Directory of FHA 203(K) Lenders

To search our directory of 203K lenders, please select the state or territory in which the property you wish to renovate is located:

Finding the right FHA 203K lender to finance your home renovation

Until very recently, there were only very few 203K lenders that were offering FHA 203K loans to borrowers looking to renovate their homes. Due to this the number of loan originators well versed with the guidelines and requirements of 203k renovation program were quite scarce.

The recent changes in the real estate and financial landscape has changed all that, and it has turned out for the better. Now a lot of loan officers at the various FHA approved lenders clearly understand the 203K requirements for the successful funding of a residential rehabilitation project.

The rise of foreclosures and bank owned REO homes has also increased the need for financing related to renovation of residential properties. In addition to FHA 203K mortgage programs, borrowers can also seek the Fannie Mae HomePath loan or the Freddie Mac renovation loan program for the rehab funds. The wide availability of these loan programs has also contributed significantly to the housing recovery that is underway in the most of the cities and states across the country.

Homebuyers and existing homeowners can secure the necessary funds for renovating their home by approaching a FHA 203K lender. While the complete list of FHA lenders can be accessed from this site or from the FHA website, careful attention must be paid to a number of factors when deciding on the lender that will handle your rehab loan.

203K lender Search

In order to find the 203K lender that can process and approve your loan in a timely manner without much hassle, it's important that you educate yourself about the 203K guidelines and requirements. The conditions and terms of the final loan will depend on whether you are a new homebuyer looking to purchase and then fix the property or you are an existing homeowner who wants to refinance your current loan along with required funds for renovation. Understanding the various steps in the 203K loan process can be of great help when it comes to closing the loan in a swift manner.

The 203K streamline loan is appropriate for borrowers who plan to tackle minor works that do not involve anything major like structural repairs. For repairs under $35,000, approach a FHA 203K lender to process your streamline loan.

FHA Website

To educate yourself about the loan program, the best source is the FHA website itself. The complete program guidelines and the latest updates can be found there. Once you feel that you have a sufficient grasp of the general 203K loan requirements, begin looking for a local FHA lender that has processed at least on 203K loan in the past 12 months.

The approved FHA lender search form on the FHA site allows for filtering results using a number of parameters. Lenders can be found based on the type of their lending approval, location and the type of loans they originate.

By checking the 203K option you will receive listings of FHA approved lenders that have successfully originated an FHA insured 203K loan.

Vetting the Lender

Now that you have a current list of lenders that can handle your renovation loan, the next step is to find the right one for your needs.

Get the screening process started by looking up the lenders using the search engines. If a lender is actively involved in originating 203K loans, you will see the presence of their loan officers on many real estate and home financing portals such as LinkedIn, Zillow or Trulia. You may also find their presence on popular social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

When you see their online profiles, pay careful attention to their feedback, testimonials and conversations. An experienced loan officer is bound to have positive feedback and recommendations from past borrowers who have worked with him. Once you have a small list of such loan officers from different FHA 203K home lenders, the final step is to speak with them directly.

Experienced Loan Officer

A number of borrowers in the recent years have faced a number of problems due to inexperience of the loan officers handling their 203K mortgage. Stories about frustrated homebuyers and sellers due to lost escrow funds, redundant expenses related to inspections, consultant fees, appraisals and slow processing are becoming all too common on the popular online mortgage forums.

Unlike a conventional residential mortgage, a number of things must fall in place for the successful approval of a 203K loan and for the completion of renovation work. Working with an experienced and knowledgeable 203K FHA lender is just the preliminary step. Finding the right HUD consultant and the right contractor are also equally critical. As the 203K is a specialized loan program, it is absolutely essential that an expert loan officer guide you through the loan approval and work completion processes.

Interviewing the Loan Officer

Based on the time you spent understanding the 203K loan program, it's possible to sort through the list of loan officers by asking them a few questions.

The first one should obviously be about the number of 203K loans they originated in the past 2 years. If they have done a fair number, ask them to provide the names and contact info of few of the borrowers that have worked with them in the past. If they are hesitant, it may be time to work with someone else.

Finally, ask the loan officer about their draw disbursement procedures, inspection requirements, fees and the length of time it would take to close on the loan.

Summary

As 203K loan is a unique FHA insured mortgage program, working with an experienced and knowledgeable loan officer from a reputable FHA approved 203K lender is critical. Follow the steps outline above and be on your way to the successful completion of the loan approval process and the renovation of your primary residence.