If I buy a condo today, how can I finance it?

Boy, this is a tough housing market!  You may think its tough for homeowners in places like Florida, the Inland Empire of California, or Las Vegas.  But, it's even worse if you own a condo and are trying to sell it.  You are probably wondering if you are lucky enough to find a buyer, how will they be able to finance it?  Or, if you want to stay, can you take advantage of today's low fixed interest rates by refinancing?  We are here to give you the basic facts about condominium loans today so you will understand your options.  We would love to hear from you about your experiences so we can share with others.

My first home was a newly built condo in Pasadena, CA.  It was nice to have a never lived in before unit.  However, my wife and I were not fully prepared for condo living.  Sure, we both rented apartments before, but you expect more when you own it!  I actually became President of the homeowners' association.  Boy was that fun!  Here's a little about what I learned from personal experience, plus years financing condos for others.

Condominiums have many advantages and disadvantages in comparison to detached, single family homes. If you like nice landscaping, pool, spa, exercise room and other amenities but you do not want to do the maintenance, or try to pay for it for your own home, a condominium might be right for you. If you do not like those facilities or willing to share them with others, it might not be your best option.

Besides the living arrangements, condominiums are supposed to provide comparable living space and interior amenities as a detached home at a lower cost. However, one of the problems we have witnessed over the past several peaks and valleys of the housing market is that condominiums have proven to be much more volatile in price than detached homes. That is particularly clear in the housing bubble and collapse we have all just witnessed.

The secondary mortgage market (i.e. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) has noticed this also. They have suffered greater percentage losses on foreclosures of condos than detached homes, particularly in Florida. There are new rules in place that may make it tougher for you to qualify for a loan.  We will try to provide the basics of these requirements so you can make informed decisions. These are basics so be sure to check with your lender for the specific requirements for your situation. Armed with this information, you too can be known as a Savvy Homeowner!

There are two types of approvals your lender will need to consider before they can approve your loan. These are based largely on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rules.

The first type is streamlined approval, the easiest. This is a project that has been in existence for awhile, the homeowners' association is owned and run by the homeowners (as opposed to the original builder), at least 70% of the units are owner-occupied and no more than 15% of the units are behind in their monthly assessments (to pay for all those wonderful amenities, as well as hazard insurance). Right now, condos in Florida and in soft markets (defined by lenders and mortgage insurance companies) are not eligible for streamlined approval.  The buyers or homeowners also can qualify for the highest loan to values (up to 95% on purchase, or 90% on a refinance, with mortgage insurance) and lowest interest rates, as long as they have FICO scores of 680 to 720 or more.  The lender may also require an officer from the homeowners association to certify that association budget is fully funded, there are adequate reserves and insurance, that 70% of the units are owner occupied and fewer than 15% of the units are behind on their assessments.

If there are any deficiencies in the requirements specified above, you still may be able to get financing if either  Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (many builders will seek these approvals when they plan and build a new project) or your lender go through a more formal approval process. There will be fees, an application package and a site visit from the lender or Fannie or Freddie to complete. This could take awhile, so don't expect the normal 60-90 days loan process. But, don't fret. There is always a possibility your lender can request a one time exception for your loan. Compensating factors like lower LTV, high FICO score, low debt to income ratios and long term job stability may induce the lender to approve your loan even without a formal project approval.

So, there you have it. You now know what to expect and can even knowledgeably quiz your lender on these issues to ensure they know what they are doing and can process, approve and fund your loan on time.