It’s a great program for making up to $35,000 of improvements to the home.  Many time, foreclosed property has what Realtors refer to as “Deferred Maintenance.”  This means that people who could not afford to make their house payment – also could not afford to have the termite / wood rot repaired, or the stove fixed, or the carpet replaced… So this loan is PERFECT for those kinds of updates!

What items can you update – and which ones can you NOT do with this loan?  Here are some basic guidelines:

Eligible Improvements/Work

• Repair/Replacement of roofs, gutters and downspouts
• Repair/Replacement/upgrade of existing HVAC systems
• Repair/Replacement/upgrade of plumbing and electrical systems
• Repair/Replacement of flooring
• Minor Remodeling, such as kitchens, which does not involve structural repairs
• Painting, both exterior and interior
• Weatherization, including storm windows and doors, insulation, weather
• stripping, etc.
• Purchase and installation of appliances, including free-standing ranges,
• refrigerators, washers/dryers, dishwashers and microwave ovens
• Accessibility improvements for persons with disabilities
• Repair/Replace/add exterior decks, patios, porches
• Basement finishing and remodeling, which does not involve structural repairs
• Basement waterproofing, including mold removal
• Window and door replacements and exterior wall re-siding
• Septic system and/or well repair or replacement
• Connection to public water or sewage system

Ineligible Improvements/Work

• Major rehabilitation or major remodeling, such as the relocation of a wall
• New construction (including room additions)
• Repair of structural damage
• Repairs requiring detailed drawings, plans or architectural exhibits
• Landscaping or similar site amenity improvements, including fence
• Lead-based paint stabilization or abatement of lead-based paint hazards
• Any repair or improvement requiring a work schedule longer than three (3) months; or Rehabilitation activities that require more than two (2) draws/payments.
• Any work requiring a plan reviewer
• Result in work not starting within 30 days after loan closing; or cause the borrower to be displaced from the property for more than 30 days during the time the rehabilitation work is being conducted (FHA anticipates that, in a typical case, the borrower would be able to occupy the property after the mortgage closing.

REMEMBER!  If you are a First Time HomeBuyer, you might qualify for a $8000 tax credit (that you don’t have to pay back!)!  Click Here for more details!

Many loan officers do not offer this program, and are not familiar with the process.  Please call Steve and Eleanor Thorne, First Financial Services in Cary, NC for details!  919-649-5058

Let’s say you negotiate a sales price of $100,000.  With a traditional FHA mortgage loan, you would need to put 3.5% of the $100,000 into the downpayment.  With this special FHA mortgage program, designed for REHABS, you can add up to $35,000 for “updates.”  This means that if you negotiate a price of $100,000 and you need an additional $5000 for the updates…  we base the 3.5% downpayment on $105,000!

It’s a GREAT program for folks who need to update a property!  The main things to remember are:

• You can add a minimum of $5000 to the purchase price for improvements, including appliances.
• You can not change the “footprint” of the house.
• You can not borrow more than $35,000 for improvements.
• The property must appraise for the improvements plus the purchase price, or “after improvement” value.
• Qualifying is the same as with traditional FHA loans, so you need to have at least 2 credit scores above 600.
• The after improvement value can not exceed the maximum loan amount for your county.
• The checks for improvement will be going directly to the entity doing the work, only in RARE occassions will this be the homebuyer.
• Great loans for folks purchasing foreclosed property!
• FHA is not a loan for Investors, with the exception of those purchasing a HUD foreclosed property – when HUD allows an FHA mortgage as part of the contract.

If you have questions about a 203K loan in NC, please contact Steve and Eleanor Thorne at First Financial Services, Inc  919-649-5058.

HUD has long had a program that encourages folks who want to purchase a HUD Foreclosure, allowing them to purchase the property with $100 downpayment.  Problem is, non of the lenders wanted to offer the program.

In addition, if you COULD find a lender who would take the $100 downpayment program, you couldn’t find anyone who would ALSO lend you the money on a 203k program so that you could fix the house up!

I’ve heard of houses where the homeowner was so sad, or mad, or crazy that they tore out the heating and air conditioner units, took out all of the appliances (which I can understand that) AND THEN poured motor oil all over the carpets??  No why would you do that???

Anyway, if you are considering a purchase of one of these homes, you would need at least 3.5% out of your pocket… up until this “new guy” says (swears!) his company will do them!  I hate being the first guy in my office to try a new program – but we need to get these houses off the market…

Sooooo, if you’re considering a purchase, and you want to buy a foreclosed property – give me a call.  I might have just the program for you!