First time homebuyer
Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes
First time homebuyer
Most Popular Reply
Insurance Agent · Norwalk, CT · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6yRuben,
Here is some info about Insurance for the mult-family homes iI've posted in the past:
Here are some things to look for from an Insurance prospective:
1.Any in-ground tanks (active or inactive)
2.Any Knob & Tube or Aluminum Wiring
3.If built before 1978, does the building have Lead Safe certifications
4.Any wood stoves or secondary heating units. If so, were permits pulled & were they installed by a professional
5.Are any of the homes rented to students
6.Is there a flat roof
7.are there asbestos shingles - Heating systems- PlumbingSome companies will not write properties with systems that have not been updated
The Year that the following were updated (either partially or fully) would be good to know:
- Heating systems
- Roof
- Plumbing
- electrical
Some companies will not write properties with systems that have not been updated.
As long as you are living there, the proper policy for a 1-4 family is a "Homeowners" policy. If the property is solely tenant occupied you will be looking for a Dwelling/Fire Policy (may be called a Landlord policy or similar name) or a commercial policy such as a Businessowners or Package policy.
Most homeowners or dwelling/fire policies include:
1. Dwelling (Building coverage)
The limit should be based on the Replacement Cost of the building (cost to rebuild with
the same kind and quality excluding the foundation)
2. Contents (Personal Property): most homeowners policies give a set % of the Building
limit for Contents. Dwelling/Fire policies require that you request a limit for contents.
3. Detached Structures: for other buildings on the property (ie. sheds & detached garages)
Again, there is normally an included limit of 10% of the building limit. That can be increased
if needed.
4. Loss of Use / Loss of Rents: Normally, there is a 20% included limit. Loss of use is for
your additional expenses if you can not live there due to a covered claim (ie. Fire). The
Loss of Rents is for the loss of Rental income if the tenants can not occupy the house
after a covered loss.
5. Personal Liability: For claims due to Bodily Injury or Property Damage that you become
Liable for and which is covered under the policy. Companies normally offer limits up to
$500,000 but some offer $1,000,000. Buy the max.
6. Medical Payments: Provides coverage for an injury suffered on the premises. Does not
require proof that you were at fault. Used to keep small loses into becoming lawsuits.
Normally offered up to $5,000 but check to see if higher limits are available.
7. Deductible: This is not a coverage but rather your portion of a claim. Most better policies
will not have a deductible for either the Liability or Medical payments coverage. It will
apply to the other 4 coverages. You can select the amount of the deductible, usually
ranges from $500 to $5,000. The higher the deductible the lower your overall premium
but get quotes on all the deductibles you are interested in. Sometimes the incremental
savings from $1,000 to $2,500 or from $2,500 to $5,000 are too small to make the higher
deductible worthwhile. ***depending on how far the house is from the coast, you may
also be required to have a separate Wind or Hurricane deductible. Most times, the
deductible will be 2% to 5% of the building value. That is a significant amount
(on a $500,000 building that comes to $10,000 for 2% or $25,000 for 5%). A policy
with a higher premium may be a better deal if it does not have a wind deductible.
There are many endorsements that are available on the homeowners policy. Without
knowing the details I can not suggest which would be right to add on.
Several you should
pay attention to are:
- Ordinance & Law: Provides additional building coverage to deal with rebuilding cost
Increases due to changes in Zoning or Building laws
- Personal Injury Liability: Libel, defimation of character, wrongful imprisionment, etc.
(normally recommended, especially if you are a landlord)
- Water Backup: For water damage due to the backup of Sewers or Drains.
- Personal Articles: Coverage for belongings that have a special or collectors value
such as Jewelry, Furs, Fine Arts, Collectibles, etc...
Your age should not be a factor on the pricing but, depending on the company these other factors may get you credits:
- Insurance Score (company pulls certain info out of your credit report)
It is not your credit score but generally better credit will result in a better score
- Time at your job
- Education level
- time at current residence
11 Replies
- Real Estate Broker · Winthrop, MA · Member since 2014 · 260 posts · 199 votes6y
It’s completely legal and an often practice to owner occupy a four unit or less multi fam and put low money down.
- Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes6y
@Seth Williams thanks for the information
- 6yJonathan BombaciBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Lowell, MA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
One thing to keep in mind is FHA low downpayment programs are only for properties in which the buyer plans to occupy for at least 1 year. You will have tobsign paperwork That says this at closing. Househacking a 4 family with a FHA 3.5% down program is completely legal. Where people tend to get in trouble is when they say they plan to owner occupy the property for at least a year but they never actually move into the property.
I hope that helps and Goodluck on your househack! - Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes6y
@Jonathan Bombaci thanks for the information I
Totally agree I'm planning on living in the place as required , Also I'm trying to understand if FHA carries 2 types of insurance as well? An for how long it's been required to have the insurance?
- 6yJonathan BombaciBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Lowell, MA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Yup there is your homeowners insurance which banks require as long as you have a mortgage and it’s just a good idea to have.
