Rental Application     Tenant Login     Market Updates     Call Us:   702-376-7379


Search results for : affordable housing

Home Prices in Las Vegas Set Yet Another Record

Despite Continued Pandemic Woes, August Home Prices in Las Vegas Set Yet Another Record

LAS VEGAS, NV – Despite the ongoing difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Las Vegas home prices set yet another record this August, reaching new heights for local real estate regardless of the hardships other industries have experienced during the same time period.

Reports indicate that the median sales price of single-family homes in the Southern Nevada region was $335,000 by the end of last month, which represents an increase of 1.5 percent from the previous high-water mark set in July, and a year-over-year jump of 9.8 percent from August 2019.

Despite the new high for home prices in Las Vegas, sales activity overall has taken a small dip; this past August; 2,910 homes were purchased by buyers, which is a decrease of 12.5 percent from the prior month and a 8.1 percent drop from August of last year, reports say.

However, the inventory of available homes in Las Vegas has remained tight in August, with 4,639 residences listed without offers, representing a drop of 3.5 percent from the previous month and a whopping 40.3 percent decrease from August 2019.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a great deal of economic stress in Southern Nevada, with the tourism-dependent economy taking a substantial hit as stay-at-home orders helps to contribute to a record-breaking unemployment surge.

However, the need for affordable housing options managed to sustain itself, and that – coupled with evolution within the real estate industry and record-low rates on housing loans – enabled home sales to recuperate more quickly than anticipated, in addition to allowing homes in the region  to retain their value as opposed to depreciating.

As Nevada continues to slowly reopen its economy and unemployment continues to drop, it remains to be seen if the pandemic will have any far-reaching consequences upon the Las Vegas housing market, especially with the possibility if a COVID resurgence as the upcoming fall and winter months make its presence felt.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Couple Moving

Developer Notes that COVID-19 Could Provide Long-Term Benefits for Las Vegas Real Estate

LAS VEGAS, NV – While Las Vegas is feeling a variety of short-term negative impacts from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic currently hitting our nation, a prominent high-rise developer is noting that there could be long-term benefits, as eventually new business and residents seeking to economize could be driven to Southern Nevada from neighboring states. Strict stay-at-home orders and the closure of businesses deemed non-essential have brought the Las Vegas economy to a near-standstill and subsequently slowed the previously skyrocketing local real estate industry. However, Uri Vaknin, a partner at KRE Capital LLC, noted that while some high-profile deals have indeed gone awry amid the financial uncertainty brought about by the coronavirus outbreak, there nonetheless have been a few glimmers of hope as well that could lead to better things.

For instance, from March through early April, a number of expensive condo sales went under contract in downtown Las Vegas; Vaknin said that this is due to a number of residents and investors in neighboring states such as California – where the high cost of living is making the stay-at-home orders financially unfeasible – taking the plunge and finally moving to Southern Nevada, which has been lauded for it’s much more affordable lifestyle.

“Californians have historically made up a large percentage of our buyers for all the obvious reasons, including traffic congestion, quality of life, high taxes, pollution and unaffordable housing — all things for which the Golden State is known,” Vaknin said. “While COVID-19 is everywhere and can’t be escaped, a few of our buyers have mentioned their concern over being in lock-down in homes that are relatively unaffordable long-term and in areas with high taxes and other quality-of-life issues.”

This trend could continue as more economic refugees seek to flee the expense involved with living in California, as the overall financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be felt nationwide for years to come. The fact that local economies will be impacted for such a potentially long period of time will likely encourage those who live in neighboring states to finally move in an attempt to live a more affordable lifestyle in nearby Las Vegas.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

GLVAR Image

Las Vegas Condominium Sales Expected to Surge in 2020

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to recent reports, 2020 in Las Vegas is expected to be the year of the condominium, as the affordable housing alternative – often replete with numerous amenities that stand-alone house owners aren’t privy to – are showing a distinct increase in popularity.

The reasons condos are attracting so much attention from buyers recently are numerous; many people prefer the security that living in such a community often affords its residents, whereas others also enjoy the different amenities – such as fitness facilities, gaming clubhouses, and swimming pools – that are typically available to residents.

And the fact that condos are, on average, cheaper than full-on home ownership in a real estate marketplace with steadily climbing prices is an attractive feature as well, allowing owners to be able to swing the cost of living in an affluent community that they might otherwise not be able to afford.

