The recent Federal Economic Stimulus package and now the more permanent Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 is making it easier for you to assist struggling home owners. It may even help you serve savvy home buyers that are interested in buying heavily discounted homes, such as foreclosures and short sales.
The question is are you helping your home owner and buyer answer their burning questions about these programs--Am I Eligible?
Learning about FHA
The latest Housing and Economic Recovery Act makes permanent some very helpful reforms to FHA lending standards. The following are some key opportunities:
- Permanent FHA loan limits mortgage refinancing the greater of $271,050 or 115% of the local median home price, capped at $625,500
- Streamlined programs for FHA condos and manufactured home programs
- FHA foreclosure rescue allowing lenders to do principle reductions and refinance into 30 year fixed mortgages at 90% of the appraised value, with a loan limit of $550,440
How it Applies to the Market You Serve
The new permanent FHA program reforms maintain the local nature of their eligibility requirements. Therefore, you need to make sure that you understand how the provisions apply to your service areas.
The local nature of these FHA eligibility requirements is causing a significant amount of uncertainty and confusion for current home owners and potential home buyers. This becomes your opportunity to help.
Simple, Help-based Marketing
The local structure of the FHA programs makes for a prime opportunity to launch hyper-local education programs and become the local FHA mortgage and real estate expert. Here are some simple ideas to claim your position as the local FHA guru:
- Offer brief presentations on the new FHA assistance programs to local civic groups
- Offer home owner assistance seminars or information to local libraries
- Post local FHA qualification and eligibility information on your local website or blog
- Email or direct mail your past prospects and clients an FHA reform alert
- Offer free FHA qualification and eligibility consultations
These reforms were meant to help people. It is your job to get the word out and educate home owners and home buyer that you have programs to ease their pain.
Bill Rice helps companies convert web traffic to buyers. He is a recognized expert, adviser, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur in online lead generation.
Bill Rice is passionate about the social web (social media), online community building, and creating online consumer experiences. Bill Rice regularly applies those passions to design and write money making lead generation projects for his clients. Tell me about your project at It's About Conversion! or Urgent Leads.