How does FHA treat charge-offs for credit card and installment loan?

Charge-off accounts are not included in borrowers’ debt.

How does FHA treat collection accounts for credit card and installment loan?

For non-medical collection accounts when the cumulative outstanding balance is greater than $2,000 borrower may either pay-off the balance or, for the purpose of debt-to-income ratio (DTI), provide proof of a payment plan. If neither are an option, the lender must use 5% of the outstanding balance and include it in the borrower’s DTI calculation.

What about borrowers applying for FHA loans that are currently in consumer credit counseling?

If the file receives automated Approve/Eligible findings then no documentation is required from the borrower.

Can I still qualify for an FHA loan in Maryland if I have delinquent child support?

Delinquent child support must be paid current or in a payment plan.

What are the FHA guidelines for delinquent federal tax debt?

Borrowers with delinquent tax debt are ineligible unless currently in payment plan.

Can you get an FHA loan if you have a tax lien?

Borrowers with delinquent tax debt are ineligible unless currently in repayment plan. Repayment plan tax liens are not required to be paid in full if documentation is provided indicating the borrower is in a valid payment plan.

The following is required:

1. The borrower must have made a minimum of 3 months of scheduled payments and documentation of the payments is required.
2. The payment must be included in the DTI calculation.
3. The borrower cannot prepay the payments to meet the 3-month payment requirement NOTE: Borrowers with delinquent taxes may or may not have a tax lien. Borrowers currently in a repayment plan, and the IRS has not filed a tax lien, are not required to meet the minimum 3-month payment requirement. The payment to the IRS will be included in the DTI calculation.

What are the FHA loan guidelines for borrower with previous foreclosure and deed-in-lieu?

Foreclosure waiting period is measured from the date of title transfer. Three (3) years must have elapsed from the time title transferred. If the foreclosed loan was an FHA loan, the 3-year waiting period is based on the date the FHA claim was paid (e.g. foreclosure 11/12/14, FHA claim dates was 7/12/15, the 3-year waiting period ends 7/13/18).

Borrowers with foreclosure/DIL within 3 years of case number assignment that was due to documented extenuating circumstances may be eligible if the borrower has re-established good credit since the foreclosure. A downgrade to manual underwriting is required. If the foreclosure was included in the bankruptcy, the foreclosure waiting period still applies. HUD treats the foreclosure and BK independently, not as a single event.

What are the FHA guidelines for borrowers with previous short sale and/or pre-foreclosure in Maryland?

The three-year waiting period from date of title transfer still applies unless they were current at the time on short sale.

What are the FHA guidelines for income and debt ratios (also called DTI or Debt-to-Income ratio)?

Maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio varies based on overall credit history and assets.  Typically, the DTI cannot exceed 45% of the borrower’s gross income.  However, in some cases borrowers with as high as 54.9% DTI may be eligible and in other cases borrowers may be capped at 43% DTI.

How does FHA treat deferred student loans?

Borrowers with student loans that are in deferment or not fully amortized will be required to calculate 1% of the outstanding balance as minimum monthly payment to be included in their debt-to-income ratio (DTI) calculation.