The Latest Addition
to Your VA Mortgage Benefit

THE VA RENOVATION MORTGAGE!



The VA loan program offers Veterans and Active Duty Military a great way to purchase or refinance a home. VA is just about the only program still allowing 100% financing. No other loan program compares to the VA program, which not only allows a Zero Down Payment, but also does not have Monthly Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, which is required on Conventional loans with less than 20% down and FHA loans no matter what the down payment is.

The VA loan process is easy, if you choose the right company and right Loan Officer. I focus on the VA loan program and have over 20 years experience closing VA loans. I am also a Renovation Mortgage Specialist! I am uniquely qualified to help with a VA Renovation Mortgage!

The VA Renovation Mortgage is generally a more affordable option for most VA borrowers compared to adding a second mortgage or Home Equity Line of Credit.

The VA Renovation Home Loan is available for both home purchases and refinances!


WHAT IS A VA RENOVATION MORTGAGE?

The VA Renovation loan, valid for purchases or refinances, allows VA-qualified borrowers to easily fund the cost of a new home purchase or re-finance of your current mortgage AND include the costs of renovations/repairs/home improvements, up to $35,000, into a single loan/mortgage.

The VA renovation loan, also known as the VA rehabilitation loan, is a VA-guaranteed loan program that allows home buyers to purchase a home and fund repairs and improvements.

For many home buyers, move-in ready homes are hard to find. And, when they are available, the cost can be well above what a lot of home buyers can afford. This makes fixer-uppers more appealing, but securing funds to pay for the work can be a challenge.

But, with the help of a VA renovation loan, eligible home buyers can find the perfect fixer-upper and get money to improve the home.
The purpose of a VA renovation loan is to ensure that the home meets the minimum standards to qualify for VA financing. (The VA has minimum property requirements to protect the homeowner’s investment.) Because you’ll be securing a home loan before the repairs are made, getting loan approval is more of a process than with traditional VA loans. That said, once you’re done, you’ll have a purchased home with a VA loan to finance repairs.

VA Rehabilitation Loan Guidelines
In 2018, the VA updated its guidelines to make it possible for Veterans to purchase or refinance a home that is in need of alteration and/or repair with a VA renovation loan. This allows Veterans to take advantage of older homes, while using their earned VA loan benefit.
The Aging housing stock in the United States has contributed
to the increased demand for alteration and repair loans.
Due to the condition of this aged housing, homes are often sold as “cash or conventional financing” which does not allow Veterans to use their VA earned benefit.” — Veterans Benefits Administration, Circular 26-18-6

 VA Renovation Loan Guidelines
Loan Types: You must apply for a VA purchase or VA Cash-out Refinance in order to be eligible to fund your repairs with a VA renovation loan.

Minimum Property Requirements (MPR). All homes to be purchased with a VA loan must meet MPR as outlined by the VA. Rehabilitation loans must be used to fund repairs and/or renovations that bring the property up to these standards.

Contractor Requirements: You must use a registered VA builder or contractor for any property appraised for alteration and repairs.

Project Management: The lender is responsible for evaluating, monitoring, and managing the repair project to ensure that the project is completed per plans so the value of the home is preserved in addition to all aspects of alteration and repair funds.

Acquisition Cost + Notice of Value: Rehabilitation loans used in conjunction with a home purchase must use the lessor of the acquisition cost or the as-completed value — this is called the Notice of Value (NOV) and is determined by a VA appraiser. To calculate the total acquisition cost for a purchase, add the contract sale price, total cost of repairs, contingency reserve (if any up to 15 percent of the repair cost), inspection fees, title update fees, and permits.

Example: A $100,000 house with $75,000 in alterations and repairs, and $8,000 for contingency reserve, inspection, and permit fees has a total acquisition cost of $183,000. If the NOV is lower than the acquisition cost, say $180,000, then the lower amount will be used for the loan and the borrower must bring the remaining $3,000 at closing.
But, if the NOV is higher ($190,000 for example), then the lesser $183,000 acquisition cost may be financed.


How the VA renovation loan process works
The thing to understand about VA renovation loans is that it’s a second loan, but it works differently than a traditional VA supplemental loan, which can also be used for renovations. Instead of having two separate loans, the VA rehab loan is rolled together with the original purchase loan — you’ll only have one mortgage rate and monthly payment.

Before getting approval for this loan, you’ll need to submit plans for the specific renovations that need to be made, as well as information on the contractor. Because the goal of the program is to make the home VA eligible, you’ll have to prove that the repairs will meet VA standards.

 This happens during the loan underwriting process.
You’ll need to have a list of the specific improvements, including how much those improvements are going to cost. This takes time, and it can slow down the home buying process. I will help you with this process, keep everything moving forward and insure we close on time.

