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Bridge Mortgage is a FHA mortgage lender providing financing with bad credit home purchase loans for first time homebuyers and consumers with limited credit. We recommend FHA home loans for people with credit issues at a great interest rate. Choose from fixed or hybrid ARM's with no pre-penalty and FHA only requires 3% for most purchase mortgages. FHA home loans provide renters with a unique house buying opportunity at a great mortgage rate most borrowers can afford.
Many times when home buyers are shopping for purchase mortgages, they forget about FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans. Although FHA home purchase loans were originally created in 1934 to help first-time buyers, other buyers may also qualify. Government officials continue to work with mortgage lenders on FHA expansion that would include new FHA home purchase loans that would allow 100% financing with no deposit required. Until the lending bill passes, the 97% FHA home financing is more than adequate for most first time homebuyers that appreciate the low mortgage rates embraced by the FHA home lending initiative by the Housing of Urban Development.
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A FHA loan is not actually a loan, but rather it provides insurance that the lender will receive their mortgage payment even if the buyer defaults.
The cost of this insurance is passed to the borrower in the form of an upfront insurance premium (1.5% of the loan amount) and monthly insurance payments (equaling .5% of the loan amount) over the life of the loan.
However, the up-front premium can be financed into the loan amount directly. And, with the new 2007 tax laws, mortgage insurance is now tax-deductible. |
What types of interest rates are offered? (fixed, adjustable, interest only)
FHA home loans are similar to conventional loans in the respect that they offer fixed rate and variable rate purchase mortgages and interest only options, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) offering flexible draw period and repayment terms. The repayment period for most FHA purchase loans is 30 years, similar to conventional loans. FHA also loans that have the potential for negative amortization where lower starting payments may not cover the interest, resulting in the unpaid interest being added to the balance. FHA rates may be a little higher than conventional mortgages, but not much unless you have credit issues.
FHA home loans require a fee (1.5% of the loan amount) that must be paid at closing. This mortgage insurance insures the loan with FHA. In addition, FHA also requires an annual fee of up to 0.5% of the existing loan amount, paid in monthly installments. It is important to remember that mortgage insurance is now tax deductible and that 15 year FHA loans below 90% LTV require no mortgage insurance premium to be paid.
FHA's lending guidelines are somewhat more relaxed than those of conventional home loans. Some examples:
- Only a 3% down payment requirement, as opposed to 5% down or more with traditional loans.
- FHA loans will allow borrowers who've had some "credit problems" or those without a credit history buy a home. With conventional financing, if your score is below the minimum standard, you will not qualify or you will get a higher rate sub-prime, Alt A or A minus loan.
- Being able to qualify for a loan just 2 years after a bankruptcy, as opposed to the 4 years required by conventional financing.
You can purchase a fixer and finance the repair costs under the FHA 203K renovation/purchase program, so you can make the necessary repairs immediately without having to come up with the money yourself. However, according to Al Cousins, renovation specialist with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Memphis, "Conventional renovation loans generally are more lenient and flexible. They are open to investors... FHA requires that the property be owner-occupied." Energy-efficient improvements can also be financed into your mortgage through the Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) program.
FHA loans are great for first-time buyers and those who are low to moderate income. If the home you're looking to buy is higher priced, it's best to seek conventional financing because there is 100% home financing available through flexible 80-20 home loans, also known as no money down home loans. Be sure to find brokers that offer good faith estimates and disclosures.
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