Kentucky FHA Guidelines Program for 2020
The requirements for Kentucky FHA loans are set by HUD.
- Borrowers must have a steady employment history of the last two years within the same industry or line of work. Recent college graduates can use their transcripts to supplant the 2-year work history rule as long as it makes sense.
- Self-Employed will need a 2-year history of tax returns filed with IRS. They will take a 2-year average.
- FHA requires a 3.5% down payment. Can be gifted from a family member or from a retirement savings plan, or money saved up. Any type of cash deposits is not allowed for down payments. No exceptions to this rule!! This is one of the biggest issues I see in FHA underwriting nowadays.
- FHA loans are for primary residence occupancy. Not rental houses.
- Borrowers must have a property appraisal from an FHA-approved appraiser.
- Borrowers’ front-end ratio (mortgage payment plus HOA fees, property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance) needs to be less than 31 percent of their gross income, typically. You may be able to get approved with as high a percentage as 43 percent. If the Automated Underwriting System gives you an Approved Eligible you can go higher on the debt ratios
- Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 580 for maximum financing with a 3.5% down payment
- Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 500-579 for maximum LTV of 90 percent with a minimum down payment of 10 percent. Most lenders will not go below 620 score, and very few lenders will go to 580 score. It’s best to work on getting your scores up before you apply or work with a loan officer to improve them.
- 2 years removed from Chapter 7 is required with good pay history after bankruptcy
- 1 year removed from Chapter 13 is okay with an excellent pay history with the Chapter 13 plan and permission from the trustee. You will need to qualify with the Chapter 13 payment along with a new house payment. Again, scores will play into your loan pre-approval.
- Typically borrowers must be three years out of foreclosure and have re-established good credit. Exceptions can be made if there were extenuating circumstances and you’ve improved your credit. If you were unable to sell your home because you had to move to a new area, this does not qualify as an exception to the three-year foreclosure guideline.
- Max FHA loan in Kentucky is $331,760 in Kentucky for 2020
- The property must be appraised by a Kentucky FHA-approved appraiser.
- The property must be safe, sound and secure, in compliance with minimum property standards as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.
- You may not have delinquent federal debt or judgments, or debt associated with past FHA loans. Caivrs Alert System will show up if you owe the government money.
- 2020 Kentucky FHA loan limits are as follows:
All Kentucky Counties received a loan amount increase in 2020 for FHA loans made starting January 1, 2020
The new loan limits are effective with case numbers assigned on
or after January 1, 2020
https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicostlook.cfm
Why Lenders Use CAIVRS
It is true that your CAIVRS report can help lenders to predict the risk of doing business with you, just like a traditional consumer credit report. But the primary reason lenders check your CAIVRS report is because they are generally required to do so for any applications that involve a federal loan (FHA, VA, USDA, SBA, etc.). Lenders are required to conduct a CAIVRS search because of Title 31 of the United States Code (Section 3720B) bars “delinquent federal debtors from obtaining federal loans or loan insurance guarantees.”
Kentucky FHA Loan Requirements for 2020
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Gift Rules for Down-Payment Sources Guidelines on FHA Mortgage Programs
One of the biggest obstacles to buying a home for Americans is the down payment. There was a time when you needed a 20% down payment and a high credit score to buy a home. But in 2019, you can buy a home with average to below-average credit and low down payment in some cases. One of the most popular loan programs for these buyers if the FHA loan. A major advantage of the FHA mortgage loan is you can get approved with only a 3.5% down payment with a 580 or higher credit score. If you have a lower score than that, you need a 10% down payment.
Still, there are situations where the borrower is having trouble coming up with the down payment for the loan. What to do then? FHA guidelines do allow other options. Keep reading to learn more.
More on FHA Down Payments and Approved Sources
As we noted above, you are required to have at least a 3.5% down payment to be approved for an FHA loan. The money must be verified by the FHA-approved lender to come from an ‘approved source.’ What is an approved source, anyway? Most people get their down payment from cash reserves, investments, borrow from 401k or IRA, etc. The idea behind verifying where the money came from is to make sure the borrower did not get the down payment from a credit card or payday loan, etc.
But there are other options for your down payment. The funds also can come from a gift. The gift and the giver do need to meet FHA requirements, but this flexible guideline makes it possible to get into an FHA loan with, technically, zero money down. To determine if the down payment gift can be used or not, it is necessary to check HUD rules. According to HUD 41.55.1 Chapter 5 Section B, for the funds to be a gift, there cannot be any expected repayment of the money.
Also, FHA will scrutinize the giver of the gift. Chapter 5 of the HUD Code states the cash gift is OK if it comes from your relative; employer or labor union; close friend with a defined interest in you; charitable organization; government agency or public entity.
FHA also states who cannot give gift funds to you for the down payment. These are the seller; the real estate agent or broker on the deal; the builder or an associated entity.
Gift Terms Explained
The gift for your down payment cannot be made based upon paying it back later. You are required to get a gift letter from the person or organization. The letter should state that you are not required to pay the money back. It also should provide the contact information for the borrower, such as name, address, and phone number. Also included should be the bank account from which the funds will be sent.
The gift donor should be OK with giving a bank statement with the letter. Also, he or she should ensure that the transfer amount matches what is in the gift letter and what is deposited into your account.
FHA rules are very specific on these areas to ensure that the home buying process through FHA is fair and just. But as long as you follow the FHA rules, you should be able to get help with your down payment from a friend or relative.
Don’t Have Friends or Family Who Can Help?
Not every borrower has friends or family who can give them a gift for their down payment. But HUD lists many government programs spread throughout the country in most states that can offer down payment and closing cost help for certain borrowers.
It also is worth checking if your employer and state have employer-assisted housing. This program can help people with moderate incomes to get a loan to cover closing costs and down payment. Look up FHA in your state on Google to see what is available.
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Joel Lobb (NMLS#57916)
Senior Loan OfficerAmerican Mortgage Solutions, Inc.10602 Timberwood Circle Suite 3If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation, or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for a loan, please contact us at 502-905-3708.
The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people. NMLS ID# 57916, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Mortgage loans only offered in Kentucky.
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