After the repairs are made, a VA inspector will assess the home to ensure it meets VA standards.

Check your eligibility for a VA rehab loan. 

Can you use a VA loan to remodel your home?
You can’t use a VA renovation loan to remodel every part of your home. Only VA-approved repairs, renovations, and replacements are allowed. This is to ensure that the home is livable to meet VA minimum property standards. The goal of this loan type is not to finance your dream-home remodel — for that, you’ll need a different renovation loan type.

Common improvements allowed by VA rehabilitation loans include:
Roof repairs
Floor repairs
Electrical and plumbing repairs or replacements
HVAC repairs or replacement
Paint (if lead paint is currently in the home)
Foundation repairs
Energy-efficiency upgrades
The VA doesn’t specify a minimum or maximum allowable amount for renovation funds. So, if you qualify and only want to make $5,000 in renovations, that’s completely acceptable. With New American Funding we will allow up to $35,000, for your renovation needs.

You Can Use Up to 25% of your VA Renovation Loan to Improve/Replace Non-Fixtures – one of the benefits of the loan is you can purchase things like appliances, furnaces or hot water tanks as long as they relate to the original purpose of the loan; that means that you can use the loan to buy a stove if you’re remodeling your kitchen but not if you’re only remodeling your bathroom.

Who can get a VA renovation loan?
Anyone who is VA-loan eligible is able to get approval for a VA renovation loan. This includes current VA loan homeowners. A VA renovation loan can also be used for refinancing to fund upgrades to your home. This may be a good way to avoid using a cash-out refinance or getting a second mortgage.

To use this loan program as a refinance, homeowners must still follow the same improvement restrictions as new home buyers.

VA Home Improvement Loans With No Equity Requirements
The VA offers two other home improvement loans in addition to VA renovation loans that require no equity. Depending on your unique situation, these VA loan options may better suit your needs.

​VA Supplemental Loan
VA supplemental loans can be used for the alteration, improvement, or repair of a Veteran’s primary residence secured by a VA mortgage. The improvements must protect or improve the basic livability or utility of the property — barbecue pits and swimming pools do not meet that requirement. Also, no more than 30 percent of the loan may be used for the “maintenance, replacement, improvement, repair, or acquisition of non-fixtures or quasi-fixtures such as refrigeration, cooking, washing, and heating equipment.”
The funds for supplemental loans can be added either to an existing loan or refinance, or the funds can be a second mortgage similar to a home equity loan. The supplemental loan can’t raise the interest rate on your current loan, but it may be higher if it’s a second loan.

Also, for VA supplemental loans loans over $3,500, you’ll need a Notice of Value (NOV) and proof of compliance like the VA rehabilitation loan. For loans under $3,500, you need to supply the expected costs in a statement of reasonable value.

The maximum amount you can borrow will depend on your available entitlement, your area’s loan limits, and the total value of the repairs. A VA Renovation Loan is a Better Deal than a Supplemental Loan – Because the loan is rolled into your mortgage, it is one loan with one rate and one payment, instead of paying for a second loan which could be charged at a higher rate; therefore a VA Renovation loan can save you money.

VA Energy Efficient Mortgages
Energy efficient mortgages (EEMs) are loans that let VA mortgage home buyers (or, owners) cover the cost of energy efficient improvements for their home. In most cases, the VA allows qualified borrowers to raise the VA loan limit up to $6,000 to finance energy efficient upgrades — if you want more than that, you’ll need to secure a Certificate of Commitment from the VA.

Some acceptable energy efficient improvements include (but not limited to) solar heating and cooling systems, additional insulation (ceiling, attic, floor, etc.), storm windows and/or doors, furnace efficiency modifications, and heat pumps.

Additional things to note about VA energy efficient mortgages:
Income verification. For EEMs under $3,000, the VA tells lenders that the cost will be offset by decreases in utility bills. But, for projects between $3,000 and $6,000, the lender is responsible for determining if the extra costs are worth it and that you have the income to cover the increased payment.

VA contractor not required. If you are a handy person, then you have the option of doing the repairs yourself — the EEM financing would cover just the cost of materials.

Upfront funding fee. All VA borrowers pay 1.25% to 3.3% in funding fees when they first take out a VA mortgage. The funds borrowed for EEMs are subject to this upfront funding fee.

A VA Renovation Loan is a great home loan option if you’re an eligible veteran and have repairs you need or want to make when you’re buying a house or already own your home. Because you can roll the repair cost into the original loan, you have a lot more options in terms of the type of home you can consider buying. It’s also a great refinance option, if you want to take advantage of lower interest rates and need funds for repairs.