FHA Loan Blog

Can a parent co-sign your FHA loan without moving in? How HUD's family-member rule, the 2–4 unit cap, and combined DTI decide whether it actually helps.

HUD Handbook 4000.1 lists four exceptions for getting another FHA-insured primary home. What each requires, what kills it, and when refinancing is cleaner.

An honest 2026 ranking of national FHA lenders, with our own no-overlay program described separately, plus plain pros and cons to help you pick a fit.

The best FHA lenders for low credit scores in 2026: who lends to the FHA 500–579 and 580 floors without overlays, plus honest pros and cons for each.

The best FHA lenders for first-time buyers in 2026, ranked with honest pros and cons, plus our own no-overlay team described separately and unranked.

How FHA counts student loans in your DTI in 2026: the 0.5% rule for deferred or $0 payments, why it can stall approval, and how AZ & TX buyers get ahead of it.

FHA vs USDA for Arizona and Texas buyers in 2026: USDA’s zero-down vs FHA’s 3.5%, the location and income limits that decide it, and which one fits you.

Buying a condo with an FHA loan means the project must be FHA-approved, or your unit needs single-unit approval. Here's how to check before you offer.

FHA lets your entire down payment be a family gift in 2026. Who can give, the gift-letter and paper-trail rules, and how to document the funds cleanly.

A step-by-step FHA Streamline refinance guide for 2026: eligibility, the net-tangible-benefit rule, the no-appraisal option, and the upfront MIP refund.

FHA requires you to occupy the home as your primary residence within 60 days and for a year. What that means for buyers, house-hackers, and refinancers.

Collections don’t automatically block an FHA loan in 2026: how FHA treats medical vs non-medical collections, the amounts that trigger rules, and how to prep.

An automated refer isn’t a denial. How FHA manual underwriting works in 2026, the compensating factors that win approvals, and how to prep your file.

Self-employed and want an FHA loan in 2026? How lenders average two years of returns, what write-offs cost you, and how to prep a clean approval.

FHA waiting periods in 2026: 2 years after Chapter 7, 3 after foreclosure, 12 months possible in Chapter 13 — plus how to rebuild and re-qualify.

A 580 credit score qualifies for FHA’s 3.5% down — but lender overlays complicate it. What a 580 really gets you in 2026, and how to protect your approval.

Have an FHA loan? FHA Streamline vs conventional refinance in 2026: which one lowers your rate, and which one finally removes your mortgage insurance.

FHA 203(b) vs 203(k) in 2026: standard purchase loan vs renovation loan, real cost examples, when a fixer-upper needs 203(k), and the trade-offs.

FHA 3.5% down vs conventional 3% down (HomeReady, Home Possible): 2026 cash to close, mortgage insurance by credit score, income limits, and fit.

FHA vs conventional in 2026 for first-time buyers: how credit score, down payment, and mortgage-insurance math decide it — and when we say go conventional.

The 2026 Travis County FHA limit is $571,550. Can you still buy in Austin with 3.5% down? Property-type, condo and I-35 corridor strategies inside.

FHA loans across DFW in 2026: the $563,500 limit for Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties, the 3.5% down steps, and how the two metros differ.

How FHA loans work in San Antonio in 2026: the $557,750 Bexar County limit, how 3.5% down and MIP stack up, Bexar taxes, and where first-timers buy.

FHA loans in Houston, TX for 2026: the Harris County limit starting at $541,287, affordable prices, the high property-tax reality, and neighborhoods.

FHA loans in Glendale, AZ for 2026: the $557,750 Maricopa County limit, West Valley prices, where the value hides, and how to qualify with 3.5% down.

FHA loans in Scottsdale, AZ for 2026: the $557,750 limit versus luxury prices, why condos and townhomes are the play, plus HOA and FHA-approval factors.

FHA loans in Mesa, AZ for 2026: the $557,750 Maricopa limit, East Valley prices by area, low property taxes, and how first-time buyers qualify.

FHA loans in Tucson, AZ for 2026: the $541,287 Pima County limit, affordable local prices, property-tax factors, and qualifying with 3.5% down.

FHA loans in Phoenix, AZ for 2026: the $557,750 Maricopa County limit, local home prices, what shapes your payment, and qualifying with 3.5% down.

FHA mortgage insurance does not always cancel on its own. Learn the two real ways to remove MIP in 2026, when a conventional refinance makes sense, and what to avoid.

Buy a duplex to fourplex with 3.5% down, live in one unit, and let tenants cover your mortgage. Here is how FHA house-hacking works for first-time buyers in 2026.

FHA lets sellers pay up to 6% of the price toward your closing costs. Learn how seller concessions work, what they cover, and how to negotiate them in 2026.

Your true FHA payment includes MIP, taxes, and insurance, not just principal and interest. Build it line by line and see why AZ and TX totals differ.

FHA appraisals check value and safety. Learn what gets flagged, the repairs sellers face most often, and how to prepare so your loan closes on time in 2026.

Self-employed and worried no lender will approve you? Here is exactly how FHA calculates your income, the documents you need, and how to qualify in 2026.

How to document FHA gift funds correctly: who can give, what the gift letter must say, building a clean paper trail, and the mistakes that get gift funds rejected.

A practical plan to raise your credit score to 580+ for an FHA loan: fix report errors, cut utilization, pay on time, and handle collections the right way.

The FHA playbook for buying with 3.5% down: find the down payment for your market, then use gift funds and seller concessions to cut your cash to close.

A step-by-step 2026 guide to FHA pre-approval: pre-qualification vs pre-approval, the documents you need, and how to avoid derailing your file.

FHA has two mortgage insurance fees, not one. Upfront MIP (1.75%, financed) vs annual MIP (~0.55%, monthly), explained with real dollar math and how long each lasts.

FHA closing costs usually run 2-5% of the price. What's included, how to build your cash-to-close total, and how seller concessions shrink it.

FHA DTI limits for 2026: the 43% baseline, front-end vs back-end ratios, what counts as debt, and the compensating factors that raise your limit.

FHA property requirements and appraisal rules: the safe, sound, and secure standard, what commonly gets flagged, and who pays for the repairs.

FHA credit score rules explained: 580+ gets you 3.5% down, 500-579 needs 10% down, plus the lender overlays that quietly require a higher score.

What FHA MIP costs in 2026: 1.75% upfront plus ~0.55% annual, with real dollar math. How long you pay it, and how most buyers remove MIP by refinancing.

2026 FHA loan limits for Arizona and Texas counties, from the $541,287 floor to Phoenix, Austin, and DFW, plus how to look up your exact county limit.

A plain-English guide to FHA loans for first-time buyers in 2026: 3.5% down, credit score rules, MIP costs, and how much house you can buy in AZ and TX.