Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Difference between FHA and Traditional Loans?

By: Rose B

Are you planning to get a home loan that would support your home purchase? If you are planning to do this, you should know everything you need to learn about processing application. You should also start learning available mortgage options in the real estate industry. Your knowledge will guide you all throughout the process of getting a mortgage and having an approval from your lenders.

What kinds of plans are available for borrowers like you? These are the FHA and Traditional loan types. Evaluating which of them suits you would be simpler once you understand the difference between them. Read this article and try understanding their unique features and characteristics.

Characteristics of an FHA Loan

Accredited federal agents usually issue an FHA loan. The Federal Housing Administration backs it in order to ensure that more borrowers get a chance to secure mortgage approvals. The government designed this program to help more citizens get the chance of fulfilling their American dream.

Since it is supported by such agencies, applicants get more chances of securing this loan type. It has lenient policies when it comes to screening candidates. It does not judge a person by his credit history. An individual who experienced bankruptcy or foreclosure can still qualify for it after at least two to three years.

Aside from this, people who do not have the capacity to pay large chunks of down payment also prefer this mortgage type. It requires at least 3.5 % of the down payment, so they would not have to worry about having problems with initial fees.

Characteristics of a Traditional Loan

A traditional loan is widely accepted by most borrowers and home buyers. It has been around on the market for a long time, so more people trust its reliability. However, applying for a conventional loan is not as easy as it may seem. It actually uses strict and firm screening processes to evaluate candidates. Those who do not have good credit histories will have a hard time in trying to qualify as credible borrowers.

It also asks for higher amounts of down payments. It usually requires at least 20% of the entire fee. If borrowers cannot pay for it, the entire application process will be terminated.

An applicant who passes the screening test can choose from fixed and adjustable mortgage rates. Both of these loan types have different pros and cons, so it can be advantageous to some cases while being disadvantageous to others.

Choosing between them

Two main characteristics separate FHA and Traditional loans. Such characteristics fall under the category of required down payments and interest rates.

FHA Loans require smaller down payments. Unlike traditional mortgages, it requires borrowers to pay only 3.5% of the property upon the approval of an application. If you can pay for 20% initial fees, you can choose conventional ones over those issued by the FHA. However, if you can only make a small percent of the property value, choose those issued by the Federal Housing Administration.

When it comes to interest rates, an FHA loan presents better options. Lenders get insurances from the HUD so they can negotiate lower interests. The government also tries to regulate this in order to encourage more buyers to buy houses and acquire loans. Meanwhile, non-federal conventional mortgages have significantly higher interest rates.

Now that you know what sets traditional loans and FHA loans, you can start making an informed decision before entering the application process. Pick the mortgage program that undeniably suits your needs and characteristics.

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