An FHA loan is facilitated by the Federal Housing Administration and is a government-backed mortgage program. As per regulations, an FHA loan can be processed by only an FHA-approved lender. The program has been designed to help people with financial problems to be able to own a house through a mortgage that promises flexible terms and significantly lower interest rates. When seeking an FHA loan or any other loan and any other loan for that matter, you need a reliable and experienced professional who will not only help you with the process but also get it approved. On that note, here are a few tips to find the best FHA lenders in Chicago, IL.
Credit Score Knowledge
Credit history is one of the first things that are assessed when applying for a loan. It is how a borrower’s ability to pay back the loan is judged. Knowing your credit score helps you in the process of initial consultation with the lender. For FHA loans your credit score has to be at least 500. It is best if your FICO is 560. Depending on your score your down payment amount and the interest rate is determined. With a 500 credit score, you need to pay a down payment of 10% and with a 560 credit score your down payment reduces to 3.5%. You can negotiate that with the lender later on to meet your requirements.
Consult with Multiple FHA Lenders
When on the lookout for FHA lenders it is best to consult with multiple professionals and analyze what each has to offer in terms of loan terms, down payment amount, and rate of interest. Consulting with multiple lenders allows you to run a comparison and you can choose the one that suits your loan needs the best. The approval of an FHA loan depends centrally on the lender, so you need to be careful when choosing one.
Search for a Lender that Offers APR
APR or annual percentage rate is your base interest rate and the loan fees that you need to pay to the lender. When searching for a lender and during the initial consultation you should also ask about the annual percentage rates, to do a proper comparison before choosing the right professional. The APR is more like a commission that the lenders charge as a part of their profit margin.
To summarize, you can find the best FHA lenders in Chicago, IL by understanding your credit score, consulting with multiple lenders, and doing a comparison of their offerings including the annual percentage rates.
