Things you need to know about FHA loans

June brought some good news for the real estate sector in Texas. The sales of pre-owned homes in North Texas had seen the biggest year-over-year gain in 2014. In June of 2014, 9,481 houses were sold in this state, which were the largest single monthly sales ever recorded. Such a thriving housing market is creating a lack of inventory. Hence, home buyers may have to shell out more money to get their desired home due to the increase in property prices. As the market is full of new buyers who want to take advantage of this optimistic trend, the mortgage market is also witnessing a lot of activities. For these buyers, there is a wide variety of home mortgage options available. One of the most popular mortgage options for the first home buyers is an FHA loan.

The Federal Housing Administration or FHA loan program has specifically been designed for home buyers with low to moderate income. This loan is more lenient in terms of eligibility criteria such as credit score, borrowers’ income and outstanding debt. This program also allows a down payment of 3.5 percent, which seems generous considering the larger down payment requirement for conventional mortgages. In those mortgages, customers are expected to pay a significant amount of an upfront fee in addition to the monthly premium, which poses challenges to many borrowers.

FHA loans provide relief to home buyers who do not meet the typical eligibility criteria for traditional mortgages. With such benefits of this mortgage program, even the home mortgage lenders in Texas are ready to provide financing to buy a property.

Here are some of the features of an FHA loan:
Easier to get: In earlier times going for a home loan caused home buyers to go through confusion and taxing paperwork. However, things have changed now, and with a more streamlined application process and underwriting, mortgages get approved with quick turnaround time.

Limits of the loan: There is no specific maximum limit for an FHA loan. Instead, it is set according to different states, and it is based on the specific market condition.

Credit Score: FHA loans work in a different way than a traditional loan works when it comes to credit score requirements. There is no minimum requirement for the loan, and a homebuyer can still be eligible even if he has faced bankruptcy.

Available for all income groups: Though FHA loans are mainly sought by lower and medium income groups, there is no such restriction. If borrowers can prove their ability to pay, they can apply for this loan even if they belong to the high income bracket.

Mortgage processes can be complex and buyers better seek assistance from mortgage experts. They may need the services of a reputed home mortgage company to know more about FHA loans or any other suitable loan option. Such a company not only makes your work easier by finding the best mortgage option for you, it also provides assistance for a hassle-free loan application process.

Home Mortgage Lenders: How to Make the Best Choice?

In the current market scenario, you can get a lot of options to obtain mortgage loans as a home buyer. Other than the conventional ways of taking out loans from banks and other financial institutes, you can also select a reputed lending firm. In fact, hiring a lending firm will be much more convenient for you. A firm can provide customized solutions to your financial requirements, based on your affordability. You can look out for the right home mortgage lender in Texas when you decide to buy a home there.

What are the different sources available for mortgage loans?

Lender: A lender usually assigns a loan officer who works as a mediator between borrowers and the lending firm. These officers act as the sales person who helps understanding the terms and conditions of various loan programs

Banks/Financial institutes: These are traditional financial institutions that offer mortgage loans on the similar ground as a lender. However, their lending rules are much stringent, and thus loan rejection is much higher. Real estate agency: A real estate agency offers various property options to homebuyers. It works as an intermediary between buyers and sellers. Though their main objective is to assist sellers in selling their properties at the highest possible prices.

In terms of a mortgage, with so many options available, it becomes confusing for homebuyers to make the best choice.

Depending upon your needs and affordability, a lender can help you get an ideal loan option that is likely to be satisfactory.

Tips to find a knowledgeable and trustworthy mortgage lender

• Get recommendations from the people you trust: You can always ask friends and relatives for suggestions, especially from those who have recently obtained a loan. However, you need to cross-check the references to ensure selecting the best lender that matches with your need.

• Observe the first-time response of lenders: You may get to know a lot from the initial response of a lender. The traits of a professional lender are prompt responses, friendly and courteous behavior, keenness to educate and explain processes to borrowers and answering all the queries.

• Check out reviews and credentials: Online reviews are good indicators of the customer experiences of working with a lender. You can also check the lender’s credentials to ensure it possess the required experience and skills.

• Do your homework: Do a thorough online research to avoid being misled by non-reliable sources.

The steps mentioned above can help you get a suitable lender that can help you find an ideal home mortgage loan.