Is Your Home FHA Ready?

Anyone that has ever worked with an FHA loan knows how frustrating it can be since there is no published text defining ALL of the requirements.  The Federal Housing Administration has a guidebook and a website to reference; but often times the guidelines can be confusing.  Below find a “non‐official” list of common FHA requirements and issues.  Hopefully, this list will give real estate agents, sellers and buyers a better understanding of how the FHA requirements affect their situations.  This list is not meant to be a definitive text but more of “cheat‐sheet” to help us all. 

1.  Distressed Paint – on homes built prior to 1978 there is a potential for lead based paint; if there is any interior or exterior paint that is not in good condition or leaves exposed wood/metal surfaces it must be scraped, prepped and painted in a professional, workmanlike manner.  This includes paint that is cracked, peeling, alligatored, chipped, worn away or otherwise distressed. 

2.  Hand Rails – while the FHA no longer requires that handrails be installed it is up to the appraiser as to whether or not handrails will be required to eliminate a safety hazard.  Handrails should be installed along open staircases, and stairwells, in accordance with local codes. 

3.  Railings – railings should be installed around decks, patios, porches and balconies were a person could fall off and be injured.  Railings should be constructed of an appropriate material, consistent with the construction of the other elements of the deck, patio, porch, etc.  They should be of a height consistent with local building codes. 

4.  Hot Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve – there should be an extension added to the pressure relief valve on a hot water heater that extends to within 6” of the floor.  This is to prevent accidental scalding and is a relatively inexpensive fix.   

5.  Broken Windows – any windows that are broken, have broken panes, broken seals and/or do not operate properly should be replaced. 

6.  GCFI outlets – while the FHA no longer requires GFCI outlets, many appraisers will defer to the local building code when calling for replacement.  In most municipalities, a GCFI outlet should be installed if the outlet is within 6‐feet of any water source. 

7.  Outlets mounted on light fixtures (typical found in older bathrooms and kitchens) should be replaced with fixtures that have no outlets mounted on them. 

8.  Doors – all doors should be functional and must hang properly.  If a door is damaged or does not work properly it must be replaced in a professional, workmanlike manner. 

9.  Security Bars – all security bars must have the ability to be unlocked from the interior of the house.  If not, they must be removed or replace with bars that do unlock from the interior.  

10.  Cracked or Heaving Pavement – while the FHA no longer requires an appraiser to call for the replacement of cracked or heaving pavement, it is up to the discretion of the appraiser to determine if it poses a safety hazard significant enough to warrant replacement. 

11.  Leaking Roof – the roof must be repaired or replaced in a professional, workmanlike manner. 

12.  Leaking Pipes – the leak must be corrected in a professional, workmanlike manner. 

13.  Heat Sources – the FHA requires a permanently installed central heat source that is able to heat all parts of a house to 50°F.  

14.  Flooring – all floors must be covered with an acceptable floor covering (i.e. hardwood floors, laminated flooring, vinyl flooring, tile, carpet, etc).  Plywood flooring is not an acceptable floor surface. 

15.  Mold – any mold or mold like substances should be remediated in a professional, workmanlike manner.  Merely painting over the affected area is not sufficient. 

16.  Attic & Crawl Spaces ‐ Appraisers must complete a “head and shoulders” inspection of any attics and crawl spaces.  Be sure to provide the appraiser clear access to those areas by removing any personal property or debris and providing a step ladder or other means to access if one is not readily available. 

17.  Crawl Spaces must have a minimum height of 18‐inches in order to provide proper access 

18.  Other Structures – the FHA requires that every structure within the property lines must meet FHA minimum property standards. This means if there is a shed/barn with a defective paint surface or any other FHA issue observed it will need to be addressed. FHA standards don’t just apply to the main house. 

19.  Graffiti – FHA requires that all graffiti on a house or structure on a given parcel must be removed.  It is considered to be a safety hazard. 

20.  Pools – the FHA has no universal requirements for pools and pool safety; instead, the FHA will defer to local requirements and standards for pool safety. 

21.  Inspection of Wall and Floor Surfaces – the FHA requires that the appraiser be able to visually inspect all wall and floor surfaces.  If the appraiser is unable to inspect an area due to excessive personal property or debris, the area will have to be cleared so that the appraiser may inspect that area. 

