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Using the 203k loan step by step

Here are the steps you’ll complete when buying a fixer-upper with an FHA 203k loan.

It’s a little different from a “regular” loan, because you’ll be submitting your list of home improvements, and the loan doesn’t completely fund until the improvements are complete.

Find a lender approved to do 203k home improvement loans. Get several mortgage quotes so you can be confident that you’re getting a good deal
Apply for your home loan and get a pre-approval letter
Find a property. Make sure that your offer contains language indicating that you need a 203k loan in order to complete the purchase. Note that your maximum loan amount calculation is different for purchases. Check out HUD’s Maximum Mortgage Worksheet for more information
Find an FHA 203k consultant if your home improvement costs will exceed approximately $31,000. This person will arrange for a detailed proposal from licensed contractors. It will contain the scope of the work to be done and a detailed cost estimate
Find a contractor to write an estimate of the work needed and materials required. You aren’t allowed to do the work yourself unless you are a professional, full-time builder
The lender, after giving you the okay, will get your home appraised (with and without improvements)
After the appraisal, your loan can close and contractors can begin work on the home renovations
When the loan closes and funds, the seller gets paid. The rest of the money from your lender goes into your escrow account.

The lender (or its agent) releases escrowed funds to the contractor as work is completed.

Once your contractor completes the work, you own a renovated house that may already be worth more than you paid for it.

That’s a sound investment as well as a home customized to your needs.

Verify your 203k loan program eligibility (Oct 17th, 2021)
Benefits: An FHA 203k loan lets you build equity fast

The buy-and-rehab strategy can give home buyers instant equity, and a lot of it.

Homes in need of repair or updating can be had on the cheap, and the fixes may not be very expensive at all.

For instance, a house potentially worth $250,000 may sell for just $200,000 when it needs only $20,000 in repairs. That leaves $30,000 in potential equity for a buyer with the initiative to manage the fixes.

According to real estate data website Realtytrac, the median home price in a “distressed” sale was 42 percent lower than the price netted in non-distressed situations. That’s a big discount.

The problem comes, however, when the buyer goes to finance the home purchase.

Most mortgage programs require homes to be in near-top shape before the loan is approved.

That’s where the FHA 203k rehab loan comes in.

The Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203k loan allows buyers to finance the home and up to $35,000 in repairs with one loan.

It’s possible to have lower monthly payments and higher equity in your home the moment you move in, compared to your friends and neighbors.

Downsides of the 203k loan program

As you would expect, there are some pluses and minuses with the 203k loan program.

The benefits are undeniable. You could:

Gain instant equity
Deal with less competition to buy the home
Gain valuable experience remodeling a home
But with every reward comes the preliminary work. The 203k loan is no exception.

As stated above, you will have to secure reputable contractors, and be uber-diligent about having them complete paperwork.

Don’t be surprised if the lender requires you to send a bid back to the contractor two or three times for missing information.

You will also have to decide on the upgrades that are within your budget. That can be exciting, but also stressful. You’ll have to make decisions quickly to ensure the loan approval stays on track.

In addition, the loan process will take more time than a standard loan.

You are increasing paperwork requirements by 2 to 3 times compared to a standard loan.

Go into the process expecting and embracing that fact. Don’t think that you’ll be the exception that closes the loan in fifteeen days. Set realistic expectations with the seller!

Are you ready to tackle these relatively minor inconveniences to reap the benefits? Then a 203k loan is probably the right loan for you

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