Tag Archives: conventional
What are the differences between an FHA home loan and a conventional loan?
When you are looking at the different loans available to purchase or refinance, it can be confusing. Over the past year there have been many changes in the underwriting guidelines for all mortgages. FHA has become a very popular choice for many home buyers. Lets take a look at the basic differences between an FHA loan and a conventional loan.
FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. FHA insures loans that are made by approved FHA lenders, they do not lend directly to borrowers. FHA provides lenders with insurance in case a borrower defaults on their loan.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government sponsored enterprises (GSE). Their mission is to provide stability and liquidity to the U.S housing and mortgage markets. These GSEs also do not lend directly to borrowers, but they help to ensure that the banks and mortgage companies have funds to lend at affordable rates. These types of loans are typically conventional loans.
The FHA underwriting guidelines are generally more liberal than on a conventional loan. The minimum down payment required by FHA is 3.5%. All of the down payment can be a gift from a family member. The seller is allowed to pay up to 6% of the purchase price towards the buyers closing costs. To be eligible for the 6% from the seller, it must be negotiated in the purchase contract. The minimum credit score that most lenders will allow on an FHA loan is 580.
At this time, the minimum down payment on a conventional loan is 5% – 10%. Due to the lack of private mortgage insurance available, most lenders are requiring that the borrower have a minimum credit score of 720 for a loan to value of 90% – 95%. The seller can pay up to 3% of the purchase price toward the buyers closing costs. However, they can only pay the non-recurring costs. They are not allowed to pay the recurring costs such as taxes, insurance or pre-paid interest. On an FHA loan, they can pay both recurring and non-recurring costs.
One of the other benefits of an FHA loan is that they will allow a non-occupant co-borrower to co-sign on the loan. The income of both the borrower and co-borrower will be combined and used for qualifying. On a conventional loan, the owner occupant must qualify at 35%/43% ratios unless higher ratios are approved by the Automated Underwriting System.
Another difference between conventional and FHA loans is regarding private mortgage insurance. FHA mortgage insurance is required on all 30 year FHA home loans regardless of the loan to value. FHA has a monthly mortgage insurance premium and an upfront mortgage insurance premium. Even though it is called an upfront mortgage insurance premium, it is usually financed into the new loan. On average, the upfront premium is 1.75% of the loan amount. Once you have paid on the monthly mortgage insurance premium for a minimum of 5 years and the loan to value is 78% or below, you can get rid of the monthly mortgage insurance. Speak to your current lender for requirements to remove the PMI.
Conventional home loans also require private mortgage insurance; however, they only have a monthly mortgage insurance premium. They do not require the upfront MIP. Also, conventional loans usually only require mortgage insurance on loan to values that are over 80%. You can have the mortgage insurance removed from your conventional loan once you have paid for 5 years and the loan to value is 80% or below. Check with your current lender for specific documentation needed to have your PMI insurance removed.
Above is just a few of the differences between conventional and FHA home loans. For more information or to contact me directly, please visit
Common Loans Used To Buy Real Estate
For most home buyers, especially first time home buyers, shopping for a home can be stressful and confusing. Many times the most confusing part of the home buying process is understanding the different types of loan options that are available. Here is an overview of the most common loans buyers use to purchase real estate.
Conventional Loans
Conventional loans are loans that use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines in order to make the loans conform with respect to Loan to Value (LTV), borrower credit scores, borrower income requirements and minimum down payment amount. Conventional loans allow a minimum down payment of 5% and are generally utilized by home buyers with excellent credit. Mortgage origination fees with conventional loans are less than government insured loans like FHA and VA loans. Conventional loans allow the home buyer to receive a sellers assist ranging from 3% -6% of the purchase price depending on down payment amount.
FHA Loans
FHA Loans are loans backed by The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA does not lend money but rather insures the loan against default by the borrower. Since the disappearance of the no money down loans FHA loans have become increasingly popular because their 3.5% down payment requirement is the lowest of all loans currently available to most home buyers. FHA loans are generally utilized by home buyers who cannot qualify for conventional mortgages because FHA loans offer more flexibility with respect to down payment amount, credit score, debt to income (DTI) ratio and other important loan qualification variables. FHA loans charge an upfront mortgage insurance premium (MIP) which makes FHA loans origination fees significantly greater than conventional loans.
VA loans
VA Loans are available to borrowers who are serving or served in a branch of the US Military. VA home loans are overseen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and allow the home buyer the opportunity to purchase a home with no money down (100% financing!) provided 1) the home appraises and 2) the seller pays all closing costs. There is no PMI on VA loans but the VA charges an upfront VA funding fee which can be rolled into the closing costs. Veterans seeking to purchase a home with a VA loan must still prove sufficient income, credit and cash reserves.
ARM
An adjustable rate mortgage or ARM, also called variable rate mortgages, is a loan where the interest rate is not fixed but instead varies periodically. Interest rates on ARMs are usually linked to an index, like the LIBOR, and rates vary to reflect to the cost to the lender of borrowing money in the current credit market.
Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan is a loan where the borrower uses the equity in their home as collateral for repayment of the loan. Home equity loans are often used to finance major expenses like home renovations, unforeseen medical bills or childrens college education. A home equity loan creates a lien against the borrower’s house, and reduces the homeowners equity in the home.
Home Equity Line Of Credit (HELOC)
A home equity line of credit, also called a HELOC, is a loan for a set amount that is secured by the borrowers existing equity in the home. HELOCs differ from home equity loans in that the borrower does not necessarily receive the entire loan amount up front but instead uses a line of credit to borrow amounts that do not exceed the set credit limit. Money can be borrowed using HELOCs during the draw period which can be anywhere from 5 to 25 years and the monthly repayment minimum is usually a small, interest only payment. The full principal amount of the loan, sometimes called a balloon payment, is due at the end of the draw period.