Athens FHA Loan Rates, Closing Costs & Stats

ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA

FHA loans are mortgages created in the 1930's to help insulate lenders from credit risks and help promote home ownership. The Federal Housing Administration (hence, FHA) allows for lower downpayments and credit scores-- making these loans much more accessible than traditional mortgages.

FHA loans typically need just a 3.5% downpayment with credit scores of 580 or better. For credit scores between 500-579, the downpayment needs to be at least 10%.

While FHA loans make home ownership much more accessible to first-time homebuyers, they do require PMI (purchase money insurance)-- an additional insurance premium that is paid to the FHA to help cover defaults.

For additional requirements as defined by the FHA, click here.

Athens's 76 lenders originated 444 FHA loans during 2024. The total origination value was $127,750,000, with an average FHA loan value of $287,725.

Athens FHA Loans, 30 Year Fixed Rates

30 Year FHA mortgages in Athens averaged 6.47% for the week of 2025-04-04, compared to the national average (all FHA variants) of 6.259% for the same period.

Athens's average FHA mortgage closing costs are $8,381.

The average rate for the prior week (2025-03-28) was 6.36% and one month ago for the week of 2025-02-28, the average rate was 6.55%.

The average rate one year ago was 6.57%.

For refis of the same type during the week of 2025-04-04, the average rate was 6.6%.

Click on whitespace and scroll within the chart to zoom in/out. Larger bubbles equate with more originations.

Athens FHA Loan Lenders by Rates & Fees

The below table looks at the average fees/closing costs and rates for FHA 30 Year Fixed Rate (purchase, first lien) mortgages originated by each lender at the Athens level.

Name # of Loans 2024 Avg. 30yFix Rate 2024 Avg. Closing Costs
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC 48 5.98% $14,770
QUICKEN LOANS, LLC 42 6.23% $13,408
GUARANTEED RATE, INC. 17 6.51% $13,619
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION 17 6.29% $13,555
BANKSOUTH MORTGAGE COMPANY, LLC 17 6.37% $13,694
First Option Mortgage, LLC 14 7.12% $13,672
Regions Bank 12 5.85% $13,056
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION 11 6.65% $11,910
Magnolia Bank 11 5.86% $11,716
EVERETT FINANCIAL, INC. 10 6.74% $16,978
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC 10 6.21% $12,797
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION 9 6.49% $14,481
NEWREZ LLC 9 6.63% $11,840
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. 8 6.81% $13,507
BROKER SOLUTIONS, INC. 8 6.94% $12,954
Plains Commerce Bank 7 6.18% $13,395
SOUTHEAST MORTGAGE OF GEORGIA, INC. 6 6.50% $15,383
Synovus Bank 6 6.19% $10,566
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC 6 6.37% $13,012
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC 5 6.48% $13,026
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC 5 6.43% $13,431
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY 5 6.62% $10,581
DHI MORTGAGE COMPANY, LTD. 4 5.56% $15,134
Colony Bank 4 5.97% $13,654
HOMESIDE FINANCIAL, LLC 4 6.21% $13,758
ISERVE RESIDENTIAL LENDING, LLC 4 6.22% $21,043
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC 4 6.38% $12,754
Mr. Cooper ( Nationstar Mortgage ) 4 6.69% $11,691
NFM, INC. 4 6.50% $15,684
Presidential Bank, FSB 4 6.41% $13,823
Truist 4 6.06% $8,425
Flagstar Bank, FSB 3 6.38% $14,456
AMERICAN FINANCING CORPORATION 3 6.17% $12,376
EUSTIS AND AMERICAN MORTGAGE COMPANY 3 6.67% $12,579
GENEVA FINANCIAL, LLC 3 6.88% $13,033
VILLAGE CAPITAL MORTGAGE 2 6.75% $6,420
Bank of England 2 6.25% $10,171
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. 2 6.44% $19,858
ZILLOW HOME LOANS, LLC 2 6.19% $17,545
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC 2 6.25% $12,579
ACOPIA, LLC 2 6.13% $13,235
Nations Lending Corporation 2 7.00% $13,129
FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION 2 6.50% $10,018
Cornerstone First Mortgage, Inc 2 6.19% $11,563
CARDINAL FINANCIAL 2 6.25% $8,663
AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. 2 6.19% $14,658
PREMIER MORTGAGE RESOURCES, L.L.C. 2 7.00% $12,308
MILEND, INC. 2 6.31% $18,768
Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC 2 6.31% $16,496
South State Bank 2 6.31% $11,492
SUMMIT FUNDING, INC. 1 6.63% $11,188
SUN WEST MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. 1 5.88% $13,647
SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION 1 5.63% $5,773
The Federal Savings Bank 1 6.13% $17,492
TOWNE MORTGAGE COMPANY 1 6.75% $15,282
First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company 1 6.00% $8,455
Franklin Loan Corporation 1 6.13% $22,993
Renasant Bank 1 5.99% $10,778
U.S. Bank 1 5.99% $14,186
VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC. 1 5.75% $15,879
LOANPAL, LLC 1 4.75% $13,692
MEMBER FIRST MORTGAGE, LLC 1 6.63% $16,602
VERITAS FUNDING, LLC 1 6.25% $23,245
NATIONS DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC 1 6.13% $15,505
NBKC BANK 1 5.63% $9,086
NEW DAY FINANCIAL, LLC 1 7.63% $5,866
CANOPY MORTGAGE, LLC 1 5.75% $17,186
Wells Fargo Bank 1 6.13% $11,549
Bell Bank 1 6.13% $11,210
Atlantic Coast Mortgage, LLC 1 6.25% $9,156
PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC 1 6.75% $5,045
Wolfe Financial, Inc 1 6.00% $18,441
ATLANTIC BAY MORTGAGE GROUP, L.L.C. 1 5.75% $11,530
AMERISAVE MORTGAGE CORPORATION 1 6.50% $18,159
CMG MORTGAGE, INC. 1 6.25% $16,708
AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC 1 5.88% $15,625

