Is a certificate of occupancy necessary for your home mortgage refinance?
**Super Kate Tip: Shouldn't you know your credit score?
Free Credit Score - See yours at CreditReport.com!**
My appraiser walked back into our office one rainy day with a dazed look on his face. "Kate," he complained, "I've been out mucking through the mud and can't find your client's house. Only a barn is at that address."
I thought back to my first conversation with the homeowners. "We just finished our remodel. Do you need to see the building permits, Kate?" they had asked.
Back then I worked for a bank famous for not being a stickler over excess paperwork, building permits included. But as it turned out, my borrowers were refinancing a barn they'd converted to a modern loft, skipping over the building permit process. To top it off, they were already living in the barn-loft!
During residential construction, government agencies issue permits to certify compliance with local building codes at designated intervals. When the house is finished, a final permit, the certificate of occupancy, indicates that the house is complete and safe for occupancy.
For new construction, lenders require a final certificate before closing.
But when it comes to refinancing, is a certificate of occupancy required following home improvement projects?
Easy answer. Sometimes. It all depends on...
![]()
Super Kate wants you to know your lender is looking at your credit score. Shouldn't YOU be checking it too?
Get Your Credit Score! It's fast, free and easy!
When it's time to compare mortgage rates and lenders for your refinance, be upfront. If you remodeled a barn, you remodeled a barn, right? Don't just hope for the best.
The fact that my homeowners had converted a barn to a loft was a pretty hefty surprise for my appraiser, after all. But if only new kitchen cabinets were installed, explain that too.
The time to ask about the final certificate of occupancy requirements is BEFORE applying for your home mortgage refinance.
Ask Kate
What if you could ask a mortgage insider anything you wanted regarding refinancing or buying a house? Now you can!
Ask Kate is specifically designed to answer your questions and create dialog regarding real estate and mortgage financing.
**Super Kate is wondering if you know YOUR credit score?**
Haven't found what you're looking for? Here's the solution! Go ahead and Ask Kate for answers.
Return home to Get-Your-Best-Mortgage-Rate from Certificate Of Occupancy
Please come back and visit often. Help me spread the word by sharing Certificate Of Occupancy with your friends using these easy social networking buttons.
$1000 or $39.99 - Which is right for YOU?
Not sure? Answer these 5 questions to find out.
Write your own paycheck using the Power of the Internet... and a Fresh New Approach.
GET RICH QUICK and LOTTERY MENTALITY people need not apply.
I finally came to grips with closing my mortgage company.
But I still wanted and needed to make money!
Refinancing Advice - Your opportunity to get down to earth refinance nuts and bolts from a mortgage insider.
Announcing Kate's Mortgage Information Planner - To save money, get your ducks in a row first.
Are you a homeowner trying to decide if Mortgage Refi is worth the cost?
How To Compare Mortgages - Interest rate, loan amounts, closing costs, cash out, length of term, monthly payments, yes it is enough to make anyone want to toss up their hands.
Real Estate Investor Loans - Three options for investors sandwiched between negative cash flow and plummeting real estate values.
Surprise, it's a barn! Is a Certificate Of Occupancy necessary for your home mortgage refinance?
Refinance With Cash Out - Where is my loan approval?
Save Money Using My Special Refinance Formula "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work that the more of it I have." --Stephen Leacock
Fresh Refinance Ideas - There are reasons why and why not to refinance promoted by the media, mortgage lenders and financial gurus. The fact is, only you can decide.
What can you do when Refinancing With Bad Credit threatens to derail your dreams?
You don't know it yet but the secrets I am about to share with you have never been explained anywhere else. Don't miss Ask Kate's Secrets To Refinancing!
Low Mortgage Payments For Home Owners - Before you decide on a company, learn how to ask questions and qualify your lender.
Don't be distracted by refinancing lingo. You just need my 10 best kept secrets to Low Mortgage Payments.
Ask Kate About Refinancing - Ask a question to get an answer from Kate.
Refi Stories - A collection of refinancing stories told to Kate by current homeowners.
Refi Ask and Answers - A collection of refinancing questions, each with a individual answer from Kate.
Certificate Of Occupancy - Surprise, It's A Barn!