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Quiana Williams | Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage

California FHA 203k Loans Guidelines For Buyers Of Fixer Uppers (or Home Renovations)


Demolition or Renovation: Advice for California homeowners contemplating demolishing their California homes or renovating their California homes with a FHA 203k Loan

California has one of the highest housing prices in the nation.

  • Average home prices in the state of California is $437,873 versus the national average of $228,900

  • As the economy nationwide is booming, so is the housing market in California

  • Both HUD, VA, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) realized this

  • HUD and FHFA has has increased FHA, VA, and Conforming Loan Limits in all counties in California including high cost areas for two years in a row

  • As California’s housing stock ages, home owners are making decisions when purchasing an older home, “do I knock down the existing structure and rebuild new, or do I renovate”

  • California FHA 203k Loans are more popular than ever

  • Never since the inception of California FHA 203k Loans has the interest of California FHA 203k Loans been so popular

  • FHA 203k Loan applications in California has been going up double digits every year since 2012

Kitchen remodel - Before
Kitchen remodel - During demolition

Kitchen Remodel - After

Benefits Of California FHA 203k Loans Versus New Home

HUD’s FHA 203k Loan Program allows home buyers to buy fixer uppers and/or foreclosures with 3.5% of the after improved value costs.

  • For example, if the acquisition cost of a fixer upper is $100,000 and renovation costs is $100,000, the after improved value is $200,000

  • Home buyers are required 3.5% of the after repaired value of $200,000 or $7,000 down payment

  • Up to 6% in sellers concessions is allowed per FHA Guidelines so most buyers do not have to worry about closing costs and just need to worry about the down payment

The decision usually comes down to “dollars and sense”.

  • At what price point you’re able to purchase the property

  • How much you can afford in the construction budget

  • And perhaps the most important consideration is what the value of the property will be once it has been completed

In nearly every case involving renovating or rebuilding a one to four-unit, FHA’s 203K Program is the solution.

  • In our 21st Century West Coast Economy, cash is King

  • If consumers have the cash and keep it in their pocket

  • Interest rates are low

  • Why pay 20% to 25% down payment on a California home construction financing when with a California FHA 203k Loans the minimum down payment requirement is 3.5% down payment on a home purchase

  • Many parts of California is classified as high cost area

  • FHA maximum loan limit in high cost areas of California is $679,650 for single family homes

What Is A FHA 203k Loan?

HUD, the parent of FHA, implemented and launched the FHA 203k Loan Program to promote buyers to purchase fixer uppers and foreclosures and revitalize neighborhoods. FHA 203k Renovation loans are becoming increasingly popular not just throughout the state of California but throughout the nation. Creative home buyers can literally end up with a custom brand new home by utilizing the FHA 203k Loan Program.

Here are the qualification requirements to qualify FHA 203k Rehab Loans:

  • Meet all FHA Guidelines

  • 580 credit scores

  • 3.5% down payment on acquisition and construction of the after improved value

  • Non-Occupant Co-Borrowers allowed

  • Up to 6% sellers concessions

  • Up to 50% debt to income ratio

  • Outstanding Collections and Charged Offs do not have to be paid off

  • Quiana Williams of Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group has no lender overlays on FHA 203k Loans

Types Of FHA 203k Renovation Loans

There are two types of FHA 203k Loans:

  1. FHA 203k Streamline Loans:

  2. This enables homeowners to do cosmetic repairs with maximum $35,000 construction budget

  3. Standard California FHA 203k Renovation Loans:

  4. No limit on construction budget

  5. Can do a complete gut and rehab project

  6. Room additions allowed and can had more bedrooms and bathrooms

  7. Maximum loan limit on acquisition and construction is per loan limit in area

How Does FHA 203k Loan Program Work

Homeowners who want to demolish and rebuild, FHA 203K Loans allows homeowners to include the cost of renovation of the home in the loan amount;

  • Demolition of a property and the rebuild using the existing footing with the FHA 203k Streamline Rehab Loans where the maximum budget is $35,000

  • Homeowners can do major room additions with the full Standard FHA 203k Renovation Program where there is no construction limit

  • Or you can break down the property to its shell and replace all the mechanical, electric, plumbing, HVAC, etc

  • Homeowners can move walls, put on an addition, add a garage, completely re-landscape, add luxury items like high end fixtures and finishes

Buying A Fixer Upper With A California FHA 203k Loan

I’m also seeing more buyers looking at properties that haven’t been updated in over forty years.

  • They’re nice, clean, structurally sound buildings that can, because they’re dated, be purchased at a bargain

  • Buyers are using 203K to replace the kitchens and baths, flooring, even moving walls to open the floor plan

  • There is a way to buy a house with no money down payment

  • How to buy a house with no money down

  • There are some good tips there if you are a newbie and you want to purchase a house and you don't have money right away

There’s not a more versatile loan product on the market today. It’s the only loan product that’s gotten better and easier with age. Years ago these types of transactions were nearly impossible to close. Now they close on time and have become a great tool for Real Estate Professionals all over the country.

Too Busy To DIY? Let Us Design Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel or Fixer Upper For You.

BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION HERE!

Read more https://gustancho.com/california-fha-203k-loans


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