home renovation Archives - Page 6 of 7 - Real Estate News and Commentary

January 4, 2012November 11, 2012

What’s the return on your investment?

by Dan Krell
© 2012
DanKrell.com

If you’ve been wavering over the decision to moving into a new home versus renovating your current home; or maybe you’re planning a sale this year and thinking of making improvements to improve the home’s appeal- here’s a resource to help. According to the Remodeling 2011–12 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com), you can get an idea of how much return on your investment you might get from some of the most popular renovation and addition projects that people undertake.

The 2011-2012 Cost vs Value Report, published annually by Remodeling Magazine, is now available and compares the top remodeling projects and the value that you might recoup at resale. The Cost vs Value ratios were collected for major cities/regions across the country. While project costs were obtained from a construction estimates database compiled by Home Tech Publishing, the project resale values were obtained through a National Association of Realtors® survey of appraisers, agents and brokers.

It is noted that a project Cost vs Value ratio is typically higher in “hotter” real estate markets, and can sometimes exceed 100% (recouping more than was spent on the project at resale). This idea is consistent with the annual Trends in Cost vs Value, which indicates that the average return on investment was higher when the housing market was at the peak in 2005. Of course a major reason for decline in the Cost vs Value ratio from the peak has been the retreat of home prices nationwide. There is speculation that since the national ratio decreased less this year than recent years, the housing market may be bottoming out.

Besides differences in local home prices, differences in regional Cost vs Value ratios can also be attributed to variances in labor and materials costs. Some experts point to a glut of construction workers who are seeking work as a reason for decreased labor costs in some areas; while material costs have not changed much or have become more expensive.

The Cost vs Value Report groups the Washington DC area in the South Atlantic region, which was ranked as the third highest Cost vs Value ratio out of nine regions. The South Atlantic region averaged a ratio of 67.3%, while the highest performing region was Pacific with a ratio of 71.3% was and the lowest performing region was the West North Central with a ratio of 49.5%.

Enough of the technical stuff…
The top Cost vs Value ratio midrange job for the Washington DC area is a garage door replacement, which is estimated to recoup about 93.2% of the cost at resale; followed by a wood deck addition, which is estimated to recoup about 91.3% of the cost at resale (compared to a composite deck addition which is estimated to recoup only 78.8% of the cost).

The top “upscale” project is a fiber-cement siding replacement, which is estimated to recoup 89.7% of the cost at resale (compared to foam backed vinyl siding, which is estimated to recoup only 78% of the cost). The “upscale” garage door replacement is estimated to only recoup 81.4% of the cost (compared to the replacement described above).

Additional projects and descriptions of the projects with costs can be viewed in the Cost vs Value Report. The full Washington DC area renovation/addition Cost vs Value report can be downloaded at costvsvalue.com.

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This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. This article was originally published in the Montgomery County Sentinel the week of January 2, 2012. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws. Copyright © 2012 Dan Krell.

October 6, 2008November 23, 2021

Be Prepared to Repair Home Before You Purchase It!

by Dan Krell
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The FHA mortgage has recently changed to accommodate the changing marketplace. Due to its broad availability and higher loan limits, the FHA mortgage is more prevalent now than it has been in the recent past. So, if you are a home buyer, it’s a good chance that you may be applying for a FHA mortgage to purchase your home.

You can expect the FHA underwriting to be flexible yet careful and thorough. You know that FHA underwrites your credit as a buyer, but did you know that FHA underwrites the property condition as well?

FHA underwriters and appraisers are required to assess a home for security, safety, and soundness. To protect your interests as a home buyer (security), as well as the interests of the FHA and lender, the home you are buying must meet minimum health and safety standards, as well as being structurally sound. Any deficiencies identified by the FHA appraiser will be required to be repaired prior to your closing (HUD.gov).

Having a home inspection may allow you to identify easily seen deficiencies within the home. If there are any safety or structural issues, you can be fairly certain that the FHA appraiser will see these as well and require these items to be repaired. However, since your home inspector is not an appraiser nor is the appraisal a home inspection (and having different purposes), there may be disparity between the two.

Items that are often identified by the FHA appraiser as needing repairs include (but not limited to): defective (peeling or chipping) paint surfaces in homes built before 1978; broken windows; roof having less than two years of useful life remaining; drainage problems; lack of handrails on stairwells of three or more steps; pest infestation; damaged and/or non-functioning electric, plumbing, or HVAC systems; foundation and structural defects; underground fuel (i.e., oil) tanks; and any other health or safety issue (fhainfo.com).

