The Minimum Property Requirements when selling a house.

The Minimum Property Requirements when selling a house.

man with clipboard doing house inspection
When you plan to sell a house, there are a lot of things to take into consideration, and one of them is to make certain that your house adheres to the Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). “MPRs” is one of the terms used when selling a house, and it’s an important one to know. 

MPRs are a set of standards that ensure that a house is habitable, safe, and secure. Although each mortgage company has its own standards, minimum baselines for all loan companies include a structurally sound building with a working heating system, and a good roof. Home loan requirements for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan will not be approved until an FHA inspector sees your house and ensures that MPR guidelines are met. The house must be fit for occupancy and be a sound investment. 

FHA loans: Minimum Property Requirements

FHA loans are popular because they have more flexible credit and down payment options. The downside to FHA loans is that they have strict MPR guidelines. If your house doesn’t measure up, it’s a deal breaker for the buyer’s home loan, and your sale will fall through. It’s important to ensure that your house will pass FHA inspection requirements before putting it on the market to avoid these problems.
 

   

An FHA inspection-by-owner checklist

If you want to sell your house the traditional way through a real estate agent or FSBO (for sale by owner), it’s a good idea to perform your own house inspection with an FHA checklist. That way, you can identify problems and pitfalls ahead of time. Below are some FHA guidelines to check:

  • Your stairs must have handrails.

  • Chipping lead paint will not pass a house inspection.

  • Asbestos is a health threat and will not pass an FHA house appraisal.

  • Heating, water heater, and electrical systems must function properly.

  • Water fixtures must be operational, as well as any appliances that go with the house.

  • The house must be accessible from a road or street.

  • FHA appraisers will check to see if your roof will last at least 2 more years and has no missing shingles or holes.

  • Cracks in the foundation of your house will not pass inspection, nor will poor grading that leads to drainage problems.

  • If your house shows termite damage, it won’t pass FHA loan inspection requirements.

For a more complete checklist, read HUD’s appraisal form starting on page 17. This is the official form that the appraiser uses for FHA loans. In order to get a conventional loan, all of the listed problems must be fixed. This is an important step for FHA loan requirements. If you don’t have the money to make repairs, or if you don’t want to be bothered to repair or renovate, you can sell your house “as is.”

How to sell a house “as is”

If you have an inherited house that needs repairs that you can’t afford to fix, or if you are having financial difficulties and want to sell your house fast for cash, we have the solution. We Buy Ugly Houses® buys houses “as is,” no repairs needed. So, if your house needs a new roof, or you have foundation problems, we can help. We specialize in buying houses that have issues, and we make it easy for the seller with our streamlined process and outstanding customer service.

We Buy Ugly Houses has been in business since 1996, and we have a 95%* satisfaction rate and amazing reviews. With our decades of experience, we’re able to navigate all sorts of red tape when it comes to selling a house. Simply contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. One of our local property specialists will visit your house, take a tour, and answer all your questions. We often give a fair cash offer that same day! If you accept our offer, you can look forward to a speedy closing—often in as little as 3 weeks.

If your house won’t pass a mortgage lender’s inspection, don’t worry. Simply call us at 866-200-6475 to sell your house without having to repair anything. We’re America’s #1 home buyer and we’re here to help.