The top Athens FHA lender as defined by loan originations is UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC, with 48 FHA loans originated. Their average total fees are $14,770, which is $1,362 higher than the next largest lender, QUICKEN LOANS, LLC.

The lowest fee Athens FHA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are Magnolia Bank ($11,716), FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION ($11,910), PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC ($12,797), Regions Bank ($13,056) and QUICKEN LOANS, LLC ($13,408).

The lowest rate Athens FHA lenders (with over 10 loans originated) are Regions Bank (5.85%), Magnolia Bank (5.86%), UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC (5.98%), PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC (6.21%) and QUICKEN LOANS, LLC (6.23%).

Athens FHA Loan Limits

Metro County Year Single Family Limit 2 Family Limit 3 Family Limit 4 Family Limit
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA CLARKE 2022 $457,700 $585,950 $708,250 $880,200
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA MADISON 2022 $457,700 $585,950 $708,250 $880,200
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA OCONEE 2022 $457,700 $585,950 $708,250 $880,200
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA OGLETHORPE 2022 $457,700 $585,950 $708,250 $880,200
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA CLARKE 2023 $516,350 $661,000 $799,000 $993,000
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA MADISON 2023 $516,350 $661,000 $799,000 $993,000
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA OCONEE 2023 $516,350 $661,000 $799,000 $993,000
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA OGLETHORPE 2023 $516,350 $661,000 $799,000 $993,000

Market Conditions (Median, Average Prices & Listing Count)