Some condos run from the $200,000s to $300,000 range for one- and two-bedroom condominium flats and three-bedroom loft-style town homes, ranging from 1,058 square feet to 2,500 square feet. In contrast, the median price in Las Vegas for a single-family home in December 2019 was just under $313,000, and those homes do not come with the additional benefits provided by living in a condo community, including the aforementioned security, amenities, and other extras, such as landscaping, underground parking, and more. Many condo communities are also situated near major shopping and entertainment complexes, or sometimes even feature their own exclusive shopping facilities for residents to use.

With the prices of the Las Vegas housing market still climbing since the end of the recession (although prices are starting to slow and stabilize as available inventory increases), more and more people it seems are turning to condominiums for their housing needs, and as a result more developers are constructing additional condo units in order to satisfy that need.

Indeed, while the Las Vegas housing market as a whole remains one of the most prosperous in the nation, 2002 is expected to see condos come to greater prominence than they have in many years.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Governor Sisolak Signs Bill Adding Tenant Protections to Nevada Landlord/Tenant Laws, Despite Property Manager, Realtor Protest

LAS VEGAS – Despite fierce push-back and lobbying efforts on the part of local realtors, Nevada lawmakers – via a last-minute amendment made to Senate Bill 151 (SB151) – added what they referred to as “tenant protections” to the proposed bill that would make some significant changes to the state’s currently Landlord/Tenant Laws. That bill was officially made into the law of the land when it passed both houses and landed on the desk of Governor Steve Sisolak, who then signed on the dotted line.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak during the National Governors Association annual winter meeting in February 2019. Sisolak signed 75 bills on June 12, 2019 including SB151. Photo credit: C-SPAN.

As per the newly ratified SB151, the changes to the Landlord/Tenant Laws will take effect on July 1st, 2019; however, what are the changes that landlords and their tenants can expect to see, and why are Nevada residential realtors so up in arms over them?

First, some are taking exception to SB151 because certain provisions that had been previously a part of SB256 – a bill that was previously considered dead and buried – were basically revived and incorporated into SB151 on the very last day of the legislative session. The deeply-unpopular provisions in question – touted as “tenant protections” – centered on specific aspects of the eviction process, including a late-fee cap on overdue rent and a window of time afforded to evicted tenants to re-enter their former rental property to retrieve belongings.

The most significant aspect of SB151 when it comes to landlords is the inclusion of a 5 percent cap on late fees when it comes to overdue monthly rent; that is, a landlord can no longer charge over 5 percent of the periodic fee the renter normally pays when they are delinquent; previous penalties that many landlords employed, such as cumulative daily late fees, are no longer allowed.

Another provision of SB151 is that evicted tenants are now given up to 5 days to re-enter a vacated home or apartment in order to retrieve what the bill refers to as “essential personal effects,” such as medication, before they are permanently locked out. A tenant may also file a motion with the court regarding how the landlord has chosen to handle the tenant’s property – including storage costs or removal procedures – after the 5-day period has passed. If the court finds in the tenant’s favor, they may be granted additional time and access to their former dwelling, as well as damages up to $2,500 if the judge rules that the landlord handled the property in question in an improper manner.

Other changes include an increase of the approved “pay or quit” eviction notice time period from 5 days to 7 judicial days; if a tenant manages to pay within the 7 judicial day time frame, the landlord is now obligated to accept it, even if the amount paid does not include any additional late fees or other charges that may have been applied to the overall amount owed. And finally, landlords and property managers can no longer serve an eviction notice themselves- now, only a sheriff, constable, or licensed process server may do so.

Many property mangers and realtors protested the changes represented by SB151 argue that these changes – which allegedly tip the perceived scales between tenants and landlords too far in the tenants’ favor – will discourage Nevada Landlords from renting out their homes and condos at a time when affordable housing is already scarce, in addition to leading to higher rents and more frequent lawsuits.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Home Prices in Las Vegas Climb at Twice National Average

LAS VEGAS – While the prices of new home sales in Las Vegas have showed some signs of slowing in recent months – clearly indicating that the red-hot real estate market is approaching the maximum buyers are willing to pay – those prices are still growing at rates that are twice the average elsewhere in the United States, according to reports.

While prices of new home sales in Las Vegas have showed some signs of slowing in recent months those prices are still growing at rates that are twice the average elsewhere in the United States, according to reports. File photo, Pixabay.

