Brush Up on These 13 FHA Loan Property Requirements Before the Appraisal
HUD requires FHA-financed properties to meet minimum property standards. Learn more about FHA loan property requirements to ace the FHA appraisal and close the sale.
If you’re selling to a buyer backed by an FHA loan, your home must clear an FHA appraisal for the loan to close. The FHA appraisal determines a property’s market value and ensures that the property meets the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) minimum property requirements.
Who sets the FHA property requirements?
For context, the Federal Housing Administration created the FHA loan program to help more Americans afford houses with government-insured home loans that are easier to qualify for than most conventional loans. Borrowers can qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score as low as 500 with a 10% down payment, or 580 or above with a 3.5% down payment. By contrast, most conventional loans require a credit score of 620 or above. Additionally, an FHA-backed buyer may have a slightly higher debt-to-income ratio to qualify than they would with most conventional loans.
While most mortgage lenders require an appraisal before approving a home loan, HUD requires a special type of appraisal for FHA loans to confirm the property is safe, secure, and worth the price. This process protects the buyer from purchasing a home that needs more maintenance than they can afford. It also protects the government’s interest since it’s on the hook for paying off the buyer’s debt to the lender if the buyer defaults on their mortgage.
To ensure your home passes the FHA appraisal, we’ve enlisted a trusted real estate agent and an FHA appraisal expert for insight on FHA loan property requirements. After all, if your home falls short of these guidelines, it could cost you the sale.
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What are the minimum property requirements for FHA loan approval?
It’s the licensed FHA home appraiser’s job to inspect the home from top to bottom, note areas of concern, and mandate repairs to bring the property into compliance with HUD’s minimum property requirements.
Overall, FHA appraisers use HUD’s guidelines to evaluate the interior and exterior of the property for:
- Safety: Protects the occupants’ health and safety
- Security: Protects the property’s security
- Soundness: Ensures the property is structurally sound without problems that compromise its integrity
The lender cannot approve the buyer’s loan until the seller resolves any significant issues discovered in the appraisal.
