Unlocking the Benefits of an FHA Home Loan

Buying a home is a major life event and often requires a significant investment. For those looking to purchase their first home, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers several loan options that are designed for first-time home buyers. These loans offer low minimum down payments, reasonable credit expectations, and flexible income requirements. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of an FHA home loan.

Advantages of an FHA Loan

The primary advantage of an FHA loan is that it allows individuals who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage obtain a loan. This makes it easier for those with limited credit histories or lower incomes to buy their first home. Additionally, these loans require only 3.5% down payment and have more flexible debt-to-income ratio requirements than traditional mortgages, making them even more accessible to many potential borrowers.

In addition to providing access to homeownership, FHA loans also have other advantages compared to conventional mortgages. For example, FHA loans have up front mortgage insurance premiums that are lower than conventional mortgages, which can help reduce the overall cost of the loan. In some cases, FHA loans may be assumable as well, meaning that if you sell your house in the future you can transfer your existing mortgage balance to the buyer without refinancing or taking out new financing. This can make your house more attractive to buyers since they may be able to obtain financing without having to go through the process of applying for a new loan from scratch.

Finally, unlike conventional mortgages which require borrowers to pay private mortgage insurance until their equity reaches 20% of their total loan balance, FHA loans do not require this additional payment once you reach 78% equity in your property (after 5 years). This saves money over time and helps make homeownership more affordable for those with limited funds available for upfront payments or ongoing monthly expenses associated with owning a home.

How Do FHA Loans Work?

FHA home loans are available for both single family and multifamily homes and can be used to purchase a primary residence. The FHA doesn’t issue loans or set interest rates, but instead it guarantees against default. This means that banks can continuously issue loans without much risk or capital requirements, making them more willing to provide financing options to individuals who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage.

Biggest Benefits of an FHA Loan

Perhaps the biggest benefit of obtaining an FHA loan is that it allows individuals with less than perfect credit obtain a loan - especially first time home buyers. These loans also offer low minimum down payments, reasonable credit expectations, and flexible income requirements. Additionally, because these loans are backed by the government, lenders typically don’t require borrowers to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) as they do with traditional mortgages.

Another major advantage of FHA loans is that they allow borrowers to roll their closing costs into the loan - meaning you won’t have to pay out of pocket at closing time. However, this comes with one caveat; doing so will result in a higher overall loan amount which can lead to more interest paid over time. That said, if you don’t have enough cash on hand at closing time then this could be a viable option for you.

FHA Loan Requirements

What documents do I need for an FHA Loan?

Your loan approval depends 100% on the documentation that you provide at the time of application. You will need to give accurate information on:

Employment

  • Complete Income Tax Returns for past 2-years
  • W-2 & 1099 Statements for past 2-years
  • Pay-Check Stubs for past 2-months
  • Self-Employed Income Tax Returns and YTD Profit & Loss Statements for past 3-years for self-employed borrowers

Savings

  • Complete bank statements for all accounts for past 3-months
  • Recent account statements for retirement, 401k, Mutual Funds, Money Market, Stocks, etc.

Credit

  • Recent bills & statements indicating account numbers and minimum payments
  • Landlord's name, address, telephone number, or 12- months cancelled rent checks
  • Recent utility bills to supplement thin credit
  • Bankruptcy & Discharge Papers if applicable
  • 12-months cancelled checks written by someone you co-signed for to get a mortgage, car, or credit card, this indicates that you are not the one making the payments.

Personal

  • Drivers License
  • Social Security Card
  • Any Divorce, Palimony or Alimony or Child Support papers
  • Green Card or Work Permit if applicable
  • Any homeownership papers

Refinancing or Own Rental Property

  • Note & Deed from any Current Loan
  • Property Tax Bill
  • Hazard Homeowners Insurance Policy
  • A Payment Coupon for Current Mortgage
  • Rental Agreements for a Multi-Unit Property

What Can I Afford With An FHA Loan?

Your monthly costs should not exceed 29% of your gross monthly income for a FHA Loan. Total housing costs often lumped together are referred to as PITI.

P = Principal

I = Interest

T = Taxes

I = Insurance

Trusted

Vancouver and Portland trust Prism Lending Partners with their loan applications to get a competitive rate and have a great experience.  We actively work with you to ensure that you are able to purchase the house that you desire.

Local

Our local presence means that we are accessible and knowledgable about the SW Washington and Portland Metro area.

When you need a local mortgage company to be with you during the process, call us.

Competitive Rates

Competitive mortgage rates for borrowers in Vancouver, Portland, Camas, Battle Group, and all of SW Washington means that you get a competitive rate.  Want to know how we do it? Call Us.

Find the loan that's right for you.

Our team will help you find the right loan for you at the right time.  We offer products and have an understanding of the market at all phases of the real estate cycle.  We are committed to guiding you through selecting a loan and will help you reach your personal and financial goals with transparency and professionalism.

Meet The Team

Brian Spitulski
NMLS# 880824

Haley Dickerson
NMLS # 2319236

 

Kevin
NMLS# 218326

John
NMLS# 1700043

Mark Villanueva

Home Buyer in Happy Valley

Brian helped my wife and I purchase our first home in Happy Valley. As first time homebuyers, there was a steep learning curve throughout the entire home buying process. Brian was very helpful and patient in explaining not only procedures involved with obtaining the mortgage, but also with anything other processes we had questions about. Brian even came to our escrow signing appointment to give the paperwork a final look. Brian still contacts us every few months to let us know how interest rates are looking and whether it would be beneficial to refinance. Big thumbs up to Brian and we'll definitely use him again when we're in the market for another property.

Sean Curringan

Vancouver Home Buyer

My wife and I have followed Brian from his previous company to him now at U-Mortgage. While his company has changed, his level of service has stayed light years ahead of the rest of the industry and for that, we’re very grateful! Buying a house is for most people, the largest purchase they will ever make, which can be a pretty scary situation. Brian goes above and beyond to ensure that the consumer knows exactly what is going on at all times. This can be as simple as explaining what certain fees are or possibly as complex as how best to boost a credit score. Whatever the case may be, Brian is amazing! I personally don’t know too many Mortgage Guys who go as far as making sure to be present at the final signings. Mr. Spitulski does this and much more. My wife and I plan on using Brian in the future and highly recommend anyone else going through the home purchase process to give Brian at least a shot, it’s well worth it!

R. Rogers

Designation

Put your trust into Brian! You can tell he is honest and truly cares about his customers. He worked hard to get us the best possible interest rate (and keep it despite closing taking longer than expected due to an issue the sellers of our new house needed to work out). He patiently worked with us over the course of two years while we paid off debts, saved, and followed his advice to increase our credit scores. Once we were ready to go and found our dream home, Brian got everything mortgage-related done lightening fast! The whole process was so quick, easy and smooth I couldn’t believe it!! He was always quick to answer our millions of questions (this is our first house) and clearly works long hours to make sure his people are completely taken care of. Our experience couldn’t have been better!