FHA friendly lender/broker in Central California

[Adrian N.]

Asking for a friend. I have been helping a friend get into REI by looking for a condo she can live in for a year and then move out after the 1 year FHA requirement. She is in Coalinga, CA. Details are, makes $71k a year working for the state mental health/prison system. Target property is $110k. She'll be taking $10k out of her 401k to purchase. FICO is a 600. I know with the FHA you need a 580 to qualify for 3.5% down otherwise it's 10% required for a FICO under 580. Are there any lenders out there that will actually lend according to FHA guidelines and not to their stricter, in-house criteria? My friends have run into this with the VA. Had one told they wouldn't do his loan, because he didn't qualify based on FICO, even though the VA does not have a FICO requirement.

I don’t invest in Central California so I do not know the lay of the land in terms of lenders. Any and all tips would be appreciated.