In March 2019, the national average growth in home prices, year-over-year, was 3.7 percent, which contrasts sharply with the prices in Las Vegas, which are up 8.2 percent from the same period last year. S&P Dow Jones Indices released their S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index recently, which indicated that Southern Nevada continued to feature the fastest-rising prices in the 20 markets that the report covers, and has remained at the top of the list for the past 10 months.

In contrast, growth overall throughout the rest of the nation has slowed recently, reports indicate. Bucking that trend, Las Vegas’ August 2019 home prices represented a whopping jump of nearly 14 percent from the same period in 2018.

After Las Vegas recovered from the mid-2000’s burst of the housing bubble and subsequent economic recession, demand rose sharply for affordable housing as money and businesses began flocking to Southern Nevada due to the relatively low cost of living when compared to many other regions in the United States. However, the market – due to demand – saw house prices and mortgage rates steadily rise as sellers looked to take advantage of the desperate scramble for their wares. 

Experts have been predicting that eventually these sellers would hit a wall when prices began to get too high, and it appears that we are rapidly approaching that point now. Sales are reported beginning to drop and the once emaciated amount of houses available on the market has begun to slowly grow once again.

Las Vegas, according to experts, is still considered a fantastic seller’s market; the median sales price of a single-family home in April was $300,000, which represents an increase of 3.8 percent from 2018. However, in order to ensure that the market remains strong, sellers should consider having more realistic outlooks for pricing models to ensure stability for the real estate market in the long-term, especially in light of recently increased inventory due to the output of developers looking to get sorely-needed affordable homes and apartment complexes built and on the market.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Increase in Home Construction Reported in East Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – While Southern Nevada as a whole has been experiencing a swell in the number of areas with increased construction in response to the overwhelming demand for affordable housing, reports indicate that the fastest rising region overall is in Eastern Las Vegas Valley.

This news comes to the surprise of many, as you would expect this activity to come out of a larger and more well-known area in the Valley, but the need for new homes – spurred on by a rapidly-growing economy and business/job/real estate market – is being felt all throughout Las Vegas. Ultimately, people are taking property where they can get it, and due to the fact that East Las Vegas is a lesser-known area, home costs are subsequently lesser; an attractive prospect for many facing skyrocketing home prices currently dominating the Vegas real estate scene as buyers are finding themselves paying a premium for whatever they can get their hands on.

East Las Vegas reported the sales of 515 new homes in 2018, which represents a whopping increase of near 90 percent from the prior year. This, according to experts, is the fastest level of growth anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley by a wide margin. While this number is relatively small when compared to other areas of the valley – 2018 saw 3,741 homes closed upon in southwest Vegas – it nonetheless is a vastly higher number, percentage-wise, and the affordability of East Las Vegas will likely result in that impressive output increasing in 2019.

When you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see why buyers are attracted to the homes in the eastern valley- the median sales price of a newly-built single-family home there is currently in the mid-$200,000’s, as opposed to elsewhere in the valley where that number typically reaches as high as $380,000 or more, reports say.

One of the reasons for East Las Vegas’ new reputation is the fact that conditions in some areas were reportedly run-down; developers have been scooping up dilapidated properties recently, razing them, and constructing new homes at price points that are causing a stir among those having difficulty finding a residence in Las Vegas’ otherwise skyrocketing real estate market.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Henderson Noted as City with Fastest-Rising Rents in U.S., According to Reports

LAS VEGAS – With the recession over and done with and the real estate market on the mend in a major way, living expenses overall in Las Vegas – particularly rents – have been experiencing a steady climb over the course of the last few years as the improved economy is luring businesses and jobs into the region. Henderson is an especially poignant example of this phenomenon, having been currently ranked by ApartmentList.Com as the city with the fastest-growing rental prices in the United States.

Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada, and according to reports, it has been experiencing growth in the cost of rental properties that outpaces any comparable city in the country over the course of the past year. The current 2019 monthly rent of an average two-bedroom apartment in Henderson comes in at $1,340, which represents a jump if 3.7 percent over the same period one year ago; the national average rental price, however, only increased 0.9 percent. This cements Henderson as a growing location in terms of demand, but it remains to be seen that, if rent continues to climb at its current rate, if the cost of living will eventually outstrip that demand.

