After the amount of time we’ve all had to spend at home over the last few years— from sheltering in place, transforming homes into remote-learning academies, fine-dining establishments to many remote and hybrid working situations—many people have become acutely aware of everything that bothers them about their current homes.
All that time together at home has brought their list of grievances to the forefront, only to reinforce those ever-evolving wish lists—be it a backyard, an additional bathroom, better appliances, or just more square feet.
With home taking on a whole new meaning in the 2020s, it’s left many homeowners wanting to cherish their properties and many renters wanting to become owners. But as more and more people have been looking to buy a new home, they’ve encountered an issue that’s been dogging home seekers since before we’d even heard of COVID-19.
High demand met with low inventory
Enter, the inventory issue. There simply aren’t enough homes on the market to meet the current demand. In November of 2022, there were 1.14 million units available for sale. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors® notes that "housing inventory is about a quarter of what it was in 2008." There simply are not enough homes out there for most buyers to find what they’re looking for in the area they want to live.
This is where a renovation loan can make all the difference, putting the spotlight on those “fixer-uppers” that often go overlooked by prospective buyers. Renovation loans allow borrowers to factor the cost of renovations into their mortgage—alleviating the worry of how they’ll afford extensive repairs. This can quickly expand a buyer’s search options at a critical time when those highly sought-after homes are flying off the market. Suddenly homes that buyers wouldn’t have previously considered become viable options.
When moving isn’t the only answer
For current homeowners, a renovation loan gives way to the option of staying put, while still getting what they need out of their homes. Those homeowners who are reluctant to leave a home and a neighborhood they love, but need an additional bedroom, a bigger bathroom, and better appliances—you name it—can opt to refinance and make those improvements to their current home.
Many renovations even have the potential to increase the value of a home, so you’ll want to figure out your potential return on investment for any renovation plans you’re making. This can be particularly helpful with some of the little details.
So, yes, maybe you are for sure going to remodel your bathroom, but should you go with a midrange or upscale renovation? Are those fancy marble countertops worth it? This article digs into those questions and runs the ROI (return on investment) numbers for you. It’s a great place to start to get some of those questions answered.
Renovate right
Whether your renovation plans consist of shopping for a fixer-upper or renovating what you already own, you’ll want to be sure to work with a renovation loan specialist. With their extensive knowledge on all the things that have the potential to pop up throughout a renovation, they’ll be able to help ensure your process runs as smoothly as possible.
Our dedicated renovation specialists ensure a transparent and simple process, while a consultant oversees the project to protect you as a homeowner.
Our specialists will be able to walk you through the process, but it will generally include the following steps:
- Getting pre-approved so you know the exact budget you’re working with
- Finding a property (if you’re moving)
- Making your offer
- Meeting with a HUD Consultant/Contractor at either your home or the fixer-upper you’ve found to conduct a project review and decide on repairs/potential projects
- Obtaining contractor bids for intended improvements—can consult with architects, designers, or engineers
- Ordering your appraisal
- Underwriting—reviewing your appraisal and final renovation budget with your Renovation Specialist to prepare for closing
- Closing—receive, review, sign, and return your Closing Disclosure
- Renovating! You can pull out/draw money from your renovation loan up to five times to pay contractors or for supplies, etc.
- Walking through your final inspection to ensure all repairs have been completed and the building is up to code
There’s a loan for that—your reno loan options
Different types of renovations may call for different types of loans, so your loan officer may point you in the direction of a more specific loan. For instance, if you’re looking to make energy efficiency upgrades, you could look into an Energy Efficient Mortgage.
There are also a variety of renovation loans to meet each buyer’s specific needs. Some options include:
- Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation Loan: Offers a wide range of renovation projects—from needed repairs to luxury upgrades—and can be used when purchasing a new home. It also allows you to borrow against the future value of your home.
- FHA 203k*: The Federal Housing Administration (FHA’s) loan includes standard and limited options as well as a refinance option, and also can be used when purchasing. These types of loans are specifically to be used while working with a contractor.
- HELOC†: A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) allows current homeowners to pull a line of credit from their home equity for a set timeframe. Homeowners are able to draw funds as needed with competitive interest rates.
- Cash-out refinance‡: Allows a homeowner to refinance their current mortgage for more than the amount owed—taking the difference in cash—which can be used for a variety of things, one of which being renovations.
- Personal Loan: Personal loans typically offer lower interest rates than credit cards. While the rate you’ll get for a personal loan will vary depending on your credit score, it will give you some flexibility in choosing your repayment terms.
Working with a loan officer will ensure you can select the best option that correlates with your renovation plans—whether they include finding a new home or updating your current home.
“Real Approval” means an automated underwriting system approval based upon credit information supplied by the applicant and subject to Guaranteed Rate Affinity’s review of loan documents. The applicant is subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate Affinity for current rates and for more information.
Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a private corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, the US Department of Agriculture, or any other government agency. No compensation can be received for advising or assisting another person with a matter relating to veterans’ benefits except as authorized under Title 38 of the United States Code.
* Credit score and down payment requirements are higher for 2-4 units, investment properties, and renovation products.
†Guaranteed Rate Affinity home equity line of credit (HELOC) is an open-end product where the full loan amount (minus the origination fee) will be 100% drawn at the time of origination. The initial amount funded at origination will be based on a fixed rate; however, this product contains an additional draw feature. As the borrower repays the balance on the line, the borrower may make additional draws during the draw period. If the borrower elects to make an additional draw, the interest rate for that draw will be set as of the date of the draw and will be based on an Index, which is the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal for the calendar month preceding the date of the additional draw, plus a fixed margin. Accordingly, the fixed rate for any additional draw may be higher than the fixed rate for the initial draw. This product is currently not offered in the states of New York, Utah, Kentucky, South Carolina, Hawaii, Texas, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. The HELOC requires you to pledge your home as collateral, and you could lose your home if you fail to repay. Borrowers must meet minimum lender requirements in order to be eligible for financing. Available for primary, and second homes and investment properties only. Dependent on minimum credit score and debt-to-income requirements. Occupancy status, lien position, and credit score are all factors to determine your rate and max available loan amount. Not all applicants will be approved. Applicants are subject to credit and underwriting approval. Contact Guaranteed Rate Affinity for more information and to discuss your individual circumstances. Restrictions Apply.
‡Using funds from a Cash-out Refinance to consolidate debt may result in the debt taking longer to pay off as it will be combined with the borrower’s mortgage principal amount and will be paid off over the full loan term. Contact Guaranteed Rate Affinity for more information.
