Anyone use the Syracuse Landlord Property Improvement Loan?

Anyone use the Syracuse Landlord Property Improvement Loan?

Syracuse NY · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 4 votes

Yesterday while at a local REI group meet up, one of the guys was talking about finding The Syracuse Landlord Property Improvement Loan Program. (https://www.homehq.org/renovating-rental-property)
He hadn't used it before, but it struck my interest, so I thought I'd see if anyone on Bigger Pockets has any experience with it. If you have I'd love to hear what you thought about the process, and whether it was worth it. Or, if you decided it wasn't worth doing I'd love to hear what you didn't like. Feel free to comment with your opinions on the program even if you don't have experience with it.  
For those who don't want to follow the link, here are the details given:

SYRACUSE LANDLORD PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAM

The Syracuse Landlord Property Improvement Loan Program provides landlords with loans of up to $25,000 per unit for code violations and/or lead remediation improvements. The housing units must be located in the .

PROGRAM DETAILS

  • Loans of up to $25,000 per unit (including closing costs).
  • The loans currently have a 6.99% fixed interest rate and a 6.99% APR.
  • Loans are 50% pay back and 50% deferred (no payback).
  • Landlords can use own funds to match grant funding.
  • The landlord chooses the contractor (contractor will need proper insurances and certificates).
  • The scope of work for this loan will be determined by the lead risk assessment and code violations.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

  • Must be current on taxes & water bills, or in a payment plan.
  • Property must have 1-4 units.
  • Buildings built before 1978 will require a lead risk assessment and lead clearance.
  • Tenant information is needed for properties NOT located within the Syracuse Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas.
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Real Estate Broker · Syracuse, NY · Member since 2014 · 23 posts · 2 votes
8y

No personal experience with this program. My best advice is to call and talk to someone at Home Headquarters. Tell them your background, general gross income, and ask them how many landlords have they approved for this loan. From previous experience on a different program offered through HHQ, there are great incentives to get the loan, however, qualification is the same as any other loan. If you're a full time landlord, chances are you're not showing enough income to qualify. If you have other full time income, it can be excellent loan program to acquire property.

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  • Real Estate Broker · Syracuse, NY · Member since 2014 · 23 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    No personal experience with this program. My best advice is to call and talk to someone at Home Headquarters. Tell them your background, general gross income, and ask them how many landlords have they approved for this loan. From previous experience on a different program offered through HHQ, there are great incentives to get the loan, however, qualification is the same as any other loan. If you're a full time landlord, chances are you're not showing enough income to qualify. If you have other full time income, it can be excellent loan program to acquire property.

  • Syracuse NY · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    @Brian Murphy Thank you for your insights, I'll definitely be giving them a call. I do have a full time job as a designer and I'm looking into the options for financing my first investment property. 

  • Lender · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    Have not used this program... I am from Buffalo, NY. However, I do recommend the NYSERDA energy efficient program to pay for energy improvements like furnaces, H2O tanks, insulation, windows, etc.

    https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Home-Energy-Efficiency-Upgrades

  • Syracuse NY · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    @Darren Kresge Thanks for the suggestion! I'll check that program as well.

  • Property Manager · Syracuse, NY · Member since 2016 · 601 posts · 384 votes
    8y

    Any contract that has experience working with HomeHQ will charge you top dollar for the remodels. They're incredibly strict and require many redundancies that go above and beyond what is code. They do not offer down payments so your contractor will be required to come out of pocket on costs. They sometimes make an exception and will purchase materials for you based on what the contractor ordered, however. 

    Their inspections must be passed or the contractor is charged $350 per inspection (at least for roofs). We did a roof for them and they had us install the roof in a way we've never seen, it was ridiculous and we lost $7,300 on the job. The customer wanted an in-expensive roof repair, they were lower income. Home Headquarters forced us to replace all plywood, install 30 year shingles, copper flashing, rebuild the chimney, etc. 

    Incredibly difficult to work with HomeHQ. 

  • Syracuse NY · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    @Ronald Starusnak Wow, that sounds like a rough deal. I was already straying away from it because a lot of the repairs that are covered I can do with my father's help. He has built quite a few houses including my family's.
    I'll probably just do a conventional or standard FHA loan and do the rehab myself for my first property. Less paperwork and less chance of arbitrary rules cutting into my margins. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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