Methodology

How We Evaluate FHA Loan Information

FHA mortgages are a federal program governed by HUD regulations, so the authoritative source for program rules is always HUD itself. Our methodology:

1. **Locate the primary source.** For any rule, limit, or requirement, we find the relevant HUD mortgagee letter, handbook section, or official FAQ. These are publicly available at [hud.gov] and [answers.hud.gov].

2. **Check the effective date.** HUD issues policy updates via mortgagee letters, and the effective date matters. A rule that was true in 2022 may have changed. We include the date of last review on every page.

3. **Note lender variation.** The FHA sets program minimums; individual lenders often impose stricter requirements (called overlays). We distinguish between what FHA requires and what a given lender might require, because confusing the two is one of the most common sources of misinformation about FHA loans.

4. **Disclose uncertainty.** Where program rules have gray areas, or where outcomes depend on individual lender discretion, we say so. “It depends on your lender” is a real answer when it’s true.

5. **Link to the source.** Every specific figure — a credit score threshold, an MIP rate, a loan limit — appears with a link to where we found it.