FHA Back-To-Work Program Home Financing in Florida

HUD has made an effort to increase homeownership opportunities for borrowers that have experienced financial difficulties due to the recent economic downturn. They have expanded their underwriting guidelines to make qualifying for an FHA loan easier. As a result, it is easier for mortgage companies to meet the high demands of borrowers with damaged credit, such as from foreclosure or bankruptcy.

The FHA Back-To-Work program is simple: If you truly lost your home or filed for bankruptcy due to unexpected job related financial hardship, then HUD is willing to give you a second chance on home financing in Florida.

In simple terms, this expanded guideline helps borrowers that have specifically had a short sale, foreclosure, deeds-in-lieu, or bankruptcy due to financial hardship that has now been overcome. In other words you could not have strategically defaulted on your mortgage due to real estate market meltdown and now expect the government housing authority to assist you in your new home financing needs.

Until recently, FHA financing in Florida typically required a 2 to 4 year waiting period when a borrower had experienced a major derogatory event such as a foreclosure or a bankruptcy.  However, this exception on the standard waiting period to qualify for an FHA loan under the FHA Back to Work Program has been waived only for a borrower that can truly meet the following 3 criteria:

1. Document a financial hardship that led to their derogatory credit, such as loss in employment or significant drop in borrower/co-borrower income;
2. Demonstrated re-credit worthiness in the past 12 months via new or reestablished trade lines;
3. Completed housing counseling from a HUD approved agency.

Here are the two most important factors taken into account when an FHA approved underwriter examines a borrower’s eligibility to purchase a home via FHA financing after an unintended economic event:

1. The number one most important documentation required is proof that your household income declined by more than 20% for a period of at least 6 months prior to default. HUD defines household income as income of the borrower and co-borrower on the previous mortgage that went into default. For instance, based on the recent HUD mortgagee letter, if the spouse was not on the mortgage then their income is not required to be documented.
2. The second most important factor in determining eligibility is re-establishment of good on-time credit for at least 12 months after the economic event.  For instance, if you had a bankruptcy, you must have at least 3 new trade lines (i.e. credit cards or installment loans) established with satisfactory payment history.