The headline of WOSU article: "Potential Homeowners Look For Deals."   The article quotes the Columbus Board of Realtors about the January 2008 inventory in Central Ohio but says "buyers beware" that they may need  six months of mortgage payment up front. 

As part of the downpayment?  Reserves? 

FHA financing to the rescue. 

New FHA limits, effective March 5, 2008  Buyer Quiz... take the quiz but here's a hint on one question.  Buyers do not need two months of reserves... much less six.  

What happened in the mortgage market in the past six years? Why do we have so many foreclosures nationally?  The Movie 

I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic of financing or buying a home. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2008 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Above are the new FHA loan limits for Franklin and Delaware Counties single family through four family.  The Current Base FHA Loan Limits became effective March 5, 2008.
 

Here's a list with all Ohio counties from Cleveland lender Tim Bradford:

Ohio FHA limits by county

More about FHA financing:

Home Buyer FHA Finance Quiz 

Home Seller FHA Finance Quiz 

All comments are moderated.  Copyright 2008 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Central Ohio home sellers here's a quiz on FHA financing and what it means to you as a seller.

True or False

1. FHA requires "Electrical Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI)" circuits to be installed when a plug / outlet is within 6 feet of a water outlet.

True
False

2. FHA requires handrails where there are three steps or more.


True
False

3. FHA requires a termite inspection on a home.

True
False

4. FHA requires an electrical certification on a home.

True
False

5. FHA requires a roof certification on a home.

True
False

6. FHA requires a furnace certification on older homes with gravity feed or steam (registers) heat furnaces.

True
False

7. FHA requires the seller to pay for the underwriting, commitment and processing fees for the buyers loan.

True
False

8. FHA appraisal are more likely to under-appraise than a conventional mortgage loan because the appraiser has a different set of requirements.

True
False

9. FHA loans allow for carpeting and /or decorating allowances in a purchase agreement.

True
False

10. FHA requires chipping paint to be scraped and repainted on homes built after 1978.

True
False

Tabulate your answers...


and scroll down to see the correct answers for FHA financing today... in 2007






The answers to all the questions is "False."

The seller does not have to worry about certifying roofs, the electrical system, the structural system (except on manufactured housing) Or a heating system. There is not a requirement for GFI outlets to be installed. There is not a requirement that the house be tested for termites or other wood destroying insects (the purchase contract may require a termite exam but FHA does not. It is negotiated in the contract with the buyer.)

That is not to say that if the roof is leaking you don't have to disclose it. Or that if there are signs of a defect in the roof for example that the appraiser is not going to ask for a roof certification. If there is a stain on a ceiling the appraiser could ask for the roof to be certified but not all roofs, electrical systems, structural systems, furnaces, etc. have to be certified.

In the old days a house was considered guilty until proven innocent by FHA certifications to the contrary. Not anymore.

Homes built prior to 1978 the appraiser may require chipping paint to be scraped and repainted because of lead paint.

The seller no longer pays for any charges for the buyers loan other than the tax service fee ($80.)

The questions and answers were part of a quiz for a continuing education class taught by Susan McKnight, the branch manager for Real Living Mortgage in Columbus.

Contact me about offering your property to buyers with a free 1%, 1 year buydown. 30 year fiixed FHA financing with one year at a lower interest rate.