USDA wants AFCI breakers in 180 year old house

[John H.]

I'm selling my house and its about 180 years old or so. Panel is all breakers with romex wires (not new, but 20 years old maybe). USDA says I have to have all AFCI breakers to give the buyer the mortgage.

I'd rather not. One, the cost, second, it seems afci's and older homes tend to trip alot.

Any thoughts?

[Account Closed]

Originally posted by Steve Babiak:

In some places, the absence of AFCI is grandfathered, in other places they don't grandfather the absence and bringing things up to code is mandatory to pass the local code enforcement inspection.

But you said this is USDA, in the lending role. So what alternative means of financing will there be for this house without USDA? If there are few alternatives, and USDA is the main source of financing near this house, then you might be better off getting the upgrades done so that you can sell, rather than list it for sale for a lot longer ...

Whenever the USDA loans come up, I'm surprised they still exist. That is one old school and generous govt. loan program, IMO. And probably a life saver for those selling houses in seriously remote areas, even more so than for the borrowers. USDA loans are available in some of my markets which really aren't that rural, but the definition of rural is broad and I'm not sure when they last updated the areas covered. Unless the OP has other viable offers, if the only thing in the way of getting the deal closed is the AFCIs, he should be thrilled.