Realtor.com - Athens (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Price (YoY Change) Average Listing Price (YoY) MSA/US Median Price Ratio Active Listings
2018-01-01 $270,425 (12.8%) $319,503 (12.1%) 1.00 587
2018-02-01 $282,475 (11.3%) $325,511 (11.1%) 1.03 649
2018-03-01 $286,950 (9.8%) $331,594 (12.9%) 1.01 693
2018-04-01 $293,925 (13.1%) $349,659 (15.6%) 1.00 712
2018-05-01 $294,850 (7.7%) $351,501 (14.4%) 0.98 723
2018-06-01 $294,500 (6.4%) $354,021 (15.7%) 0.98 735
2018-07-01 $284,925 (2.3%) $349,018 (11.9%) 0.95 742
2018-08-01 $276,500 (0.6%) $342,146 (9.0%) 0.93 744
2018-09-01 $275,500 (2.3%) $338,037 (9.8%) 0.93 775
2018-10-01 $270,368 (0.2%) $325,702 (4.2%) 0.92 773
2018-11-01 $264,975 (-1.8%) $322,156 (3.3%) 0.90 750
2018-12-01 $269,900 (0.0%) $326,773 (3.0%) 0.93 698
2019-01-01 $280,480 (3.7%) $333,195 (4.3%) 0.97 641
2019-02-01 $289,900 (2.6%) $347,888 (6.9%) 0.98 693
2019-03-01 $295,814 (3.1%) $354,862 (7.0%) 0.97 684
2019-04-01 $308,450 (4.9%) $371,519 (6.3%) 0.98 664
2019-05-01 $315,200 (6.9%) $376,581 (7.1%) 0.99 653
2019-06-01 $309,450 (5.1%) $373,480 (5.5%) 0.97 667
2019-07-01 $298,500 (4.8%) $368,217 (5.5%) 0.93 669
2019-08-01 $295,909 (7.0%) $363,730 (6.3%) 0.94 649
2019-09-01 $292,023 (6.0%) $360,741 (6.7%) 0.93 635
2019-10-01 $291,182 (7.7%) $361,510 (11.0%) 0.94 618
2019-11-01 $298,154 (12.5%) $377,867 (17.3%) 0.98 576
2019-12-01 $288,875 (7.0%) $375,713 (15.0%) 0.96 558
2020-01-01 $287,000 (2.3%) $381,826 (14.6%) 0.96 506
2020-02-01 $309,950 (6.9%) $397,176 (14.2%) 1.01 509
2020-03-01 $314,871 (6.4%) $406,368 (14.5%) 0.99 537
2020-04-01 $320,115 (3.8%) $402,254 (8.3%) 1.00 556
2020-05-01 $324,500 (3.0%) $407,465 (8.2%) 0.99 537
2020-06-01 $327,900 (6.0%) $416,180 (11.4%) 0.97 499
2020-07-01 $314,675 (5.4%) $404,156 (9.8%) 0.91 506
2020-08-01 $299,950 (1.4%) $400,447 (10.1%) 0.86 499
2020-09-01 $312,750 (7.1%) $399,032 (10.6%) 0.90 443
2020-10-01 $315,490 (8.4%) $408,710 (13.1%) 0.90 397
2020-11-01 $320,763 (7.6%) $412,131 (9.1%) 0.94 363
2020-12-01 $322,663 (11.7%) $428,632 (14.1%) 0.96 326
2021-01-01 $325,000 (13.2%) $432,831 (13.4%) 0.97 283
2021-02-01 $344,829 (11.3%) $451,189 (13.6%) 1.00 250
2021-03-01 $366,750 (16.5%) $449,826 (10.7%) 1.04 232
2021-04-01 $371,700 (16.1%) $453,729 (12.8%) 1.01 243
2021-05-01 $369,450 (13.9%) $469,137 (15.1%) 0.98 245
2021-06-01 $359,975 (9.8%) $474,711 (14.1%) 0.95 296
2021-07-01 $368,750 (17.2%) $474,014 (17.3%) 0.97 347
