203K happy endings

How about a new kitchen with your 203k?

In the last couple of weeks we did

A refi for a veteran who is adding on to his home.

A bank owned purchase that will get new flooring, paint, kitchen cabinets and appliances.

A refi for an aging couple that will use the money for some Universal design modifications.

The 203K is for everyone and you won’t know what it can do for you unless you ask.

So call us and ask the questions you would like answers for.

Posted in 203k Loan | Leave a comment

203k loans, just the facts.

Today is my introductory post on 203k loans.

Are they difficult to do?

If you don’t know the rules, yes.

Do they cost more?

No, as a matter of fact they can cost less. Yes the rates are slightly higher, consultant fees add to the cost also but you can move into a remodeled

home with equity in the home from day one.

Do they take longer to close?

203k loans can close in 30 to 45 days if your organized.

I am starting a 4 part blog series on the 203k for Active Rain.

Case studies (a couple) and myths and facts. Why it goes wrong and what are realistic expectations.

To be clear, I promote this because I make money doing them but the original reason I became a consultant was I thought it would be good for the country to get people in the many beautiful homes sitting vacant.

There are many questions on the 203k, I will write 4 blog posts and address the the questions that come up most often.

Question 1.

Can I use the 203k for a mixed use property?

Answer.

Yes, but you must check zoning in the properties area and you must meet guideline issues on how much of the space is commercial and how much is residential. The borrower must live in the residential part. It comes down to how much area is devoted to business.

Soon I will add the articles explaining the 203k in simple terms.

Posted in 203k Loan | Leave a comment

HERS/ Home Energy Raters

Who, What?

Home Energy Raters (HERS Raters)

A Home Energy Rater conducts an analysis of a new home’s construction plans and performs on-site inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction rating on the HERS Index. Upon completion of the plan review, the HERS Rater will work with your builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet ENERGY STAR performance guidelines. The Rater then conducts on-site inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the home’s efficiency rating on the HERS Index. Unlike a Building Performance Audit or a weatherization assessment, a home energy rating is a recognized tool in the mortgage industry and for government incentives for energy efficiency. The HERS Index quantifies the energy performance of a home based on a set standard, and therefore provides an easy way to compare the energy efficiency of different homes.

Posted in 203k Loan | Leave a comment

“Perfect for a 203k”

Mr 203K Mike Young

“Perfect for a 203k” is our slogan as we enlist real estate professionals all over the country. We encourage you take FHA 203k offers on your fixers and when you do please add in your listing “Perfect for a 203k”. This will tell the people ‘people in the know’ that YOU are on board and that you have a fixer. Sellers who indicate they don’t want an FHA offer are ignorant of the fact that a 203k offer can go to 110% of the “after improved value” making more money available for the purchase. If a seller just won’t budge off their asking price a lot of times it can be solved by using the 100% rule. Always keep in mind that a 203k offer is all cash to the seller and the work begins after it closes escrow.

Example: Asking price is $300,000, work needed comes to $200,000 for a total of $500,000 and the “after improved value” is $500,000. Multiple offers come in up to $310,000 but your can offer up to $350,000 knowing that you can go to 110% of the $500,000.

Now, the selling agent has just found a way to get a bigger commission, the seller gets more than their asking price, the buyer gets a fixed up home, and the lender makes a larger loan… Lets focus on the seller… that’s right they said “no FHA or VA” offers would be entertained. Why? Are they less sophisticated? No they are the bank. So what is it then.. the listing agent interpreted the sellers instructions that they will not put any money into the property to get it sold… possibly. If the listing agent isn’t aware of the 203k to move his clients properties then this is a real problem. They need to be educated. One more possibility… they once heard from someone wbo heard from someone else that 203k loans take longer to close… That is usually what has happened. Someone tried a 203k in 1961 and it took a long time to close.. well that could have been true in 1961, 1971, 1981, and even in 1991 but in 1994 consultants were born and it ended. 203k loans can close as fast as a 203b or the standard FHA loan.

There is a secret to closing them faster… it is called using a 203k consultant. Consultants keep up with the changes in the program and bring a level of professionalism to the table. The other key ingredient is using a “team” to close your loans. That is a lender who knows the product and has closed a few… if they haven’t closed one yet, then they should at least use an experienced team to work with them. We have had two 203k loans close in 17 days, one in 20 days, and many close in 30-45 days. Once in a while there are circumstances that cause delay in a closing but it isn’t due to being a 203k in most of those cases.
What do you want to do with your fixer? Option 1 is to pay cash and get a construction loan for 5 points and 12-15% interest… oh, then get a “take out loan” in 6-12 months to refinance to pay off this short term construction loan. Yes, you pay points a third time when you do this refinance. So to summarize you can pay a couple points to purchase, a couple more points to get the construction loan, and a couple more points to refi out of the construction loan… that is about 7-10 point all tolled…. OR … get a low interest 203k loan and pay about 2 points, one time and get the money to fix the home at the same time in the same loan… what a novel idea. This loan is so much less expensive than any other way to get construction included it is a wonder every home isn’t a 203k loan.

