Jan 11
21
Even When They ALL Say You Can’t..Yes You Can!
I get this question quite a bit, probably because I’m in Arizona right? And a pool is a great way to keep cool in our fairly hot summers.
But a lot of lenders will just say NO when it comes to using a USDA loan to buy a home with a swimming pool. They probably shy away because a property with an in ground swimming pool not only has to get the local Rural Development office to approve the Guarantee in order to get a USDA Loan, but they also have to get what’s known as a POOL WAIVER from the NATIONAL Rural Development office.
Sounds like a lot of extra work, doesn’t it?
The reality is that it isn’t that bad.
Here’s how to get a USDA Loan on a home that has an in ground swimming pool.
The USDA Loan has some additional calculations that help determine the value of a home with a swimming pool. They do this because the USDA is not in the business of financing luxury items, and an in ground pool could be considered just that.
Apply for a USDA Loan Online Now: Loan Application
So we need to have the appraiser provide a value for the home AS-IS, with the pool. And we also will need the appraiser to provide a value for the home as if it did NOT have a swimming pool.
The appraiser will basically create a duplicate appraisal. One shows comparable properties WITH swimming pools, and the other will show comparable properties without swimming pools.
And no, they don’t charge you for two appraisals.
So as long as the value without the pool supports the sales price, and it usually does, then you should qualify for the Pool Waiver.
I hope you found this Arizona Home Loan tip useful and would love to hear your comments.
To find out if you qualify for a USDA Loan call (520) 225-0380 or click on the Get Started on USDA tab above and ask for a quote. If you want to go ahead and get your application in, you can fill out my Arizona Home Loan Application Online here.