2021-08-01 $349,900 (16.7%) $448,667 (12.0%) 0.93 339
2021-09-01 $349,900 (11.9%) $447,954 (12.3%) 0.93 329
2021-10-01 $339,850 (7.7%) $449,279 (9.9%) 0.91 309
2021-11-01 $348,000 (8.5%) $478,984 (16.2%) 0.93 257
2021-12-01 $349,450 (8.3%) $492,700 (15.0%) 0.95 207
2022-01-01 $362,450 (11.5%) $516,679 (19.4%) 0.98 177
2022-02-01 $374,975 (8.7%) $499,372 (10.7%) 0.98 184
2022-03-01 $394,250 (7.5%) $513,171 (14.1%) 0.99 186
2022-04-01 $382,450 (2.9%) $511,244 (12.7%) 0.91 214
2022-05-01 $359,925 (-2.6%) $508,516 (8.4%) 0.82 252
2022-06-01 $359,950 (0.0%) $512,289 (7.9%) 0.80 305
2022-07-01 $383,900 (4.1%) $501,358 (5.8%) 0.86 404
2022-08-01 $380,925 (8.9%) $506,538 (12.9%) 0.88 440
2022-09-01 $385,800 (10.3%) $507,161 (13.2%) 0.90 448
2022-10-01 $392,500 (15.5%) $525,320 (16.9%) 0.92 431
2022-11-01 $393,175 (13.0%) $533,482 (11.4%) 0.95 414
2022-12-01 $399,999 (14.5%) $537,623 (9.1%) 0.99 407
2023-01-01 $413,450 (14.1%) $551,266 (6.7%) 1.02 358
2023-02-01 $399,925 (6.7%) $541,381 (8.4%) 0.97 360
2023-03-01 $399,800 (1.4%) $547,367 (6.7%) 0.94 354
2023-04-01 $399,900 (4.6%) $535,713 (4.8%) 0.93 346
2023-05-01 $406,950 (13.1%) $543,849 (7.0%) 0.92 364
2023-06-01 $423,500 (17.7%) $556,856 (8.7%) 0.95 433
2023-07-01 $417,450 (8.7%) $574,548 (14.6%) 0.95 408
2023-08-01 $437,445 (14.8%) $588,386 (16.2%) 1.00 410
2023-09-01 $449,900 (16.6%) $585,012 (15.4%) 1.05 439
2023-10-01 $461,000 (17.5%) $573,288 (9.1%) 1.08 440
2023-11-01 $431,667 (9.8%) $562,076 (5.4%) 1.03 454
2023-12-01 $467,000 (16.8%) $571,371 (6.3%) 1.14 435
2024-01-01 $441,750 (6.8%) $543,134 (-1.5%) 1.08 428
2024-02-01 $448,750 (12.2%) $548,985 (1.4%) 1.08 419
2024-03-01 $475,000 (18.8%) $568,783 (3.9%) 1.12 467
2024-04-01 $480,000 (20.0%) $598,261 (11.7%) 1.12 483
2024-05-01 $492,000 (20.9%) $617,371 (13.5%) 1.12 486
2024-06-01 $475,000 (12.2%) $612,392 (10.0%) 1.08 519
2024-07-01 $459,000 (10.0%) $603,132 (5.0%) 1.05 594
2024-08-01 $429,000 (-1.9%) $585,910 (-0.4%) 1.00 609
2024-09-01 $429,975 (-4.4%) $590,868 (1.0%) 1.01 621
2024-10-01 $449,750 (-2.4%) $591,196 (3.1%) 1.06 641
2024-11-01 $450,000 (4.3%) $590,178 (5.0%) 1.08 616
2024-12-01 $454,000 (-2.8%) $591,955 (3.6%) 1.13 556
2025-01-01 $458,488 (3.8%) $594,572 (9.5%) 1.14 530
2025-02-01 $462,000 (3.0%) $587,118 (7.0%) 1.12 536
2025-03-01 $480,450 (1.2%) $600,393 (5.6%) 0.00 585
Athens's median listing price for 2025-03-01 was $480,450, a difference of $5,450 (1.2%) versus the prior year and $18,450 versus the prior month.

