Part 02: The Perfect Place at the Perfect Price Point
If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out the first part of this series, PART 01: The HUD Home.
PART 02: The 203k
The FHA 203k loan program as offered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development allows homebuyers and homeowners to finance the purchase (or refinance their existing home) and cost of a remodel through a single mortgage.
There are multiple benefits to this program:
It keeps the homebuyer from going through two different loan processes, which can reduce the impact the financing has on credit.
It saves the homebuyer/owner time with application processes.
It saves the buyer/owner money through lower interest rates by not using something like an equity loan or other credit financing by providing a single, long-term fixed rate loan.
It benefits the lender with a single, insured loan product.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the sustainable element–the program can enable existing housing stock to be given a second lease on life with upgrades through sustainable materials, water efficiency, and energy efficiency.
So what exactly can you do with the 203k? HUD provides a pretty extensive list with relatively few limitations:
structural alterations and reconstruction
modernization and improvements to the home’s function
elimination of health and safety hazards
changes that improve appearance and eliminate obsolescence
reconditioning or replacing plumbing; installing a well and/or septic system
adding or replacing roofing, gutters, and downspouts
adding or replacing floors and/or floor treatments
major landscape work and site improvements
enhancing accessibility for a disabled person
making energy conservation improvements
In essence, you can do everything from a relatively minor remodel (say, replacing your windows or a small bathroom renovation), to completely razing the existing home except for the foundation and rebuilding on it.
There is a minimum to borrow, which is $5,000. And unfortunately, luxury items (sorry, no pool for you) can’t be included in the financing.
There are also limitations on the maximum you can borrow based on the value of the home, just like there are with any other home purchase. Basically, you can’t borrow $250,000 on a home that will only be worth $150,000 when all of the work is complete.
However, there are two appraisals done: one based on the pre-improved value and one done on the post-improved value, which is based on the design documentation submitted during the loan process. The maximum loan amount can be up to 110% of the post-improved appraisal. A minimum 10% contingency is also required on the renovation portion of the loan, which is included in the amount that is allowed to be borrowed.
Finally, there are two separate financing options within the 203k program: the Limited 203k and the Standard 203k.
I’ll touch on the Limited 203k first, as it is the more efficient process of the two.
The Limited 203k has some extra limitations on what you can do with the financing, but also removes one major hurdle in the process. First, you cannot do anything that alters the structure of the home, in any way, with the Limited 203k loan. Doing so automatically puts the loan into the Standard program. Second, there is a limit of $35,000 (including mandatory contingency) that can be borrowed for the renovation part of the financing. Exceeding this amount will also shift the loan into the Standard program. Staying within these limits enables the buyer to avoid hiring a 203k consultant.
The Standard 203k program does not have any of the limitations as described in the Limited program, but it does require a 203k consultant, which comes at a cost to the project budget. The 203k consultant is in place to make sure that the project is proceeding as planned throughout the construction process through feasibility studies, work analyses, inspections, and draw requests.
If you decide that the 203k loan, either Standard or Limited, is a route that you would like to take, start your search early for a lender that offers the 203k loan program. Depending on your location, they may be hard to find. Don’t hesitate to ask non-203k lenders if they know anybody who offers this loan–sometimes word of mouth is the best avenue to find what you need.