How do FHA loans work?
Congress established the Federal Housing Administration in 1934 to help borrowers get a mortgage, especially those who would otherwise have trouble qualifying.
Unlike conventional home loans, FHA loans are insured by the government. So while the loans are issued by private lenders, the FHA is taking on the risk. If you can’t pay your debts, the government steps in to pay the lender.
With less risk involved, lenders have the confidence to be a bit more lenient with their underwriting standards. Even without pristine credit, borrowers can secure an FHA loan with competitive rates and a lower down payment.
But the FHA limits how much you can borrow, based on where you live.
In 2023, the maximum FHA loan for a single-family home in a most parts of the U.S. is $472,030. But in more expensive housing markets, that number will rise higher toward the upper limit of $1,089,300. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a search engine to help you find the limit in your area.
Mortgage insurance
In return for the FHA’s promise to repay your lender if you go bust, you’ll have to pay a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP). That makes FHA loans pricier than they appear at first glance.
An FHA mortgage requires homebuyers to pay two insurance premiums: a one-time upfront premium, as well as an annual premium.
- Upfront: The one-time premium is typically equal to 1.75% of the purchase price and can be paid in cash or financed in the mortgage.
- Annual: The annual insurance is collected in monthly installments and added to your mortgage. It’s common to pay 0.85% per year, but the charge can vary from 0.45% to 1.05%, depending on the loan amount and whether the term is 15 or 30 years.
Another downside of FHA loans: These premiums never go away if you put less than 10% down on your home. You won’t stop paying mortgage insurance until the whole loan is paid off, you refinance into a non-FHA loan or you sell your home.
If you put more than 10% down, you’ll only have to pay insurance premiums for 11 years.
Type of rates
Like other mortgages, FHA loans can be either fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loans:
- With fixed-rate loans, your interest rate won’t budge, so your mortgage payments will be predictable throughout the entire life of the loan.
- With adjustable-rate mortgage loans, or ARMs, the interest will move along with a benchmark index rate, like the prime rate. So while these types of loans may have lower rates to start, they could increase over time.
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Types of FHA loans
If you decide an FHA loan is your best path to homeownership, research the type that will get you into the home you want at a price you can afford.
FHA 203(k) loans
If you’re buying a home that needs a few upgrades, a 203(k) loan will help fund your home — and renovate it — with a single mortgage. These loans have two plans:
A limited or streamline 203(k) loan has less paperwork and an easier application process for repairs or improvements, but caps the cost at $35,000 or less. This program also requires that your home still be livable during the renovation.
A standard 203(k) loan will take a bit more paperwork but can apply to any improvements that cost $5,000 or more. Unlike the limited program, you can finance up to six months of your mortgage payments if you need or want to live outside the home during construction.
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)
A home equity conversion mortgage is the FHA’s reverse mortgage, and it allows seniors to withdraw equity from the home into a fixed monthly payout or a line of credit.
You can also use this program to purchase a new primary residence, as long as you have the cash to pay the difference between the HECM proceeds and the price of the new home.
To be eligible for an HECM, you must be 62 years of age or older, have the home as your primary residence and have significant equity in it (or own it outright), not be delinquent on any federal debt and take part in an information session given by an approved HECM rep.
FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)
The EEM can help finance energy-efficient improvements to an FHA-insured home by rolling the costs of these green renos into the loan.
To qualify under FHA rules, you need a qualified energy assessor to complete a report on potential improvements to the home. The improvements also have to be “cost-effective” to be approved.
The FHA limits the amount of money that can be added to the loan for these types of improvements. The limit is based on the energy report, your area’s median home price or the national conforming mortgage limit — whichever ends up smaller.
FHA Section 245(a) loan
The program is known as the Graduated Payment Mortgage and is best for borrowers who expect their income will increase over time.
Your monthly payments start out small and gradually increase alongside your hopefully rising wages. After a number of years, the payments level off.
There are five options available under this plan:
| Payment increase | |
|---|---|
| Plan 1 | 2.5% each year for 5 years |
| Plan 2 | 5% each year for 5 years |
| Plan 3 | 7.5% each year for 5 years |
| Plan 4 | 2% each year for 10 years |
| Plan 5 | 3% each year for 10 years |
Pros and cons of FHA loans
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FHA loan requirements in 2022
The FHA’s goal is to keep homeownership within reach for people of all income levels. Compared to conventional loans, FHA loans are a bit easier to qualify for, but there are some conditions.
The right property: To start, the loan must be financing your primary residence, and the property has to be appraised to ensure it meets HUD property guidelines.
Bankruptcy buffer: If you have a bankruptcy on your record, you’ll have to wait up to two years to apply for an FHA loan or three years if you experienced a foreclosure.
Decent credit score: To be eligible for that 3.5% down payment, you’ll need a FICO score of 580 or higher. If you can afford a 10% down payment, you could be approved with a score as low at 500.
Steady employment: There is no minimum income threshold to qualify for an FHA loan, as long as you can show that you can make your payments. So the lender will still want to see pay stubs, federal tax returns or bank statements.
Debt-to-income ratios: The amount you spend on your monthly payments should be manageable compared to your gross monthly income. Lenders don’t want to see that number exceed 31%, and it shouldn’t be higher than 43% when it includes all your debts (including things like car loans and student debt). Some lenders may be willing to accept a slightly higher ratio, however.
More: FHA loan calculator
FHA loans vs. conventional mortgages
Because conventional mortgages aren’t insured by the FHA, the lender assumes more of the risk, so qualifications will be stricter.
For starters, you’ll need a better credit score, likely 620 or higher. Expect a higher income threshold and to put more money into a down payment.
It’s true that some lenders will let you put as little as 3% down on certain conventional mortgages, but you may need a great credit score and deep pockets to inspire that much confidence. A minimum of 5% or more is common.
And if you can’t come up with a 20% down payment, you’ll have to pay extra for private mortgage insurance. That typically adds 0.5% to 1% of your total loan amount to your annual costs.
Not fun, but it may not last as long as the mortgage insurance premium on an FHA loan.
A mortgage income calculator can help you figure out what your monthly mortgage payment might be.
More: Pros and cons of conventional loans vs. FHA loans
How to get the best deal on an FHA loan
You can find FHA-approved lenders among big banks, credit unions, smaller community banks and independent lenders. You can also ask a mortgage broker to help you with the search.
HUD offers a searchable list of lenders online.
Whether you decide on an FHA or conventional loan, you’d do best to shop around. Some lenders set stricter guidelines, harsher fees or higher interest rates, so you’ll want to gather those details as you search for a match.
A little comparison shopping can make a big difference with a loan this size. Borrowers who get five quotes save an average of $3,000 more than those who get just one quote, a Freddie Mac study found.
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