FHA pros and cons
FHA loans are a good option, especially if you have low credit or a lot of debt. But they come with their own set of drawbacks too.
FHA pros
Some of the best reasons to apply for an FHA home loan include:
- Lenient credit requirements: You can generally qualify for maximum FHA financing with a credit score of 500 to 580 versus a 620 to 640 score for a USDA loan. You might also be eligible with a credit score between 500 and 579 if you can make a 10% down payment.
- Higher debt-to-income ratios: Your back-end DTI — that is, your total monthly debt obligations — can be as high as 56.9% for FHA loans, but only 45% for USDA loans.
- Potentially lower interest rates: FHA interest rates can be lower than rates for USDA loans because you have the option to choose shorter repayment terms, including a 15-year fixed interest rate. The USDA only offers 30-year fixed loans, which naturally have higher rates.
- Multi-family units can qualify: Properties with up to four units can qualify for financing with an FHA loan when one unit is your primary residence. For example, purchasing a duplex with an FHA loan is allowed as long as you live in one half of the property. Like USDA loans, however, second homes and investment properties are ineligible.
FHA cons
- Higher down payment requirements: Depending on your credit score, you’ll need to make a 3.5% or 10% down payment. USDA loans require no down payment.
- Higher mortgage insurance premiums: Your upfront and annual mortgage insurance premiums are higher than the USDA guarantee fee and annual fee.
- Difficult to cancel mortgage insurance: You’ll pay an annual mortgage insurance premium for the life of the loan unless your down payment is at least 10% — in which case, you’ll only pay mortgage insurance for the first 11 years.
- Mortgage limits: The maximum loan amount in 2022 in Kentucky is $420,680 for most counties.
FHA Limits for 2022
Lending Limits for FHA Loans in KENTUCKY Counties
FHA mortgage lending limits in KENTUCKY
ADAIR County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ALLEN County
BOWLING GREEN, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ANDERSON County
FRANKFORT, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BALLARD County
PADUCAH, KY-IL
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BARREN County
GLASGOW, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BATH County
MOUNT STERLING, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BELL County
MIDDLESBOROUGH, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BOONE County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BOURBON County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BOYD County
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND, WV-KY-OH
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BOYLE County
DANVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BRACKEN County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BREATHITT County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BRECKINRIDGE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BULLITT County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
BUTLER County
BOWLING GREEN, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CALDWELL County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CALLOWAY County
MURRAY, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CAMPBELL County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CARLISLE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CARROLL County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CARTER County
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND, WV-KY-OH
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CASEY County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CHRISTIAN County
CLARKSVILLE, TN-KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CLARK County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CLAY County
LONDON, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CLINTON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CRITTENDEN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
CUMBERLAND County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
DAVIESS County
OWENSBORO, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
EDMONSON County
BOWLING GREEN, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ELLIOTT County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ESTILL County
RICHMOND-BEREA, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
FAYETTE County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
FLEMING County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
FLOYD County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
FRANKLIN County
FRANKFORT, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
FULTON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GALLATIN County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GARRARD County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GRANT County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GRAVES County
MAYFIELD, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GRAYSON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GREEN County
CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
GREENUP County
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND, WV-KY-OH
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HANCOCK County
OWENSBORO, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HARDIN County
ELIZABETHTOWN-FORT KNOX, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HARLAN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HARRISON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HART County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HENDERSON County
EVANSVILLE, IN-KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HENRY County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HICKMAN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
HOPKINS County
MADISONVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
JACKSON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
JEFFERSON County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
JESSAMINE County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
JOHNSON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
KENTON County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
KNOTT County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
KNOX County
LONDON, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LARUE County
ELIZABETHTOWN-FORT KNOX, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LAUREL County
LONDON, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LAWRENCE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LEE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LESLIE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LETCHER County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LEWIS County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LINCOLN County
DANVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LIVINGSTON County
PADUCAH, KY-IL
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LOGAN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
LYON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MADISON County
RICHMOND-BEREA, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MAGOFFIN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MARION County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MARSHALL County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MARTIN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MASON County
MAYSVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MCCRACKEN County
PADUCAH, KY-IL
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MCCREARY County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MCLEAN County
OWENSBORO, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MEADE County
ELIZABETHTOWN-FORT KNOX, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MENIFEE County
MOUNT STERLING, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MERCER County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
METCALFE County
GLASGOW, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MONROE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MONTGOMERY County
MOUNT STERLING, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MORGAN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
MUHLENBERG County
CENTRAL CITY, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
NELSON County
BARDSTOWN, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
NICHOLAS County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
OHIO County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
OLDHAM County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
OWEN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
OWSLEY County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
PENDLETON County
CINCINNATI, OH-KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
PERRY County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
PIKE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
POWELL County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
PULASKI County
SOMERSET, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ROBERTSON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ROCKCASTLE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
ROWAN County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
RUSSELL County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
SCOTT County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
SHELBY County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
SIMPSON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
SPENCER County
LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY-IN
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
TAYLOR County
CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
TODD County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
TRIGG County
CLARKSVILLE, TN-KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
TRIMBLE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
UNION County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WARREN County
BOWLING GREEN, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WASHINGTON County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WAYNE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WEBSTER County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WHITLEY County
LONDON, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WOLFE County
NON-METRO
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150
WOODFORD County
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE, KY
Single Duplex Tri-plex Four-plex
$420,680 $538,650 $651,050 $809,150