A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is a government-backed loan that’s insured by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA loans typically have lower credit and down payment requirements for qualified home buyers. For example, the minimum required down payment for an FHA loan is only 3.5% of the purchase price.

If you’ve decided a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan may be right for you and you meet the general qualifications, including:

• Down payment amount – FHA loans require a minimum down payment of 3.5%.
• Credit score – The minimum credit score needed to qualify for a mortgage is generally around 620, however, FHA loans typically have lower credit requirements.
• Property requirements – The home must be used as your primary residence, should protect the health and safety of the residents and the safety of the property, and should not have physical deficiencies or conditions affecting its structural integrity. An FHA-approved appraiser must appraise the home.

You can start your application on your own, or with the help of your mortgage loan officer, who can work with you to see if you qualify for a FHA loan.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are available to all qualified buyers, regardless of income level. They often have more flexible lending requirements than conventional loans. All FHA loans require mortgage insurance which protects the lender against any loss if mortgage payments are missed. To learn more about how FHA loans work, speak with your mortgage loan officer.