The FHA addendum (GCAAR form 1330 in this area) explains who is to make the required repairs: the buyer typically gives the seller notice what repairs are to be made. However, if the seller refuses to make the repairs the buyer has the option to make the repairs themselves. If both the buyer and seller refuse to make the repairs, the contract becomes void.

Many times, the buyer and seller negotiate as to how the repairs are to be made prior to closing. However, if you are purchasing a bank owned home, the bank usually prohibits the buyer from making any alterations to the home prior to settlement- including repairs.

If the home is in poor condition, however, the FHA appraiser will likely reject the home for FHA 203b financing. Don’t worry, though, you can apply for the FHA’s renovation mortgage (FHA 203k). Additionally, you can apply for a FHA 203k if the home you are purchasing is conveyed “as-is” (such as a bank owned home or short sale) and repairs are required. Be careful though, not all FHA lenders offer the 203k loan; you can find a FHA 203k lender at HUD.gov.
The FHA mortgage is an excellent way to finance your home purchase. However be prepared because property condition can sometimes turn a seemingly good deal into a no-deal.

This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. This article was originally published in the Montgomery County Sentinel the week of September 29, 2008. Copyright © 2008 Dan Krell.

September 19, 2008November 23, 2021

FHA 203k; renovation loans are still available

by Dan Krell
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Are you considering purchasing a distressed property, such as a foreclosed home or a short sale, and need to make repairs on the home prior to moving in? Or maybe you have decided to stay in your present home for a few more years, but want to make updates or possibly expand the present space. The question you may have is, “how can I get a loan for these types of repairs and renovations?”

Even during the ongoing credit crunch, there are still renovation loans. One of the most popular renovation loans today is the FHA 203(k). Much like the FHA loan everyone is familiar with (FHA 203b), the FHA 203(k) loan can be used to purchase a home too! The difference is that the FHA 203 (k) provides funding for necessary repairs, updates and/or renovations on your new home; and it is all in one loan. Additionally, home owners needing funds to renovate, update, or expand their current homes can refinance with the FHA 203(k), as long as they have owned it for at least six months.

The FHA 203(k) was first introduced in 1978 through a change in the National Housing Act, section 203(k), which endorses the maintenance of the Nation’s housing. The FHA 203k is HUD’s primary device to meet their goal of “community and neighborhood revitalization” while expanding homeownership opportunities (HUD.gov). Additionally, HUD promotes the use of the FHA 203k to lenders and community organizations as a way to meet the goals of the Community Reinvestment Act.

Of course not all homes are eligible. Some of the eligibility requirements include that your home must be one to four units, the home must be at least one year old and meet neighborhood zoning requirements. FHA allows for major rehabilitation on homes that have been razed provided that the foundation still exists.

Improvements that are eligible for the FHA 203(k) include (but are not limited to) additions, unit conversions, and cosmetic repairs. However, luxury items and items that are not permanently part of the home (such as hot tubs) are not eligible. With the FHA 203(k), the home owner can add or expand a room, add a deck, convert a 1 unit home to a multi-unit home (up to four units), or convert a multi-unit home to a one unit home, and make cosmetic repairs (including giving your kitchen and bathrooms a facelift).

Do you want to make your home more energy efficient? Making your home “green” can save you lots of money down the road; however the transformation can cost quite a bit of money. The good news is that the FHA 203(k) loan allows for many “green” upgrades! Some items that may be eligible include replacing your HVAC and/or windows, waterproofing your basement, and installing solar panels.

The process of obtaining the FHA 203(k) is a little different than a standard mortgage, as additional underwriting requirements include architectural plans and repair estimates (materials and labor) from licensed contractors. The funds for the repairs/renovations are released in draws to ensure the work is completed as intended as well as meeting all zoning, health and building codes.

For more information about the FHA 203(k) mortgage, or to find a FHA 203(k) lender, you can visit the HUD website (HUD.gov).

May 20, 2008November 23, 2021

Lack of Permits Can Create Future Problems

by Dan Krell
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If you have ever tried to make improvements to your home, you may know about the permitting process. Unfortunately, do-it-yourselfers and some contractors often feel that it is unnecessary to obtain the necessary permits (including but not limited to building, mechanical, and electrical permits). Excuses given for not obtaining the proper permits range from the silly to the paranoid.

