How Many Times Can I Get an FHA Loan? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Times Can I Get an FHA Loan? ›

The Federal Housing Administration doesn't want borrowers to take advantage of the loan's relaxed requirements and take out multiple FHA loans to purchase investment properties. While you can apply for multiple FHA loans in your lifetime, you can usually only have one at a time.

While there's no limit to how many FHA mortgages you can get during your lifetime, you can generally only have one FHA loan at a time because you can only have one primary residence. This restriction helps keep the loan program – and its lenient requirements – from being used to purchase investment properties.

You will also need at least 25% in equity in your current home to be eligible; if you're not there yet, you'll need to pay down the loan balance until you reach 25% in equity to qualify. As long as you meet one of these exceptions, there is no required waiting period between FHA loans.

According to a 2020 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), FHA borrowers are more likely to be denied for FHA loans than all other loan types: 14.1% of FHA purchase loans and 22.2% of FHA refinance applications were turned down in 2020.

The overall structure of the property must be in good enough condition to keep its occupants safe. This means severe structural damage, leakage, dampness, decay or termite damage can cause the property to fail inspection. In such a case, repairs must be made in order for the FHA loan to move forward.

The three primary factors that can disqualify you from getting an FHA loan are a high debt-to-income ratio, poor credit, or lack of funds to cover the required down payment, monthly mortgage payments or closing costs.

While you can apply for multiple FHA loans in your lifetime, you can usually only have one at a time. This prevents borrowers from using these loans, designed for people buying a primary residence, to purchase investment properties.

You can get multiple FHA loans in your lifetime, as long as you qualify. However, there are several restrictions to having more than one FHA loan at a time.

The FHA loan limits for 2024 allow homebuyers to borrow up to $498,257 for a single-family home in most parts of the country. Those purchasing a home in an area designated as “high-cost” may be able to borrow up to $1,149,825.

Key takeaways. FHA loans require a minimum 3.5 percent down payment for borrowers with a credit score of 580 or more. Borrowers with a credit score of 500 to 579 need to put 10 percent down to get an FHA loan. Conventional conforming mortgages only require 3 percent down, and VA and USDA loans require no down payment.

Why is it so hard to get an FHA loan? ›

While FHA loans can be much more forgiving compared to other types of loans one of the reasons an FHA application is declined is due to high debt-to-income ratios. Most lenders ask the total amount of monthly credit obligations, including the mortgage, should be no higher than 43 percent of gross monthly income.

Reasons for an FHA Rejection

There are three popular reasons – bad credit, high debt-to-income ratio, and overall insufficient money to cover the down payment and closing costs of a home.

FHA doesn't approve loans. It only insures them after they've closed. Individual lenders underwrite and approve FHA loans. They should take no longer than any other loan—30 days or less from start to finish.

An FHA red flag is any safety hazard, health hazard, or deteriorating element of a home that would jeopardize financing. While one red flag might be linked with a home's backed-up sewage system, another home's red flag might be a crumbling foundation. At best, an FHA red flag can slow down the closing process.

Common Safety, Soundness And Security Issues

Here are a few common issues that would disqualify a property from an FHA loan. Electrical: The electrical system must be up to code and provide adequate lighting. Heating: The heating systems must follow the local code and provide a comfortable temperature.

What Are FHA Flipping Rules? If you plan to purchase a flipped home with an FHA loan, you must abide by the FHA 90-day flipping rule. This rule states that a person selling a flipped home must own the home for more than 90 days before home buyers can purchase the property.

It cannot be used to finance a second home, a rental home, a vacation home, or an investment property. That said, there are some exceptions. You can use an FHA loan to purchase up to a four-unit dwelling, as long as you live in one unit as your primary residence. Then you can rent out the other units for income.

For many single-family homebuyers in California, the FHA loan limit is $498,257, but in more expensive areas like Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Cruz and San Francisco counties, you could borrow as much as $1,149,825.

There's also no maximum income requirement for an FHA loan, so you don't have to worry about earning too much to qualify. These loans are ideal for those who want a lower down payment, and for those with lower credit scores.