Athens's median listing price comes in at 0% of the national average.

Athens's average listing price for 2025-03-01 was $600,393, a difference of $31,610 (5.6%) versus the prior year and $13,275 versus the prior month.

For the 2025-03-01 period, Athens had 585 MLS listings, a difference of 49 listings (9%) versus the prior month and 118 listings (25%) versus the prior year.

Median Listing Time on Market & Square Footage

Realtor.com - Athens (CBSA) retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Date Median Listing Time on Market Median Square Footage
2018-01-01 90 days 2,392 sqft
2018-02-01 60 days 2,474 sqft
2018-03-01 40 days 2,450 sqft
2018-04-01 52 days 2,454 sqft
2018-05-01 54 days 2,410 sqft
2018-06-01 53 days 2,400 sqft
2018-07-01 59 days 2,378 sqft
2018-08-01 63 days 2,326 sqft
2018-09-01 64 days 2,300 sqft
2018-10-01 74 days 2,278 sqft
2018-11-01 79 days 2,244 sqft
2018-12-01 88 days 2,280 sqft
2019-01-01 93 days 2,332 sqft
2019-02-01 70 days 2,394 sqft
2019-03-01 59 days 2,468 sqft
2019-04-01 61 days 2,583 sqft
2019-05-01 58 days 2,568 sqft
2019-06-01 59 days 2,572 sqft
2019-07-01 63 days 2,551 sqft
2019-08-01 66 days 2,500 sqft
2019-09-01 70 days 2,477 sqft
2019-10-01 72 days 2,459 sqft
2019-11-01 75 days 2,424 sqft
2019-12-01 90 days 2,408 sqft
2020-01-01 84 days 2,411 sqft
2020-02-01 54 days 2,474 sqft
2020-03-01 54 days 2,461 sqft
2020-04-01 60 days 2,393 sqft
2020-05-01 66 days 2,405 sqft
2020-06-01 63 days 2,396 sqft
2020-07-01 51 days 2,376 sqft
2020-08-01 50 days 2,298 sqft
2020-09-01 56 days 2,273 sqft
2020-10-01 61 days 2,220 sqft
2020-11-01 62 days 2,228 sqft
2020-12-01 68 days 2,216 sqft
2021-01-01 64 days 2,200 sqft
2021-02-01 59 days 2,219 sqft
2021-03-01 43 days 2,249 sqft
2021-04-01 32 days 2,245 sqft
2021-05-01 36 days 2,114 sqft
2021-06-01 35 days 2,110 sqft
2021-07-01 37 days 2,064 sqft
2021-08-01 41 days 1,965 sqft
2021-09-01 46 days 2,022 sqft
2021-10-01 53 days 1,939 sqft
2021-11-01 55 days 2,081 sqft
2021-12-01 59 days 1,971 sqft
2022-01-01 43 days 2,150 sqft
2022-02-01 35 days 2,112 sqft
2022-03-01 32 days 2,123 sqft
2022-04-01 28 days 2,100 sqft
2022-05-01 29 days 2,121 sqft
2022-06-01 29 days 2,132 sqft
2022-07-01 32 days 2,200 sqft
2022-08-01 45 days 2,095 sqft
2022-09-01 52 days 2,177 sqft
2022-10-01 55 days 2,221 sqft
2022-11-01 65 days 2,205 sqft
2022-12-01 78 days 2,218 sqft
2023-01-01 77 days 2,250 sqft
2023-02-01 70 days 2,250 sqft
2023-03-01 53 days 2,239 sqft
2023-04-01 40 days 2,227 sqft
2023-05-01 41 days 2,236 sqft
2023-06-01 37 days 2,306 sqft
2023-07-01 50 days 2,306 sqft
2023-08-01 53 days 2,322 sqft
2023-09-01 57 days 2,341 sqft
2023-10-01 61 days 2,360 sqft
2023-11-01 59 days 2,273 sqft
2023-12-01 59 days 2,291 sqft
2024-01-01 60 days 2,272 sqft
2024-02-01 57 days 2,269 sqft
2024-03-01 52 days 2,362 sqft
2024-04-01 52 days 2,320 sqft
2024-05-01 48 days 2,250 sqft
2024-06-01 52 days 2,250 sqft
2024-07-01 49 days 2,217 sqft
2024-08-01 58 days 2,204 sqft
2024-09-01 60 days 2,222 sqft
2024-10-01 61 days 2,232 sqft
2024-11-01 69 days 2,216 sqft
2024-12-01 77 days 2,170 sqft
2025-01-01 80 days 2,170 sqft
2025-02-01 70 days 2,170 sqft
2025-03-01 0 days 2,170 sqft
Athens's median listing age (time on market) for 2025-03-01 was 0 days. This is -100% shorter than the same period one year ago.

Athens's median square footage for active listings during the 2025-03-01 period was 2,170 sqft. One year prior, the average listing was 2,362 sqft.

FHA Loan Requirements

  • Borrowers must have a steady employment history or worked for the same employer for the past two years.
  • Borrowers must have a valid Social Security number, lawful residency in the U.S. and be of legal age to sign a mortgage in your state.
  • Borrowers must pay a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. The money may be gifted by a family member. (Traditional mortgages do not permit gifted down payments)
  • New FHA loans are only available for primary residence occupancy.
  • Borrowers must have a property appraisal from a FHA-approved appraiser.
  • Borrowers’ front-end ratio (mortgage payment plus HOA fees, property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance) needs to be less than 31 percent of their gross income, typically. You may be able to get approved with as high a percentage as 40 percent. Your lender will be required to provide justification as to why they believe the mortgage presents an acceptable risk. The lender must include any compensating factors used for loan approval.
  • Borrowers’ debt to income ratio (mortgage plus all your monthly debt, i.e., credit card payment, car payment, student loans, etc.) needs to be less than 43 percent of their gross income, typically. You may be able to get approved with as high a percentage as 50 percent.
  • Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 580 for maximum financing with a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent.
  • Borrowers must have a minimum credit score of 500-579 for maximum LTV of 90 percent with a minimum down payment of 10 percent.
  • Bborrowers must be two years out of bankruptcy and have re-established good credit. Exceptions can be made.
  • Typically borrowers must be three years out of foreclosure and have re-established good credit.
  • The purchased property must meet certain minimum standards at appraisal. If the home you are purchasing does not meet these standards and a seller will not agree to the required repairs, your only option is to pay for the required repairs at closing (to be held in escrow until the repairs are complete).