The purpose for the permitting process is to assure that buildings, land and home improvements adhere to the building and zoning codes within the county. The purpose for building and zoning codes are to ensure that our houses are safe, structurally sound, and help maintain health standards.

Although you may perceive that you can save time and money by not going through the permitting process, however, you may find that the shortcut will cost more time and money in the long term. It is not uncommon for improvements that did not go through the permitting process to be required to meet current building and zoning codes, or even be demolished. Decks, fences, and outbuildings are common violations because they can encroach on a neighbor’s property as well as being easily seen because they are not concealed indoors.

If the permitting process is not followed correctly, or (worse yet) if there were no permits for your improvements- there may be future consequences to you, the home owner.

First, it is not uncommon for insurance companies to deny claims related to home improvements that were not completed to meet local building code requirements. Having the necessary permits for home improvements as well as communicating with your insurance agent about them will save you heartache if there is a future claim related to those improvements. For example, if your new deck collapses and injures a guest, your insurance company may deny any claims if it is found that the deck was not built up to building code standards.

A second consideration is that you may run into an obstacle or two when you plan to sell your home. Having improvements that were not permitted by the Department of Permitting Services and passed by the building inspectors could have serious repercussions on your sale. For example, one home seller had the appraised value of his home reduced by the home buyer’s lender because the owner never obtained a permit to construct the large addition he added the year before. Additionally, a home buyer may require a seller to have such improvements be inspected by the county.

If you did not go through the permitting process for your home improvements and you decide to “come clean” (either voluntarily or because someone required you to do so), the county will have your improvements examined by an inspector. If you are lucky, you could get away with paying local and state fines. However, to meet building code, the inspector could require you to make minor repairs; sometimes, the improvements are ordered to be demolished.

As a home buyer, you should be concerned about a home’s permit history for the reasons stated above. You can check a home’s permit history by contacting the Department of Permitting Services (permittingservices.montgomerycountymd.gov).

May 13, 2008November 23, 2021

Renewable Energy at Home

by Dan Krell
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The debate over the use of renewable and green energies in the home has been fought for many years. However, recent spikes in energy costs combined with the imminent sharp increases from local power companies have made a case for the use of renewable energies such as solar power. Many real estate analysts agree that as solar photovoltaic technology advances and becomes more affordable, solar energy sources in the home will not only become accepted – but expected from home buyers.

Today, many people are ill informed about solar energy and its uses in the home; when asked, they might describe solar energy as using a large bulky panel sprouting from the roof to heat hot water. Solar collectors from thirty years ago were limited in the amount of energy they could convert, as well as being cost prohibitive for the majority of home owners. However, solar photovoltaic technology and engineering have come a long way since then such that the materials used are more efficient in converting light into electricity as well as being more affordable.

Technological improvements, lower costs and government incentives have prompted worried home owners to take another look at solar energy. Advancements in new materials (such as thin film) have created solar collectors that are smaller, more reliable, and more efficient than their counter parts of thirty years ago. The new technology has allowed new Building Incorporated Photovoltaic systems to incorporate the use of solar collectors in wall and roof components such as shingles, tiles and other building materials, which not only makes the use of solar collectors more feasible but aesthetically pleasing as well.

The cost (usually measured in Watts) to install solar photovoltaic cells is still not cheap. Depending on the type of system installed and the contractor used, the cost for a residential installation can be as little as $5,500 and cost as much as $22,500 (SouthFace.org). However, with Federal, state and local incentives, combined with the long term benefit of reduced energy costs, the cost does become more acceptable. Federal tax credits can be up to $2,000 on the installation of an acceptable and approved solar energy system (EnergyStar.gov). Montgomery County offers the Clean Energy Rewards program; the program pays consumers one cent per kilowatt-hour for eligible energy consumed (www.montgomerycountymd.gov). Additionally if your system is connected to the local energy grid, you can sell any excess energy to your local power company!

If you live in a homeowners association, however, you may have opposition to your solar panel installation. Many homeowners associations prohibit the installation of solar panels because of their appearance and the concern over lack of uniformity within the neighborhood. However, to encourage the use of solar panels as a green energy source, some states have already fought back by disallowing HOA bans on solar panels.

Installation of solar photovoltaic systems in your home is an exact task because of the engineering considerations and electrical components used. When choosing a contractor to install your system, make sure they are locally licensed as well as certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP.org). The NABCEP provides certification to those who specialize in solar photovoltaic installation.