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Yes, but not all Boston condos for sale. In order to be approved it needs to meet some govt. requirements. We will outline those requirements in this Boston real estate blog post.
Minimum Condo Owner-Occupancy Requirements
FHA will require that approved condominium projects have a minimum of 50 percent of the units occupied by owners for most projects.
FHA Insurance Concentration in Condominium Projects
FHA will only insure up to 50 percent of the total number of units in an approved condominium project.”
If you are buying a condo and wish to use an FHA loan talk to your lender. What is an FHA loan? Short for “Federal Housing Administration” These loans require less of a down payment.
If you own a condo this means that there may be a larger pool of qualified buyers. If you would like to buy a condo you may be able to do so with an FHA loan. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in selling your condo or in buying one.
Small Condo Buildings
Let’s say you’re the owner of a Boston historic building in Beacon Hill and you wish to convert it into Beacon Hill condos. If the structure is between two and four condos, unit owners would have to draft and execute a memorandum of understanding with the FHA for the purpose of stating each unit owner will take care of his or her own maintenance and repairs. Absent this document, which needs to be recorded at the county level, the FHA will not extend a condo certification.
Mixed Zoning Condo Projects
Mixed-use zoning is a trend that developers of condos in downtown Boston have embraced in recent years. The prospect of living in a Boston high rise condo tower where some floors, usually at the ground level, are filled with restaurants and shops can be very enticing, but FHA rules limit the amount of commercial space to 50 percent.
Boston Condo Ownership by Investors
It’s widely understood that FHA loans are for owner-occupied properties, but there’s an additional restriction that extends to other owners in a Beacon Hill condo building. If 50 percent of units are owned by investors for rental purposes, no further FHA lending can take place in that Beacon Hill building.
Condo Insurance Requirements
This restriction can be a bit tricky because it depends on the will of the Boston condo association to obtain certain coverage. The master policy must provide 100 percent coverage for the building structure, and this can be a challenge because of rising premiums in a market such as downtown/midtown condos, where condo appreciation has been very strong in recent years. For Boston Midtown condo towers with more than 20 units, FHA rules call for a fidelity bond to cover board directors and employees hired by the association to handle administrative duties. This bond must be estimated by taking into account the assessments of all units plus the association’s cash reserves.
FHA loans are a great option for many homebuyers, but if you’re looking to buy a Boston condo for sale, make sure to do your research on the most current FHA regulations regarding condo loans. It’s also a shrewd move to work with realtors who have experience with the various financing options for Boston Midtown condos.
We’re here to help you find your dream condo in Boston Midtown, Beacon Hill Charles River Park, or any Boston downtown area. My team can work alongside you through the home-buying process. Call one of our friendly agents today at 617-595-3712.
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