According to NAR, 4 out of 10 Recent Buyers Used FHA Loans

As you probably already know, FHA loans are becoming an extremely popular loan device for purchasers in this marketplace. FHA loans used to evoke lots of negative connotations, a few of which were; lots of extra requirements, much longer time to process, and stringent and difficult home inspection standards. However, these hassles have been eliminated, and FHA loans seem to rarely differ in difficulty from pursuing a conventional loan. I expect that the use of FHA loans will only continue to grow into 2010.

According to the most recent REALTORS® Confidence Index, 39 percent of recent buyers purchased a home with a Federal Housing Administration-insured loan. REALTORS® who took part in the November survey also reported that the number of first-time home buyers continued to climb to 51 percent.

“FHA helps provide affordable mortgage financing to home owners, particularly first-time home buyers who are so important in drawing down inventory to help stabilize the current housing market,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder. “These recent survey results reaffirm that, despite its current challenges, FHA is a critical part of the American housing fabric.”

—NAR

[From REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-4 out of 10 Recent Buyers Used FHA Loans]