About the Section 203(k) Loan
Program
If you want to buy a home that needs repair or finance
needed repairs to your current home, the Section 203(k)
loan program by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) may be a good option for you.
This program allows you to finance the
purchase of a house—or refinance your
current mortgage—and include the cost
of its repairs through a single mortgage.
The Section 203(k) loan program is HUD’s primary
program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family
properties. Section 203(k) loans are provided through
HUD-approved mortgage lenders nationwide and insured
by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is
part of HUD. “Section 203(k)” refers to the law, part of
the National Housing Act, which allows FHA to make
this mortgage insurance available. The loans are beneficial
for low- and moderate-income individuals or families since
the loan downpayment can be as little as 3 percent. While
individuals, local governments, and non-profit organizations
may participate as borrowers in the program, the property must be used as a principal residence by an individual
or family.
How the Loan Works
You can take out a Section 203(k) loan as a 15- or 30-
year fixed-rate mortgage or as an Adjustable Rate
Mortgage (ARM) from a HUD-approved lender. The total
amount of your mortgage will be based on the projected
value of your home after the renovation is completed, taking
into account the cost of the work. A portion of your
loan is used to pay for the purchase of the home, or in the
case of a refinance, to pay off any existing debt. The
remainder is placed in an interest-bearing account on your
behalf and released in stages as rehabilitation is completed.
FHA requires that you use a minimum of $5,000 toward
eligible repairs or improvements and that you complete the
repairs within six months after the loan’s closing depending
on the extent of work to be completed. This first $5,000 primarily
covers eliminating building code violations, modernizing,
or making health and safety-related upgrades to the
home or its garage. You may add minor or cosmetic repairs
after this requirement is satisfied, if applicable. You cannot
include improvements for commercial use or luxury items,
such as tennis courts, gazebos, or new swimming pools.
ligible Homes
You may use a 203(k) loan to finance the rehabilitation
of the following types of properties. Cooperative
units and investment properties are not eligible.
- A one- to four-unit residence that has been completed for at least one year. Examples include detached homes and townhouses.
- Condominiums in one- to four-unit buildings (interior improvements only; additional restrictions apply).
- Mixed-use residential properties that include commercial space.
- Conversion of a one-unit residence to a two-, three-, or four-family dwelling.
- Conversion of an existing multi-unit dwelling down to a one- to four-family unit.
- An existing house or modular unit on another site that can be moved onto the mortgaged property. Release of loan proceeds for the existing structure on the non-mortgaged property is not allowed until the new foundation has been properly inspected and the residence has been properly placed and secured to the new foundation.
- Homes that have been demolished or will be razed as part of rehabilitation work if some of the existing foundation remains in place.
Eligible Home Improvements
The Section 203(k) loan covers a range of home
improvements. These include, but are not limited to, the
following:
- Remodeling bathrooms or a kitchen, including new built-in appliances
- Replacing a roof, gutters, and downspouts
- Adding a family room, bedrooms, or bathrooms
- Replacing flooring, tiling, or carpeting
- Completing a basement or attic conversion or adding a second story
- Expanding or building a garage or carport
- Renovating a deteriorating property, such as repairing a chimney, termite damage, or structural problems
- Upgrading plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or electrical wiring
- Eliminating health and safety hazards, such as removing lead-based paint
- Making the home accessible to the disabled
- Installing a well or a septic system
- Adding a porch, deck, or patio
- Adding or repairing siding or repainting
- Installing energy efficient windows or doors
- Repairing an existing swimming pool
Helpful Options
If you are not planning to live in the home during construction,
you may finance up to six months of mortgage
payments during the renovation period. In addition, you
may act as your own general contractor or do the actual
repair work yourself, if you are qualified. Any money you
save this way can be used for cost overruns or additional improvements. You can be reimbursed only for actual material
costs, not for your own labor.
How to Apply and Get More
Information
Once you find the property that you wish to purchase
and conduct a preliminary feasibility analysis with your real
estate professional, or if you are already living in the residence
you plan to repair, you should find a HUD-approved
lender who will help you understand the next steps and
details of the 203(k) loan program. Because many borrowers
need professional help in determining needed repairs or
improvements, your lender will assign a 203(k) consultant
to assist you in planning the work and developing cost estimates.
The consultant will perform the home inspection,
identify needed repairs or improvements, including health
and safety problems, and provide a work write-up and cost
estimate to you. You also can contact a HUD-approved
housing counseling agency or check the HUD website to get
more information about the program.
Information Resources
Internet
www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov.
More details about the Section 203(k) loan program
are on the HUD website in English and Spanish.
HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency
Locator
HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling
agencies that provide counseling services across the
nation. For a complete list of HUD-approved agencies
in your area, call the HUD housing counseling referral
line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD
website at www.hud.gov.
HUD-Approved Lenders
A searchable database of HUD-approved lenders,
including banks, mortgage companies, and credit
unions, is available on the HUD website at
www.hud.gov.