FHA provides the following examples of minor property conditions that do not require automatic repair for existing properties:

• Missing handrails
• Cracked or damaged exit doors that are otherwise operable
• Cracked window glass
• Defective paint surfaces in homes constructed post 1978
• Minor plumbing leaks (such as leaky faucets)
• Defective floor finish or covering (worn through the finish, badly soiled carpeting)
• Evidence of previous (non-active) Wood Destroying Insect/Organism damage where there is no evidence of unrepaired structural damage
• Rotten or worn out counter tops
• Damaged plaster, sheetrock or other wall and ceiling materials in homes constructed post- 1978
• Poor workmanship
• Trip hazards (cracked or partially heaving sidewalks, poorly installed carpeting)
• Crawl space with debris and trash
• Lack of an all weather driveway surface

FHA also provided the following list of conditions that will require automatic repair for existing properties:

• Inadequate access/egress from bedrooms to exterior of home
• Leaking or worn out roofs (if 3 or more layers of shingles on leaking or worn out roof, all existing shingles must be removed before re-roofing)
• Evidence of structural problems (such as foundation damage caused by excessive settlement)
• Defective paint surfaces in homes constructed pre-1978
• Defective exterior paint surfaces in home constructed post-1978 where the finish is otherwise unprotected.

These lists are not meant to be all inclusive, but they give clear guidance on the issues that are and are not a concern to FHA.

If you are interested in buying a house and you want to use an FHA loan for financing, don’t let common misconceptions about FHA Appraisal Requirements misguide you.

Call or Text me at 801-589-2437 for more info.

Blake Rounkles
Northern Realty