Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2017 · 241 posts · 135 votes
Hello guys,
I am a newbie here and seeking for some answers regarding an FHA loan. I bought a property using a 203k rehab loan and I was wondering about what will happen if you have reno money left over in your escrow account when you refinance your property?
Pleasant Valley, NY · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 4 votes
9y
@Redgy Saint-Germain I'm currently in the process of a 203k loan and my mortgage officer said they would apply the left over balance to my mortgage balance as a principle payment, but the monthly payment would stay the same.
Investor · Towson, MD · Member since 2014 · 472 posts · 257 votes
9y
Hi all - any remaining funds from Reno loans go towards principal curtailment. You won't get the funds back as cash.
If it's a significant amount, talk to your lender about change orders. Maybe you can do something else.
Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2017 · 241 posts · 135 votes
9y
@Michael Cohen Thanks for the info. I got confused a bit because the seller of the property had about 19k left in their escrow account at closing time from a 203k loan for the same property. They did not finish the work and I ended up buying the property with one APT half way done because according to them no contractor was willing to finish the work for nineteen thousand dollars. I may be wrong but I believe that money was returned to them on closing day.
Investor · Towson, MD · Member since 2014 · 472 posts · 257 votes
9y
That's a different situation: the loan was not completed due to being unable to find a way to complete the work. If under normal circumstances, when the loan is complete, the remaining funds (typically just the 10%-15% contingency) go towards principal curtailment.
I closed on a 203k last Friday. That same day (after the closing) I realized there are major misunderstandings between me and the contractor ($10,000 worth of misunderstandings). I want to switch contractor now. He has not started any work yet and is not owed any money. I contacted my lender and she said that unless the old contractor signs a release, I cannot switch contractors. My question has 2 parts. 1) is there a way to change the contractor without his release since he has done nothing to the house yet? 2) worse case scenario, I can use my own money to rehab the house. But what would happen to the $50K in escrow for the rehab? Can this money be returned towards the principal?