Then there is the PMI (Mortgage insurance) which is for the life of your FHA loan. It runs between 0.5%-1% of the loan value on a annual basis. Most people try to refinance out of a FHA loan once the property appreciates a little bit to get rid of the PMI
- Rental Property Investor · Shakopee, MN · Member since 2015 · 985 posts · 374 votes6y
It's a really great way to get started. You just have to live in it for a year. And with FHA it's a low downpayment, but you are stuck with PMI.
- Real Estate Agent · Naples, FL · Member since 2016 · 298 posts · 268 votes6y
3.5 percent down and you can ask for 6 percent concessions. Make sure you speak with a local lender. Have your realtor identify properties 2-4 units that would pass an FHA inspection. If you time the closing right you will be credit rents and the security deposits, you will need less money at the closing table
- New to Real Estate · New York, NY · Member since 2016 · 3 posts · 0 votes6y
Hi @Frank Procopio, can you explain what you mean when you say that the buyer can "ask for 6% concessions?" Thanks.
- Real Estate Agent · Naples, FL · Member since 2016 · 298 posts · 268 votes6y
brandon with an fha loan you are allowed to ask for concession up to 6%. This means if the purchase price was 100k then your realtor writes the offer for 106k and you get the 6k credited back to you to help with closing costs
- Insurance Agent · Norwalk, CT · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes6yRuben, Here is some info about Insurance for the mult-family homes iI've posted in the past: Here are some things to look for from an Insurance prospective: 1.Any in-ground tanks (active or inactive) 2.Any Knob & Tube or Aluminum Wiring 3.If built before 1978, does the building have Lead Safe certifications 4.Any wood stoves or secondary heating units. If so, were permits pulled & were they installed by a professional 5.Are any of the homes rented to students 6.Is there a flat roof 7.are there asbestos shingles - Heating systems- PlumbingSome companies will not write properties with systems that have not been updated The Year that the following were updated (either partially or fully) would be good to know: - Heating systems - Roof - Plumbing - electrical Some companies will not write properties with systems that have not been updated. As long as you are living there, the proper policy for a 1-4 family is a "Homeowners" policy. If the property is solely tenant occupied you will be looking for a Dwelling/Fire Policy (may be called a Landlord policy or similar name) or a commercial policy such as a Businessowners or Package policy. Most homeowners or dwelling/fire policies include: 1. Dwelling (Building coverage) The limit should be based on the Replacement Cost of the building (cost to rebuild with the same kind and quality excluding the foundation) 2. Contents (Personal Property): most homeowners policies give a set % of the Building limit for Contents. Dwelling/Fire policies require that you request a limit for contents. 3. Detached Structures: for other buildings on the property (ie. sheds & detached garages) Again, there is normally an included limit of 10% of the building limit. That can be increased if needed. 4. Loss of Use / Loss of Rents: Normally, there is a 20% included limit. Loss of use is for your additional expenses if you can not live there due to a covered claim (ie. Fire). The Loss of Rents is for the loss of Rental income if the tenants can not occupy the house after a covered loss. 5. Personal Liability: For claims due to Bodily Injury or Property Damage that you become Liable for and which is covered under the policy. Companies normally offer limits up to $500,000 but some offer $1,000,000. Buy the max. 6. Medical Payments: Provides coverage for an injury suffered on the premises. Does not require proof that you were at fault. Used to keep small loses into becoming lawsuits. Normally offered up to $5,000 but check to see if higher limits are available. 7. Deductible: This is not a coverage but rather your portion of a claim. Most better policies will not have a deductible for either the Liability or Medical payments coverage. It will apply to the other 4 coverages. You can select the amount of the deductible, usually ranges from $500 to $5,000. The higher the deductible the lower your overall premium but get quotes on all the deductibles you are interested in. Sometimes the incremental savings from $1,000 to $2,500 or from $2,500 to $5,000 are too small to make the higher deductible worthwhile. ***depending on how far the house is from the coast, you may also be required to have a separate Wind or Hurricane deductible. Most times, the deductible will be 2% to 5% of the building value. That is a significant amount (on a $500,000 building that comes to $10,000 for 2% or $25,000 for 5%). A policy with a higher premium may be a better deal if it does not have a wind deductible. There are many endorsements that are available on the homeowners policy. Without knowing the details I can not suggest which would be right to add on. Several you should pay attention to are: - Ordinance & Law: Provides additional building coverage to deal with rebuilding cost Increases due to changes in Zoning or Building laws - Personal Injury Liability: Libel, defimation of character, wrongful imprisionment, etc. (normally recommended, especially if you are a landlord) - Water Backup: For water damage due to the backup of Sewers or Drains. - Personal Articles: Coverage for belongings that have a special or collectors value such as Jewelry, Furs, Fine Arts, Collectibles, etc... Your age should not be a factor on the pricing but, depending on the company these other factors may get you credits: - Insurance Score (company pulls certain info out of your credit report) It is not your credit score but generally better credit will result in a better score - Time at your job - Education level - time at current residence
- Member since 2019 · 5 posts · 0 votes6y
@John Mocker I really appreciate all the details very thankful for the information , I’m on the process of searching for properties at the moment, I know that insurance is one of the must important stuff in getting into real estate .
Thanks
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