Minimum repair amount per the guideline is that there is no minimum…. if it has a broken window you can get up to 110% of the after improved value loan amount.
Maximum repair amount… no maximum on the rehab amount. The maximum is on the loan amount and that varies by county or parrish. Therefore if your county has a maximum loan amount of $729,750 you could buy a home for $100,000 right after a total fire damaged home and put up to $619,750 to fix it up, or buy one for $300,000 and add 429,750 more to it to fix it up.. or buy one for $200,000 and fix it up for $5.000. There are endless possibilities.
Septic system failed… Perfect for a 203k Home is pristine but is too small… add a room… perfect for a 203k Home is pristine but has no garage… add a garage… perfect for a 203k Home needs a foundation.. perfect for a 203k Modular home is outdated and on a permanent foundation… replace the home using all or a portion of the existing foundation… perfect for a 203k Only needs carpet… perfect for a 203k Only needs appliances… perfect for a 203k

MA Young
704-451-1599
www.203konline.com
www.my203kconsultant.com
1351 Oliver Road, Fairfield, CA 94533
4350 Main Street, Ste 2

Posted in 203k Loan | Leave a comment

FHA does fixer upper loans- here’s how.

Buying A Fixer–Upper With An FHA 203k Loan

Paul Welden

Paul-revisedblue.JPG Most homebuyers are turned off at the sight or even the thought of a buying a fixer-upper. However, educated and informed homebuyers are utilizing the FHA 203k loan to buy their new home and fix it up with no additional out-of-pocket expense.

The FHA 203k loan is a “secret” tool that successful contractors, real estate and mortgage professionals have been using for many, many years. An FHA 203k loan is very similar to the traditional FHA loan (known as the FHA 203b loan). The only real difference is that with the FHA 203k loan, the homebuyer is adding money to their mortgage balance to finance any repair/improvement costs. Whereas the traditional FHA loan requires that certain repairs to be done before the loan is made, the FHA 203k loan allows the homebuyer to purchase their fixer-upper and complete the repairs/improvements after the transaction closes. The other traditional FHA qualifications (appraisal guidelines, seasoning rules, etc.) still apply. But with the FHA 203k loan, a homebuyer can fix up his/her home and not have to worry about the additional out-of-pocket expenses for the repairs/improvements. What a brilliant way to purchase a fixer-upper!

There are two types of FHA 203k loans: the Rehab (also known as the Full 203k) and the Streamline. The FHA 203k Rehab allows for structural modifications, architect and engineer contracting and requires, among others, an FHA 203k Consultant and construction plans. For the Rehab version, contractors are paid through a series of draws requested from the homeowner’s lender. This Rehab 203k it is not common—in fact, the FHA 203k Rehab loan is very rare. The FHA203k Streamline, on the other hand, is much more commonly used but will not allow for structural modifications, 203k Consultants, landscaping, etc., and has a maximum spending limit of $35,000. Contractors are paid in two payments – prior to any work, contractors may request payment from the lender for materials/supplies, up to 50% of the cost of the job and the final payment is made to all contractors when all the work is 100% complete.

The FHA 203k Streamline loan is a great option for many reasons (just to name a few):

  • Less competition to buy a home because fewer homebuyers want to purchase fixer-uppers
  • Better opportunities for great financial deals on a home because of less interest in fixer-uppers
  • Ability to fix up or add personal improvements to make a house into a home with no additional out-of-pocket expense

The FHA 203k Streamline loan also has potential drawbacks:

  • No investor purchases; only owner occupant purchasers and qualified nonprofit groups allowed
  • In a competing offer situation, it can be one of the weaker offers
  • Additional contract contingency that may be undesirable to sellers
  • Extra time involved with extended escrow periods, getting contractor bids, submitting additional paperwork to the lender, etc.
  • FHA 203k lender may go out of business (such as the recent shut down of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker)
  • Foreclosure property Asset Managers may not be familiar with the FHA 203k loan
  • Potential challenge with finding qualified and experienced loan officers, real estate agents and contractors for the FHA 203k loan

With the US Treasury stating that millions more foreclosures are coming to the market and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also stating that they have ~100,000 unlisted properties in their inventory, fixer-uppers could be prevalent in our coming market. Therefore, the FHA 203k Streamline loan is an excellent and viable option and will continue to be for quite a while for purchasing fixer-uppers because it allows homebuyers to finance the repair/improvement expense into their mortgage. Including the FHA 203k loan as a loan or purchase option to your customers will allow you to become the resource for guidance, information and advice that they need. So, add the FHA 203k Streamline loan to your “arsenal” of tools, because without it, you will continue to miss out on some incredible opportunities to help more homebuyers and sellers, get more jobs, expand your busines’s and make more money.

Paul Welden is the Owner/Operator of www.203kContractors.com, the database of experienced and knowledgeable contractors for the FHA 203k loan. Paul can be reached at 480-463-4663 or by email at info@203kContractors.com.

Posted in 203k Loan | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Silvertree Construction is an EPA Certified Lead Renovator.

April 22, 2010 the EPA lead rule goes into effect, Silvertree Construction is one of the Certified Minnesota Renovators. Certification # NAT-21488-0

Silvertree is Lead Safe.
Certification # NAT-21488-0

We can do streamline remodels and meet the FHA lead requirements.

Silvertree received its certification for Lead Safe Practices 04/10/2010

Call Silvertree 612-788-5585 and ask for Paul

Posted in 203k Loan | Tagged , , | Leave a comment
  • Roger Watland for Home Appraisals Real Estate Broker Services

  • Ben Coulter for Mortgages from Uptown Financial

  • Now the consultant will meet you for $150, thats 25% off, get a feasibility study and see if you are right for a 203k Loan.