Lending on Condominiums

photo-1425363352475-960422935a30Did you know when you apply for a loan, there are actually 2 approvals that take place?  The lender reviews the file based on your credit and income, and also reviews the collateral.  The collateral must be sufficient in order for a loan to be approved.  When the collateral is a condominium, there is increased scrutiny by the lender.  This is due to the fact that a condo typically has shared walls, ceilings, or floors, and there is more risk to the lender because the loan is somewhat dependent on the status of the units surrounding the condo.  Thus, lenders will submit a questionnaire to the Homeowners Association (“HOA”) with questions of the condominium complex to evaluate whether they want to accept the risk and make a loan on the property.

The following are some of the questions the lender will ask of the HOA:

– Whether at least 51% of the units in the condo project are owner-occupied

– Whether any single investor owns more than 10% of the units

– Whether the common areas are 100% complete

– Does the project contain any commercial space

– Does the project operate like a hotel, i.e. is there a rental desk in the lobby, cleaning service, and other hotel-like amenities

– No more than 15% of the units are more than 30 days delinquent in the payment of HOA  dues

– Is the HOA involved in any litigation

– The budgeted amount of reserve funds for future repairs and/or replacement are at least 10% of the budgeted revenues

– If a conversion or converted in the last 3 years, is the renovation 100% complete and completed in a workmanlike manner

Thus, when purchasing a condominium, contact the HOA and find out what the answers are to the above questions.  A little bit of homework before you accept a contract will save many headaches and heartbreak later in the process.

The type of loan you apply for can make a difference, too.  If you are applying for a FHA loan, the condominium complex must be approved by FHA.  You can check to see if the complex has been approved by FHA by going to the FHA approval list at: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm

Similarly, if you are applying for a VA loan, the condominium must be approved by VA.  You can check to see if the condo has been approved by VA by going to https://lgy.va.gov/lgyhub/condo-report

When shopping for the best mortgage broker in Arizona, you need to know the history of the company and their mortgage brokers.  At Counsel Mortgage Group, LLC, founded by an experienced CPA and attorney, we have closed over a thousand loans over the years and specialize in assisting you to obtain the right loan.  Check out our experienced mortgage brokers and give us a call today or contact us.  We look forward to working with you!