Condo Zoning Hangup - any alternative lending solutions?

Condo Zoning Hangup - any alternative lending solutions?

Rental Property Investor 路 Toledo, OH 路 Member since 2019 路 115 posts 路 72 votes

I had a purchase agreement written up on a condo. Before anyone comes down on condos, let's assume I ran the numbers and am confident it is a good investment. 

Original Loan Info: Conventional Residential designated as investment property, 30-year fixed, 25% down. 

My loan officer only asked the condo association for a "limited" condo questionnaire since I was putting significant amount down. Everything was smooth sailing until the underwriters rejected it due to some issues with the appraisal. The appraiser contacted the HOA himself and included in the report that the complex had a less than 50% owner occupancy ratio and that the zoning was "legal-nonconforming." My understanding of the zoning issue is that the zoning definitions were different in 1981 when the complex was built. Since the nomenclature has changed, it couldn't be rebuilt exactly as it is zoned without a rebuild letter. These two items pretty much killed it with the underwriters and now we are stuck trying to figure out how to get this thing financed.

What other options could be out there as far as portfolio or unsecured loans? This is my first "deal," so I'm not super savvy on all the loan options out there and I also don't want to let this speed bump derail the train. 

Thanks in advance! 

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  • Chris MasonPro Member
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    Lender 路 CA 路 Member since 2015 路 9k+ posts 路 10k+ votes
    7y

    There are lenders that specialize in non-warrantable condos. Don't google search "portfolio financing," the search results on that are >95% people talking about unicorns... "0% down fiveplex" and someone replies with "oh just find a portfolio loan" like that's saying "abracadabera" and magically fixes it or something. 

    Search instead for "non-warrantable condo mortgage" and "hoa litigation mortgage." Specify your city/county/state/etc in your search. Any lender that specializes in mortgages for condos with pending litigation is also likely to be familiar with non-warrantable. 

    @Eric Veronica might know someone or of a program that'll be a good fit, too.

  • Rental Property Investor 路 Toledo, OH 路 Member since 2019 路 115 posts 路 72 votes
    7y

    @Chris Mason

    Thanks for the reply. Eric and I are actually working on this together. He can attest to the headache this has been 馃榿

    Dan

  • Investor 路 Minneapolis, MN 路 Member since 2015 路 252 posts 路 263 votes
    7y

    @Daniel Kramer, you can look on mls, unit by unit who is holding a notes on that building. Chances are, same people will finance you ... Star with recent sales. Good luck

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