Is it time to refi your FHA mortgage?

mortgageporter-thinkingWith the appreciation homes are seeing in the greater Seattle – King County area, home owners who purchased their home a couple years ago using an FHA mortgage may now be able to refinance into a conventional mortgage. FHA mortgages are often used when a home buyer needs a lower down payment option or if credit scores are lower. FHA jumbo mortgages offer home buyers lower down payment with higher loan amounts than what conforming mortgages will permit. There are many reasons why someone might opt for an FHA mortgage when buying a home.

[Read more…]

The FHA HAWK Program for Homebuyers

Osprey_muralA few weeks ago, HUD announced a new program created for first time home buyers which rewards them with reduced mortgage insurance premiums after they participate in home buyer education and one-on-one housing counseling. HAWK or Homeowners Armed with Knowledge is a pilot program set be released in two phases on a limited basis.

[Read more…]

Now offering FULL FHA 203k Rehab Mortgages

mortgageporterhouseAn FHA 203k rehab mortgage is great for fixing up a home that you’re considering buying and may even be used to make improvements to your primary residence with an FHA 203k refi. Many lenders offer the “FHA streamlined 203k rehab” loan which limits the amount of funds that can be used for the rehab project. Unlike a streamline 203k, the rehab process is allowed to take up to six months to complete.  I’m very pleased that Mortgage Master Service Company is now offering the FULL FHA 203k program.

[Read more…]

2014 FHA Loan Limits Reduced in Washington State

Last week, HUD announced the FHA loan limits for 2014 with most counties in Washington having loan limits reduced from 2013 levels. In the Seattle/King County area, FHA loan amounts for a single unit dwelling will be reduced by $61,500 from $567,500 to $506,000 in 2014. Kitsap County was hit the hardest with a reduction of $167,950 for single unit dwellings. The higher loan limits that we have appreciated over the past few years were intended to be “temporary” and HUD has been attempting to shrink FHA’s footprint, so we shouldn’t be too surprised over the lower loan limits.

[Read more…]

2014 FHA Loan Limits for Washington State

FHA loan limits for 2014 have been reduced from 2013. For a home located in greater Seattle, the new FHA loan limit is reduced from $567,500 to $506,000 in 2014. The reductions are across the board for Washington state counties and some loan limits are below 2014 conforming loan limits.

FHA streamline refinances without appraisals and with loan amounts over the the 2014 loan limits will not be subject to the new loan limits.

[Read more…]

Seattle Real Estate Chat: FHA’s Back to Work

In this week’s episode of Seattle Real Estate Chat we discuss FHA’s “Back to Work”. Back to Work is a newer extenuating circumstance that allows people who had a short sale or foreclosure to be able to buy again as long as the short sale or foreclosure happened because of a loss of income at no fault of their own (due to actions by their employer). You can read more about FHA’s Back to work program here.

[Read more…]

FHA “Back to Work” is available at Mortgage Master Service Corporation

I’m pleased to inform you that I just received a memo from our management stating that we are accepting HUD”s guidelines for the “Back to Work” program.

HUD’s “Back to Work” guidelines allow people who had a foreclosure, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure because of a significant loss of income and/or employment during the recession, to buy a home again quicker than the standard wait period of three years (for FHA).

[Read more…]

FHA unveils “Back to Work” Guidelines for those who had a Short Sale or Foreclosure

UPDATE Sept 9, 2013: I just received a memo from our management and we are doing FHA’s “Back to Work” program for home buyers who meet the criteria.

HUD released Mortgagee Letter 2013-26, also referred to as “Back to Work” featuring enhanced guidelines for home owners who lost their homes via short sale or foreclosure due to financial difficulties. “Back to Work” shortens the required wait periods for borrowers wanting to buy a home again.  From ML 2013-26:

[Read more…]