BEWARE! The Type of Property You Choose May Affect Your Loan Approval!
Posted by Paul Gonzales | Visited 125 times, 1 so far today |
Most people know they need to look their best when trying to get approved for a mortgage. Like brushing our teeth and combing our hair for a family portrait, we know that our credit scores, job history and general financial health are important. (To see how to avoid common pitfalls after you have been approved for a loan, see my recent post Your Loan is Approved! Now Avoid These Four Pitfalls That Can Really Ruin Your Day).
However, did you know that the type of property you choose may also have a major impact on your loan approval? If not, dear reader, then Press On!
Let’s say you start out thinking you’re looking for a cute house with a white picket fence. But then you begin to see different options. Let’s see how those choices may change, limit or even eliminate your financing options:
A Planned Unit Development, or PUD
A what? They look like a regular house, but are part of a large, master-planned community. Most homes built in recent years by major builders are PUDs. This property choice invariably comes with a required membership in a Home Owners Association (HOA). The monthly HOA dues can commonly run into the $200 to $400 range, especially in Southern California. This will reduce the amount of financing you qualify for because it will be included as part of your debt-to-income ratio.
Condominiums
- Non-Warrantable Condo Projects - This is a condominium that does not have official Fannie Mae or FHA approval (required to get financing from these agencies)
- Condo Conversions - These are condos that started life as apartments and then were converted to condominium building codes. Most are OK, but a few may be little more than cosmetically-enhanced apartments. Again, look for that all-important Fannie Mae or FHA approval on the project
- High-rise Condos - commonly defined as a condo above 4-stories tall. Some lenders won’t do mortgages on them
- Those ubiquitous HOA dues will change your qualifying debt/income ratio
Manufactured and Modular Homes
This can be a tricky area with regard to financing. These types of homes are partially built and assembled in a factory and then moved to the property site where they are permanently affixed to the land. Such homes manufactured in recent years can look like a traditionally-constructed or site-built home except to the most discerning eye (like an appraiser). However, lenders definitely make the distinction and the types of loans available to purchase or refinance this type of property are quite limited, especially in the current financial markets. Where available, a mortgage on this type of property will likely require a greater down payment. Options such as interest-only payments will be almost impossible to find. While this type of housing can be ideal for the right Buyer, be aware that it will limit the financing options for you now, and most likely for the next person looking to purchase it (from you)
Large or Unusual Properties
This one can catch you by surprise. A common example might be a home built on 18 acres of land. Regardless of how big or nice the house is, a large tract of land may actually dominate the total value of the property. Conventional mortgages are intended to finance residential property, not land. As a result, some lenders will limit the maximum size of the property they will finance; 5 acres is not uncommon. Other lenders will allow larger acreage but will require the appraisal to consider the value of the improvements (house) and limit land value to 5 acres. Another issue can arise if the property includes improvements other than what is common to residential property. Examples might be a home on 4 acres that includes 300 avocado trees, or a duplex where 1 of the 2 units actually houses a business such as a barber shop. These properties may be viewed as commercial or mixed-use in nature, rather than residential.
Multi-Family Property (Duplex, Triplex etc.)
Conventional financing is still widely available for 2 to 4 family properties. However, recent changes in the mortgage markets have tightened a number of requirements to qualify for financing on these property types. Examples include larger down payments, higher credit scores, higher interest rates and more conservative debt-to-income ratios.
The important point to draw here is that one size does not fit all when obtaining financing. It’s best to have a reasonably clear idea of the type of property you are seeking to purchase before you obtain loan approval. And if that idea changes, be sure to let your mortgage professional know as soon as possible. That will avoid unpleasant surprises and assure that your approved financing will work for the home of your dreams!
For questions about matching your loan to your home, call me at (800) 775-7334 or email me at paulforloans@aol.com
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.
Tim Ramsey
I just stopped by your blog and thought I would say hello. I like your site design. Looking forward to reading more down the road.
Hi Paul,
Good article! How easy is it for a buyer to know if a condo has been FHA approved? And if it has not, how long does it take to get approval?
Diane
Diane - we can easily check to see if a condo project is FHA approved, just need the project name and zip code. FHA Spot approval for a currently non-approved condo is getting easier. The main factor is owner-occupancy ratio. Drop us a line and we can assist you.