Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are insured by the federal government so that lenders like Topside can offer competitive home loans to people who may not qualify for conventional loans.

• The loans are available to both first-time home buyers and repeat buyers.
• You may qualify with lower credit scores and lower income than conventional loans, though you will still need to meet your lender's criteria.
• You may need a down payment as low as 3% of your purchase price.
• You don't need to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), but you do need to pay upfront mortgage insurance (UFMI) and a mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
• These insurance costs are typically lower than PMI and can sometimes be rolled into your loan.

FHA loans are designed to help more Americans realize their dream of homeownership!

You'll get a competitive annual percentage rate (APR) based on your credit score, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, and overall financial situation. Higher scores get lower rates. We will also offer you different rates depending on the term you choose. Shorter terms get lower rates.

With a fixed-rate FHA loan, you get the same annual percentage rate (APR) through the life of your home loan. Your rate doesn't go up or down with the markets, so your monthly mortgage payments stay the same. Budgeting is simple and stress-free.

Yes, there are two ways you might be able to get a lower rate in the future. The HarmonyLoan feature lets you log in to a designated website and see if you can get a lower rate.

• You need to wait 6 months after closing on your mortgage before the first opportunity to lower your rate, and then you can lower your rate as often as every 120 days.
• Your loan must be current with NO late payments in the past 12 months.
• To lower your rate, the new rate must reduce your current rate by at least .25%.

Alternatively, a home loan refinance is a possible tool to change your rate. For example, if market interest rates drop significantly in the future and you think you can qualify for a lower rate, you could explore the benefits of refinancing. You might be able to change your term and payment or cash out equity.

To provide the best support possible, we have partnered with Credit Union Mortgage Association (CUMA), an organization that provides mortgage origination, processing, and servicing services to members of credit unions just like ours.

The CUMA staff is eager to support your mortgage needs and operates on Topside’s behalf to make your mortgage process as smooth as possible.

Worried that your loan is not really with the Credit Union? Don’t be – the Credit Union is ready to be your lender, relying on CUMA’s expertise to service your loan post-closing.

Your Topside mortgage account and details will be available on the CUMA site and you make payments online here.

Yes, you can use our mortgage calculator to get an estimate of what your mortgage payment will be. Please remember that there are many factors in a mortgage and mortgage payment and any advanced calculations are just estimates.

• Fixed Rate Mortgage Calculator
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Calculator

A shorter loan term makes sense when your budget allows for it. If you can afford a higher monthly payment you will pay less in interest over the life of the loan.

The application itself takes 15 to 20 minutes. You can talk to a member of our mortgage team to find out when you're likely to get a response on your application.

You can talk to a member of our mortgage team to find out if now is the best time for you to purchase a home.

You should apply to be pre-approved when you’re ready to start shopping. Knowing how much you’ve been pre-approved for will help you in your search for a new home. Pre-approvals last for three months and can be re-approved if you are still shopping.

We keep our overhead costs to a minimum and our not-for-profit business model means we can pass revenue back to members through lower rates and higher yields.

Yes!

• Mortgage Process
• First Time Home Buyer Process
• Insurance Guide
• Simple Tips for a Smoother Mortgage Transaction
• Mortgage Application Documentation Checklist

he annual percentage rate (APR) includes any points, fees, or other charges you pay to get the loan while the interest rate does not.

A pre-qualification is based on the information you submit and is not a firm offer. A pre-approval is based on verified data (like a credit check).

To calculate your estimated monthly payment for a fixed-rate mortgage, you will need to know the home price, down payment, loan term, and interest rate.

• Use our Fixed Rate Mortgage Calculator.

For a quick estimate you can use your online calculator. Our mortgage lending team will be able to give you the best idea of this number when they know more about your finances and lifestyle.

• How Much Home Can I Afford Calculator

We worked with CUMA to put a list together for you!

• Mortgage Application Documentation Checklist

Getting pre-approved helps you understand exactly how much home you can afford which aids in narrowing down your home search and gives you more power as a buyer.

You can apply online here or by calling 855-913-6193 to speak with a mortgage professional.

We offer a wide range of terms from 10 to 30 years. You can see them broken down here.

Your closing costs may include appraisal fees, title searches, title insurance, origination fees, lender fees, taxes, etc.

• Locking in your rate means your interest rate won’t change between the offer and closing as long as you close within the specified time frame and do not make changes to your application.