Palm Harbor FL FHA Mortgage Lenders

Palm Harbor FL FHA Mortgage Lenders 

Florida FHA mortgage Lenders make the possibility of owning a Palm Harbor, Florida home exciting because FHA takes a common-sense review for approvals rather than a credit-score-driven approach. Palm Harbor, Florida FHA mortgage lenders for refinancing or purchasing a home are easy because the FHA mortgage approves borrowers with acceptable payment histories instead of a credit score-driven approach. FHA offers what some call bad credit approvals because FHA goes down to a 500+ credit score with 10% down, or a 580+ credit score with 3.5% down. 

Serving all Florida and areas around Palm Harbor FL including:  Dunedin FL, Ozona FL, Crystal Beach FL, Dunedin, FL Tarpon Springs, FL East Lake, FL Oldsmar, FL Safety Harbor, FL Holiday, FL Clearwater FL Elfers, FL Largo, FL New Port Richey, FL Citrus Park, FL Jasmine Estates, FL Seminole, FL Pinellas Park, FL Egypt Lake-Leto, FL

FHA Mortgages Are More Affordable:

  • 3.5% Down with 100% Financing options available. 
  • Seller Paid Closing costs up to 6%.
  • Gifts from family or Grants OK! 
  • No reserves are required.
  • FHA-regulated closing costs.

FHA Mortgages Are Flexable:

  • Higher debt ratios up to 56.9%
  • Less than two years on the same job is OK! 
  • Self-employed OK!

FHA Mortgage Credit / Downpayment:

4C FHA Mortgage Lenders Checklist 

1. CASH Min 580 credit score qualifies for 3.5% down with 100% Palm Harbor, Florida, FHA mortgage options available. Or, 10% down payment is required if your credit score is between 500 – 579.  The seller can pay up to 6% of the closing cost this must be requested in your purchase contract. 
2. CREDIT Minimum 500+ credit score – based on payment history, not credit score driven. 
3. CAPACITY debt-to-income: Standard 31/43 – Max DTI 46.9-56.9% with AUS approval
4. COLLATERAL Single-family homes, multi-family 2-4 units, townhomes, villas, FHA-approved condos, manufactured, modular homes.

FHA Mortgage Key Points

  • Easy to Qualify – The FHA Mortgage is the easiest and most affordable mortgage to qualify for.
  • Manual UnderwriteFHA is manually underwritten and approved based on payment history.
  • Credit FlexibilityJudgments and collections accounts don’t completely disqualify you.
  • Non-first-time buyers –  You don’t have to be a first-time buyerbut it must be your primary home.
  • Bad credit– You could qualify with a 500+ credit score with 10% down and a 580+ with 3.5% down.
  • Approved Property – single-family homes,  1-4 unit multifamily, Townhomes, Villas, and manufactured homes. Note: In Palm Harbor, Florida, very few condos qualify for an FHA mortgage. Search Palm Harbor, Florida, FHA-approved condos.
Common FHA Mortgage Questions And Answers 

Q. How quickly can I get approved for an FHA mortgage?
We have sent out pre-approvals the same day an application was received.

Q. What’s the minimum credit score for an FHA mortgage?
The minimum credit is a 500+ with an acceptable payment history that includes a minimum of 30-day late payments in the last 12 months.

Q. Can I qualify for an FHA loan with student loans in default?
Palm Harbor, Florida FHA mortgage lenders use CAIVRS, or the Credit Alert Verification Reporting System, created by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This system reports any delinquencies, defaults, federal liens, and foreclosures that relate to federal loan programs. If you are flagged on this reporting system as having student loans in default, you will not be approved for an FHA mortgage or any other type of government-backed mortgage. 

Palm Harbor FL FHA Mortgage Lenders serving all of Florida.

This is a list of smaller local towns that we service around Palm Harbor, FL  If you need an FHA mortgage lender near Palm Harbor, Florida, you have come to the right place. We are dedicated to making your FHA mortgage a win! We enjoy Palm Harbor, Florida, as a loan officer and bringing homeownership dreams to life. We will answer your questions in simple terms, help you through each step in home financing, and do everything in our power to help you go from getting pre-approved to relaxing at your Palm Harbor, FL home.

All of Florida, including Palm Harbor and surrounding areas

 Ozona FL, Crystal Beach FL, Dunedin, FL Tarpon Springs, FL East Lake, FL Oldsmar, FL Safety Harbor, FL Holiday, FL Clearwater, FL Elfers, FL Largo, FL New Port Richey, FL Citrus Park, FL Jasmine Estates, FL Seminole, FL Pinellas Park, FL Egypt Lake-Leto, FL

Palm Harbor, Florida Down Payment Assistance

Effective May 5, 2025

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The Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County First-Time Homebuyer Program could be your key to achieving the American dream. If you have never owned a home, have not owned a home in the past three years or are a veteran, you may qualify for this program.

The current interest rate on FHA, VA, and RD is 6.50%. Freddie Mac HFA Advantage Conventional is 7.0%.

Down payment and closing cost assistance is available with a Home Key Plus 2nd Mortgage. Get started by taking the Homebuyer Education class. Then, contact a lender from the Approved Lender List to assist you in making your dreams come true.

The minimum FICO Score for all loans is 660.

The home must serve as the primary residence for the duration of the loan.

Visit our frequently asked questions page to find additional information for first time homebuyers.

Home Buyer Classes / Lenders

  • Homebuyer Classes
    Learn about the process of buying a home, how to avoid costly mistakes, the importance of maintaining your home, and more. Attending the Homebuyer Education class is a requirement for this program. Classes are offered in all three counties.
  • Approved Lenders
    Please choose a lender from the Approved Lender list and contact them. Let them you have the certificate from your Homebuyer Education class and are ready to be pre-approved for a mortgage. The lender will pre-approve you and give you letter to take to your realtor.

Home Key Plus 2nd Mortgage Down Payment Assistance

This down payment and closing cost assistance program is a deferred, non-amortizing. 0% interest, second mortgage that is repayable when borrowers sell or refinance the property, satisfy the first mortgage, rent or no longer occupy the property as a primary residence.

Pinellas County assistance is $12,000.

Pasco County and Polk County assistance is $8,000.

Target Areas

Per the Internal Revenue Code – Revenue Procedure 2024-08, the following census tracts constitute the Targeted Areas for this program as of January 8, 2024:

  • Pinellas County: Includes Census Tracts: 0246.03, 0247.01, 0249.07, 0255.05, 0259.01, 0262.00, 0264.02, 0287.00 and 268.18.

Income Requirements for Target / Non-Target Areas – FHA, VA, Rural Development, and Freddie Mac over 80% Area Median Income

Pinellas County and Pasco County Home Key 1st Mortgage – 2025

Family Size Maximum Non-Target area Income Maximum Target Area Income
1-2 family members $104,300 $125,160
3+ family member $119,945 $146,020

Maximum purchase price is $544,232 for Non-Target areas and $665,173 for Target areas.