FHA Loans Are a Great Low Down Payment Option
These government-backed home loans have become insanely popular. The main selling point of an FHA loan is the 3.5% minimum down payment requirement.
However, in order to qualify for the flagship low down payment option, you need a minimum credit score of 580.
And 580 is just the FHA’s guideline – individual banks and mortgage lenders still need to agree to offer such loans. So there’s a very good chance you’ll need an even higher credit score. Of course, a 580 credit score is pretty dismal…
Along with that, an eligible donor can provide gift funds for 100% of the borrower’s closing costs and down payment. And no reserves are required if it’s a 1-2 unit property. In other words, you don’t need much if any cash to finance your home purchase.
Update: You can now get a conventional loan with just 3% down thanks to new guidelines issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The screenshot to the left details when FHA wins out over conventional lending, and it tends to happen if credit scores fall below 680.
The other major selling point to an FHA loan is that the minimum credit score is 500. Again, this is subject to lenders actually offering programs for scores this low. And scores between 500 and 579 require a minimum down payment of 10%.
But FHA loans can be a good option for those with poor credit who are determined to get a mortgage.
Another benefit to going with an FHA loan is the higher loan limit, which is as high as $729,750. This can be a real lifesaver for those living in high-cost regions of the country (this limit has since dropped to $625,500 as of 2014).
Meanwhile, conventional conforming loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are capped at $625,500. Anything above that is considered a jumbo loan, and will come with a higher mortgage rate.
Speaking of rates, FHA loans tend to come with slightly lower interest rates, though one has to consider the entire payment (with mortgage insurance included) to determine what’s the better deal.
The box above assumes an interest rate of 4% for an FHA loan and 4.29% for a similar conventional one.
FHA Loans Subject to Mortgage Insurance
We’ve talked about some benefits of FHA loans, but there are drawbacks as well.
The major one is the mortgage insurance requirement. Those who opt for FHA loans are subject to both upfront and annual mortgage insurance premiums.
The upfront mortgage insurance requirement is unavoidable, and the annual premium can only be avoided if you have 22 percent or more home equity and a loan term of 15 years or less.
All other borrowers must pay the annual mortgage insurance premium for a minimum of five years, which will clearly increase the cost of the mortgage.
Keep in mind that FHA loan offerings are also pretty basic. They offer both purchase money mortgages and refinance loans, but the choices are slim.
In other words, you’ll most likely be stuck with a 30-year or 15-year fixed, or a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage. So if you’re looking for something a little different, the FHA probably isn’t for you.
Conventional Loans Offer Many More Options
That being said, let’s discuss conventional loans, an alternative to FHA loans which tend to offer a lot more variety.
With a conventional loan, which includes both conforming and non-conforming loans, you can get your hands on pretty much anything from a 1-month ARM to a 30-year fixed, and everything in between.
So if you want a 10-year fixed mortgage, or a 7-year ARM, a conventional loan will be the way to go.
Conventional mortgages also aren’t capped at a certain loan limit, assuming they are non-conforming. For those who need a true jumbo loan, a conventional mortgage will be the only way to obtain financing.
No Mortgage Insurance Requirement on Conventional Loans
Additionally, you won’t be subject to mortgage insurance premiums if you go with a conventional loan, assuming you put 20% down, or have at least 20% equity when refinancing.
Even if you’re unable to put 20% down, there are low down payment programs that don’t require mortgage insurance.
In fact, the Fannie Mae Homepath program only requires a three percent down payment and does not require mortgage insurance (the DP requirement has since been increased to 5%).
However, there are select lender programs that offer 3% down with no MI, so in some cases you can put down even less than an FHA loan without being subject to that pesky mortgage insurance.
Generally, conventional mortgages require a down payment between five and 20 percent, so low down payment borrowers will still want to consider FHA loans first.
You Can Get Conventional Loans Anywhere
Another plus to conventional mortgages is that they’re available at pretty much every bank and lender in the nation. That means you can use any bank you wish and/or shop your rate quite a bit more. Not all lenders offer FHA products, so you might be limited in that respect.
Additionally, conventional loans can be used to finance just about any property, whereas some condo complexes (and some houses) aren’t approved for FHA financing.
The FHA has minimum property standards that must be met, so even if you’re a great borrower, the property itself could hold you back from obtaining financing. In other words, you might have no choice but to go the conventional route.
The same goes for second homes and non-owner investment properties. If you don’t intend to occupy the property, you will have no choice but to go with a conventional loan.
Final Word
These days, both FHA loans and conventional loans could make sense depending on your unique loan scenario.
Both offer competitive mortgage rates and closing costs, so you’ll really have to do the math to determine which is best for your particular situation.
Even with mortgage insurance factored in, it may be cheaper to go with an FHA loan if you receive a lender credit or a lower mortgage rate as a result.
Conversely, a slightly higher mortgage rate on a conventional loan may make sense to avoid the costly mortgage insurance tied to FHA loans.
We can help you decide which loan is best for you … call us! (586) 685-1323
Lastly, be sure to consider the property as well, as both types of financing may not even be an option.