A close contender in terms of rising rents is Las Vegas itself, which currently ranks fifth in the country; a two-bedroom apartment in Vegas will typically set you back $1,160 per month in 2019, which is an increase of 3.1 percent over the same period in 2018. Again, it remains to be seen if these increases will eventually become prohibitive to renters who are looking to get the most for their money in terms of living expenses.

Henderson and Las Vegas are standouts in the sense that, in much of the rest of the United States, rental costs – while also increasing overall – have nonetheless risen at a comparatively much slower rate throughout 2018.
Las Vegas’ rental scene has seriously ramped up in recent years, with the area seeing a large increase in development, especially in suburban areas. In addition, investors have been making numerous purchases of apartment buildings, rental complexes, and reduced vacancies – brought on by a large influx if new residents looking for jobs have produced a climate where rents have been rising to the point that some tenants are finding difficult to keep pace with. Work, however, is being undertaken by numerous developers in order to construct new and affordable housing options in order to bring more stability to Southern Nevada’s housing and rental market.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Vegas Sees Jump in Condominium, Townhouse Sales; Construction Expected to Increase in Henderson, Valley Vista

LAS VEGAS, NV – The Las Vegas real estate market is in high gear and showing no signs of slowing down; however, while the sales of property, both private and for business purposes remains at a level not seen in the region in over a decade and focus on the type of property is in a constant state of flux. While sales of single-family homes remain in the lead by far, recently an uptick has been seen in condominium and townhouse sales, proving that when it comes to homes of any type in Las Vegas, if you build it, they will come.

In June of 2018, Clark County saw yet another increase in home purchases to the tune of 944 home sales, representing an increase of nearly 12 percent over June of 2017; for the year to date, that comes to 5,156 home sales in total, a jump of 19.4 percent from year-to-year. According to reports, however, experts noted that a larger-than-usual number of those sales were comprised of condos and townhouses, illustrating a larger than usual jump when compared to recent figures.

Condo and townhouse sales represented a total of 11 percent of the new home sales during June of 2018, a total of 3 percent over the same period in 2017; June’s home sales median price came to $379,648, an increase of 11.9 percent year-to-year.

Sales numbers are expected to increase going forward, and construction of these types of dwellings are expected to increase in response; communities in particular that are expected to see additional options in terms of condos and townhouses are those set in Henderson, including Tuscany and Cadence, as well as Valley Vista in North Las Vegas.

Competition for affordable housing in Las Vegas has reached a fever pitch over the course of the last year, with the booming economy and job market attracting numerous businesses and newly-transplanted residents, all set on taking advantage of Southern Nevada’s low cost of living. However, the demand for housing for new arrivals to the region has seen home prices swell, especially as demand continues to outstrip supply by a wide margin.

Builders have struggled to keep up, and the latest numbers suggest they are finally beginning to get a foothold; the number of building permits issued in June of 2018 was 946 – bringing this years total up to 6,106 – a dip of 8.6 percent from the same period last year, but a year-to-year jump of 30 percent. With those numbers, experts predict that Las Vegas is on-pace to see over 12,000 building permits issued by the end of 2018.

Considering relocating to Vegas? Give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any real estate and home relocation questions you may have.

Texas-Based Home Builder Brings Fresh Perspective to Las Vegas Construction Opportunities

LAS VEGAS, NV – Amid the current real estate boom taking Southern Nevada by storm – simply put, there are currently more buyers looking for housing than there are houses on the market, which has seen its highest sales in a decade – local contractors and developers have been working overtime in an attempt to satiate demand…and falling short, unfortunately. However, this situation is ripe for any go-getter to take advantage of, and one such company – hailing from Texas, of all places – has decided to firmly plant their foot in the Las Vegas housing market.

LGI Homes, which is headquartered near Huston, is currently in the process of expanding their company to the Las Vegas region, an act which is surprisingly considered an unusual occurrence. For years, Vegas has typically relied on local developers for their construction needs, but the arrival of a relative newcomer in the market clearly signals that more muscle is needed when it comes to ramping up housing output for the demand created by the skyrocketing revival of Nevada’s economy and job market. Since its recovery from the housing bubble burst of the mid-2000’s, Vegas has seen a large increase in the number of newly-transplanted residents into the area in the last few years…and, obviously, those new residents need places to live.

