Before issuing an FHA loan, a lender orders an appraisal from a professional approved by the Federal Housing Administration. The appraisal may flag risks to health or safety or note problems with the ...

An FHA appraisal assesses your home’s market value and condition to determine whether it’s both safe to inhabit and a good investment. You’ll need to pass the FHA appraisal to receive an FHA loan for ...

With nearly a decade covering personal finance, Rebecca Safier simplifies loans and other complex financial topics to help people manage their money with confidence. Her work has been featured in ...

Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.

FHA loans and conventional loans are both issued by private lenders, but FHA loans are insured by the federal government, and conventional loans are not. Due to their federal backing, FHA loans have ...

With so many different ways to buy a home, it’s not always easy to find the best type of home loan for you. One of your options is a mortgage that’s insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) ...

Reina Marszalek is a senior mortgage editor at Fox Money who has spent more than 10 years writing and editing content. Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible ...

Daria Uhlig is a contributor to Buy Side and expert on mortgages and real estate. Staff Personal Finance Editor, Buy Side Valerie Morris is a staff editor at Buy Side and a personal finance expert.

FHA loans offer flexibility to borrowers with low credit scores and limited funds for a home down payment. But there’s one area where FHA lenders can’t be flexible: the appraisal. Any property that’s ...