First Time Home Buyer Purchasing Plan

Are you trying to purchase a home and take advantage of the new Tax Credit??  Well, you’re not alone, and as a First Time Home Buyer… the task is now even more overwhelming because of the number of foreclosures, short sales, and standard sales available. Each of these types of sale [...]

HUD Makes It Easier To Purchase Foreclosed Property

HUD announced a change in the way it handles property that has changed ownership in the last 90 days.  In an attempt to prevent people from “flipping” property (which is FRAUDULENT), HUD required a 90 day “cooling off” period before property could change hands.
This meant that if an Investor purchased property on January 1 at [...]

FHA Has Problems According to CBS Report

This news report last night on CBS about FHA was interesting!
FHA / HUD does not make loans, they only insure them. It’s one of the BEST programs available to first time home buyers!  Yes, there are people who are defaulting on loans… at a rate of around 9%… But that’s roughly what Un-employment is right [...]

With All of the Risk Do We Still Need FHA?

I think this is good news, because others are calling for massive tightening… and I think we need every eligible buyer to buy! Forcing credit score requirements up to 680, or 700 is NOT going to help the housing market (because it turns so many folks away who can’t make that score) and it’s not going to keep the defaults from happening when people lose their jobs!

USDA Appraisal Requirement Change July 1, 2009

Beginning July 1, 2009 USDA is requiring the updated Freddie Mac/ Fannie Mae appraisal in their packages.  As with any change, there are some potential drawbacks.
USDA home loans are made in genearlly rural areas.  The new Freddie/Fannie appraisal is designed specifically to identify for the underwriter any recent changes (read DECLINING changes) identified in a particular [...]

FHA Cashout Refinance Changes

You have 2 weeks to make application if you want to take cash out of your home using a FHA refinance.
The technical explination of “cash out refinance” is when more than the balance of the mortgage and closing costs are included in the new loan amount. This could be in the form of cash [...]

What Improvements Can You Make with a FHA 203K Loan For?

FHA has a great program to help with renovating a new home!  It’s called the 203K program – and if you’ve been on Craigslist, you’ve definately seen, “this property is eligable for FHA 203k loan!”
It’s a great program for making up to $35,000 of improvements to the home.  Many time, foreclosed property has what Realtors [...]

FHA 203K Loans in NC

FHA 203K loans are perfect for those of us who fall in love with a great house that has this Gosh Awful Shag Carpet!  This carpet would give you a headache!  How can you buy the house if you don’t have an extra $5000 to update that 1970’s carpet, green countertops, and linoleum?  If the property is [...]

FHA Loan Limits Change 1/1/09

According to the Mortgagee Letter Published this week, HUD is changing the Maximum Loan Limit for Wake, Johnston, Franklin and Harnett Counties.  The change is based upon our average sales price, which has dropped a bit per National Association of Realtors, on Page 48 of their 88 page report – the Triangle will be in [...]

Special FHA Loan to Purchase Foreclosed Property

FHA has an “old” program that’s being used in a “new” way!
The FHA 203K program is designed to help folks purchase homes that need a few repairs… and frankly, many properties that are purchased after a foreclosure, are perfect for this program.
Folks who lose their home in foreclosure generally did not have extra money to [...]

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