LGI recently purchased its first property in Las Vegas – a 20.5-acre subdivision located on Lake Mead Boulevard near Lamb Boulevard – and announced their first construction project, which is slated to create 102 single-family homes; a review for six variants on different housing models was recently approved by the Planning Commission of Clark County. LGI has stated that their main goal is to create dwellings that cater more to first-time home buyers, which is a population that most new construction does not take into consideration, reports say, with the projected price of their proposed single-family homes to come in at around $200,000 apiece, below the current median price for a typical Vegas property; the average sales price of a home purchased in March of 2018 was $357,195.

The Lake Mead Boulevard area is considered “depressed” by some developers; the space located next to LGI’s new property currently contains an encampment for homeless individuals, with the space littered with shopping carts, tents, a mobile home, and random pieces of kitchen and living room furniture strewn about. However, the intense need for affordable housing is driving some companies to take risks in hopes of big payoffs in the end; while an established contractor may be loathe to take on such projects – even with demand currently being what it is – an outsider to Vegas can bring an alternate viewpoint and see a downtrodden area as an asset, experts say.

Development, even in underprivileged areas, can pave the way for revitalisation and profits; after all, Las Vegas as a whole was largely considered an economic black home for nearly a decade until its fortunes recently took a turn for the better, with jobs and businesses pouring back into the region. Savvy developers, such as LGI, are taking a shot at giving Vegas what it needs when others are dropping the ball, and it will only benefit the city as a whole in years to come.

Looking for information on the Las Vegas market? First-time home buyer recommendations? Las Vegas condos, area nightlife entertainment options? Please feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Las Vegas Sheriff Badge

Experts Report Rise in Eviction Rate in Southern Nevada

Experts Report Rise in Eviction Rate in Southern Nevada

LAS VEGAS, NV – While the Las Vegas real estate scene is on the rise – and has been for the better part of a year now, with both record demand and prices in both the housing and rental markets following the mid-2000’s recession – there has also been a recent spike in a related field; that of evictions – as the growing Southern Nevada economy struggles to keep in step with increased costs of living.

Clark County currently averages approximately 82 evictions a day; over 30,000 renters were evicted from their residences in 2016, which represents a whopping leap of 43 percent from the same period in 2009.

After the burst of the housing bubble in the middle of the first decade of the new millennium – resulting in properties that had been snatched up by investors sitting dormant for years without buyers or renters – the recent real estate boom has brought money, new businesses, and enthusiasm into the Las Vegas area, and with that surge of prosperity has come a corresponding surge in the demand for housing options…and likewise, an increase in prices that some residents are having difficulty keeping up with.

According to recent reports, Clark County currently averages approximately 82 evictions a day; over 30,000 renters were evicted from their residences in 2016, which represents a whopping leap of 43 percent from the same period in 2009. And when the experts weigh in, the same answers to why this is happening keep coming up…it’s a matter of rising lodging costs in Southern Nevada while the economic benefits of the recent housing boom and influx of investment capital have yet to filter down to an appropriately comparable raise in salaries for the general public. While investors are currently making a killing in Vegas, those living paycheck to paycheck have yet to experience a relief from their financial pressures.

Las Vegas also has slightly tighter eviction deadlines than in other areas of the country, which leads to less time for tenants and landlords to iron out any issues that they may have; according to reports, landlords can issue a five-day eviction to tenants, and in reverse, landlords have 14 days to address a grievance issued by a tenant. Another difference is that, while many other states require a landlord to file a summons and complaint and initiate a court action, in Nevada a tenant needs only to be served with the initial eviction notice; it is then up to them to go to court and file a tenants affidavit, essentially reversing the process compared to many other states. This is another factor that accounts for the rising amount of evictions in the area, because when it comes down to it, most people will attempt to avoid court whenever possible, even if it means the loss of their dwelling.

Experts are anticipating the increase in construction of housing in Southern Nevada will contribute to the lowering of prices for both homes and rentals in the area, and with that a corresponding decrease in the number of evictions. Essentially, Las Vegas is going through a period of intense growing pains as past years of dormancy have left it ill-prepared for its current record-breaking expansion. However, some argue that the equilibrium between housing costs and worker earnings has already been lost to such a degree that government intervention may be required in the form of aggressive affordable housing policy at the state and local level.

