after a foreclosure.
6. No prepayment penalties- FHA loans do not have any prepayment penalties and can be easily refinanced.
7. Higher debt-to-income ratios- The maximum allowable debt-to-income ratio for a FHA loan is 41%, which is higher than most conventional loans.
Limitations of FHA Loans
Relatively low limits- One important disadvantage of FHA loans is that loan limits for FHA loans is typically less than the loan limits for most conventional loans. If the loan amount exceeds the loan limits, the borrowers will have to contribute additional money or they will have to look for other types of loans.
Borrowers with good credit history can find better rates- FHA loans are typically for borrowers with a blemished credit history or who find it difficult to come up with the 10 to 20% down payment. Borrowers with a good credit history who can also come up with the 10 to 20% down payment can find better rates with conventional loans.
FHA loans are a great option for first-time home buyers who are looking to buy a home in this buyer’s market. Lenders are willing to give better rates even with tighter credit norms since they are assured that the loan will be paid off by HUD in the event of a foreclosure. FHA Limits
Joel Lobb (NMLS#57916) Senior Loan Officer 502-905-3708 cell
