Required repairs will be limited to necessary requirements. They fall under the three “S’s”: Safety, Security (of the loan), and Soundness. Typical conditions requiring further inspection or testing by qualified individuals or entities include (if the appraiser thinks it may be an issue): infestation – evidence of termites, inoperative or inadequate plumbing, heating or electrical systems, structural failure in framing members, leaking or worn out roofs, cracked masonry or foundation damage and drainage problems.

Examples of property conditions that may represent a risk to the health and safety of the occupants or the soundness of the property for which FHA will continue to require automatic repair for existing properties include, but are not limited to:

• Leaking or worn roofs (also, there cannot be three or more layers of shingles on leaking or worn roofs; 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 built prior to 1978 (lead based paint?)
• Defective exterior paint surfaces in homes where the finish is otherwise unprotected
• Inadequate access/egress from bedrooms to exterior of home
• Security bars on bedroom windows must have quick release mechanisms for emergency egress
• “Green pools” should be operating and clean

Repairs/inspections no longer automatically required by FHA:

• Wood destroying insects/organisms inspections
• Private or community well inspections
• Septic system inspections
• Roofing inspections for flat or unobservable roofs
• Installation of stove(s)

Questions to FHA (Santa Ana office) can be directed to (714)-796-5577

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 at 2:10 pm and is filed under FHA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.