Shelter Realty Property Management specializes in the areas of  HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Lone Mountain Las Vegas Single Family Homes For Sale Below $100,000

As of April 2, 2011, there are a few single family homes for sale under $100,000 in the Lone Mountain area of Las Vegas, NV.

Notable for the beautiful desert mountain range that can be seen just under the glowing evening sunsets, multiple neighborhood parks and walking trails, the Lone Mountain housing community is an excellent area for Las Vegas First-Time Home Buyers or Investors to check out for affordable housing.

I have lived in NW Las Vegas for the past 7 years, and I love the quiet natural landscape, wildlife and small town feel.

With the 215 / Summerlin Parkway and the 95 freeways within a 5-10 drive from the base of the mountains, the Lone Mountain area is still a convenient drive to other parts of Las Vegas.

Most of the single family residences for sale in the 89129 zip code under $100,000 are fairly new properties (5-10 years old), and range from 1300 – 1700 SQ FT.

While most of the homes in that lower price range have smaller lots, mainly due to the mini housing boom between 2003-2006, it is not uncommon to find great property deals that have upgraded cabinets, granite and other amenities.

Some of these properties were selling for over $300,000 during the height of the market.

And, if you push your purchase price level to just under $150,000, there are some amazing homes available.

Below, I’ve listed a few related property searches, a list of all the local businesses, an updated feed of homes under $100,000, a graph to show how prices have dropped over the past few years, as well as a photo slideshow of a hiker who climbed Lone Mountain with his pet duck.

FHA Mortgage Loans

FHA Mortgage Loans

FHA File photo: Vitalii Vodolazskyi, Shutter Stock, licensed.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has insured nearly 50 million home mortgages since its establishment in 1934. This includes both single-family and multifamily mortgages. File photo: Vitalii Vodolazskyi, Shutter Stock, licensed.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

The FHA’s mission driven organization encourages home ownership and provides affordable housing opportunities with low down payment and flexible credit requirements.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has insured nearly 50 million home mortgages since its establishment in 1934. This includes both single-family and multifamily mortgages.

While most people believe that the FHA lends money directly to borrowers, it’s actually just insures a certain type of loan that is financed by traditional banks and mortgage lenders.

Four of the most visible single family housing programs that FHA offers are, Section 203(b), Section 234(c), Section 203(k) and Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) – Reverse Mortgages.

FHA Loan Type Highlights:

Section 203(b)

  • largest of FHA’s single family programs
  • 1-4 unit properties are eligible
  • flexible credit requirements
  • 3.5% down payment allowed
  • down payment may be a gift from specific sources

Section 234(c)

  • provides mortgage insurance for individual condominium units
  • credit, down payment and limits of 203(b) apply
  • in 2010, condominium complexes must be approved through HRAP/DELRAP to be eligible for FHA insurance

Section 203(k)

  • primary program for property rehabilitation
  • encourages community and neighborhood revitalization
  • only 1 mortgage loan is used for both the acquisition and the renovation
  • 1-4 unit properties including condominiums are eligible; check with your lender for manufactured housing eligibility
  • required improvements include cost effective energy conservation standards and smoke detectors
  • consultancy may be required

HECM – Reverse Mortgages

  • FHA was the first to promote reverse mortgages nationally
  • allows access to equity in property with flexible terms
  • lump sum, monthly payments, line of credit or a combination available
  • limited to homeowners 62 years of age and older

FHA programs go beyond the scope of the previous listed programs. They offer a Streamline Refinance as well as a Streamline 203(k) for limited repairs. Also, recent legislation has helped FHA offer special programs with incentives to lenders for modifying and refinancing existing mortgages like with the “Making Home Affordable Program.”

When looking for a loan program to fit your specific needs, take a close look at FHA as their programs have become more attractive to both lenders and consumers.

With favorable loan terms, higher loan limits, 30 year fixed repayment terms and flexible down payment options, FHA will continue to encourage home ownership, provide liquidity and stability to the mortgage market.

…..

Frequently Asked FHA Questions:

Q. What are the credit requirements for most FHA lenders?

As of 2010, the majority of lenders are leaning toward a mid credit score of 640. However, a handful remain down to 620.

Q. How much can I afford?

By providing your mortgage professional the required documentation, a detailed analysis will be provided that includes your maximum loan amount

Q. How will I know if the condo/townhome I want to buy is eligible for FHA financing?

The following link will allow you to enter your zip code for a list of eligible properties:  CLICK HERE

…..