22.  Water – should be on and functional at the time of inspection.  The water heater should be able to produce hot water. 

23.  Utilities – should be on and functional at the time of inspection 

24.  Wires – exposed wires must be secured or removed by a qualified electrical contractor 

25.  Heaters & Central Air Units – should be on and functional at the time of inspection, the appraiser will test them.  If it is too cold, the appraiser will usually not test the Central Air unit, as not to cause damage to it. 

26.  Windows ‐ that are painted shut must be made to operate freely.  NOTE:  Doing so may also require repainting the now defective paint areas. 

27.  Carpets – Cleaning or removing carpets is required only when they are so badly soiled that they affect the livability and/or marketability of the property. 

28.  Defective Conditions ‐ A property with defective conditions is unacceptable until the defects or conditions have been remedied and the probability of further damage eliminated.  Defective conditions include: 
a.  Defective construction 
b.  Poor workmanship  
c.  Evidence of continuing settlement 
d.  Excessive dampness 
e.  Leakage 
f.  Decay 
g.  Termites 
h.  Other readily observable conditions that impair the safety, sanitation or structural soundness of the dwelling 

29.  Missing Appliances ‐ If there is a space for an appliance in the kitchen, then it should be there and work properly.  FHA only requires drop‐in stoves if missing, while slide‐in stoves are not required (but the lender might require one). 

30.  Septic & Well – be sure that they are visible for the appraiser to inspect.  If they have been covered in any way, uncover the access making it clearly visible for the appraiser.  

31.  Roof – if a roof surface appears to be at the end of its economic life, the appraiser may call for a Roof Certification to be completed by a qualified roofing contractor.  The certification states that the roof must “provide reasonable future utility, durability and economy of maintenance."  "The roof should have a remaining physical life of at least two years. If the roof has less than two years remaining life, then the appraiser must call for re‐roofing or repair. The appraiser must clearly state whether the subject is to be repaired or re‐roofed" per the official FHA website.  

32.  Garage Doors with openers must automatically reverse direction when meeting resistance. 

33.  Plumbing ‐ If plumbing fixtures, pipes under the sink and in the basement are leaking or corroded, have them repaired or replaced by a qualified plumbing contractor.  Doing so proactively will make the appraisal inspection go more smoothly.  Also, if there is any damage under sink/counters as a result of a leaking pipe, have the area repaired or replaced. 

34.  Underground Storage Tanks such as oil and gasoline tanks should be identified for the appraiser to visibly inspect the area in which they are located and their fill‐pipes. 

35.  Drainage ‐ The site must be graded to provide positive drainage away from the perimeter walls of the dwelling and to prevent standing water on the site.  Signs of inadequate draining include standing water proximate to the structure and no mitigation measures such as gutters or downspouts. 

36.  Water Supply & Sewage Systems ‐ Each living unit must contain the following: 
a.  Domestic hot water 
b.  A continuing & sufficient supply of potable 
c.  Water under adequate pressure & of appropriate quality for all household uses 
d.  Sanitary facilities and a safe method of sewage disposal 

37.  Connection to Public Water/Sewer System – if the potential for connection to a public or community water/sewer system exists the connection must be made, if connection costs to the public or community system are reasonable (3% or less of the estimated value of the property.  If connection costs exceed 3%, the existing on‐site systems will be acceptable provided they are functioning properly and meet the requirements of the local health department. 

38.  Domestic Well ‐ must be a minimum of 50 feet from a septic tank, 100 feet from the septic tank's drain field and a minimum of 10 feet from any property line. 

39.  Hazards ‐ The property must be free of all known hazards and adverse conditions that: 
a.  May affect the health and safety of the occupants 
b.  May affect the structural soundness of the improvements 
c.  May impair the customary use and enjoyment of the property. 
These hazards include toxic chemicals, radioactive materials, other pollution, hazardous activities (such as meth labs), potential damage from soil or other differential ground movements, ground water, inadequate surface drainage, flood, erosion, excessive noise and other hazards on or off site. 

40.  Wood Structural Components: Termites can cause serious problems in the wood structural components of a house and may go undetected for a long period of time.  FHA requires maximum assurances that a home is free of any infestation.  A pest inspection is always required for: a.  Any structure that is ground level b.  Any structure where the wood touches ground.

 Information provided by Mike Coyle, certified appraiser with The Coyle Group, LLC