Posts Tagged ‘Home Improvement Loan’

Are There Home Improvement Grants?

April 10th, 2010



Most of these loans and grants are offered to those going through underprivileged situations. Thus, qualification will depend on the needs of the applicant rather than on credit or income variables. These loans and grants are awarded by governments or non profit private institutions.

Actually, most of these financial products are offered only to those families with low income and with credit difficulties. If you can access a regular home improvement loan, chances are that you will not be approved for one of these.

Homes In Need Of Repair

If the property needs urgent repairs to keep it habitable and the occupants are a very low income family, there are home repair loans and home repair grants offered for renovations. These loans and grants are provided by the state or community governments and qualification will be determined by specialists that will ponder the needs and income of the families to select the neediest ones.

The uses are varied but always imply urgent or necessary expenses like fixing pipes, repair leaks on roofs or walls, eliminating gas, fire or electricity hazards, adding pipes for potable water, adding a bathroom if there is none present, garbage disposal, etc. All these repairs or improvements will be either paid by the agency or government in full or financed in several payments with little or no interest.

Accessibility Funds for People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens

People with disabilities can get funds for making the necessary adjustments to the property in order to provide comfort and accessibility. For instance, someone who needs to move with the aid of a wheelchair can request funds to construct a front door ramp or internal ramps. Even the funds to install an elevator in a property that does not have one can be provided by government agencies or private non profit institutions.

Of course, the requirements to get approval for these funds are very strict. You will need to provide all the documentation to show proof of the disability and also the lack of a suitable income to afford the necessary repairs and improvements by your own means.

People of age 62 and above (the age varies from state to state and from community to community) can obtain subsidized loans and grants too for home improvements and repairs. Whether the applicant is eligible for a grant or for a loan will depend on the income and financial situation.

However, subsidized loans offered for home repairs and improvements feature a significantly low interest rate that can start at 1% and usually does not reach further than 5%. Thus, even people with the most complex budget situations can afford these loans as they also provide long repayment programs to keep the monthly payments as low as possible.

By: Kate Ross

Home Improvements – Getting Them Done on a Budget

March 18th, 2010



If you are a typical homeowner, you have probably thought about remodeling. If you are getting ready to sell, it might be a good idea to do a bit of updating, and improve the value. You have to be sensible, though, so of course you will want to get the upgrades done for the lowest amount. Not spending too much is an important consideration, but that does not mean you want a cheap result.

Real estate is a serious undertaking, and if you don’t do things right, you could over-invest. This is just as true for a remodel of just a single room as it is for a renovation of the complete property and everything on it. For most of us, hiring a professional contractor is a necessary part of getting the job done. The criticality of choosing the right service firm for the job cannot be emphasized too much.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), homeowners should be aware of the scams of bogus firms. The FTC has published warnings about these red flags that your contractor might be trouble:


* Insists on a quick decision
* Wants full payment up front
* Offers you a cheaper price for finding other customers
* Accepts only cash payments
* Has to ask you to obtain the necessary city permits
* Offers you a discount due to having extra material for some random reason


Those are some of the warnings that you should walk away from the deal. Sometimes a bogus contractor will try to get you to borrow from a company that they suggest. The worst case scenario of a home improvement loan scam could leave you out in the cold.

There are several things you can do to keep from being taken. Interview your prospective contractors carefully. The FTC recommends that you ask about the length of time they have been doing business, their license details, and insurance coverage. Check with your city building office. To put it simply, ask around. These steps are not unlike the normal steps you take for any significant purchase.

Another important technique is asking for recent references. Not only should you collect a list of former customers, but you should call and checkup on them. Ask these references about the quality of the work and service.

Ensure that your payment terms are clear and agreed upon before they start. Some local laws do set limits on how much higher the actual cost of a project is allowed to be above the estimate. Check into the laws in your area. In any event, don’t pay until you are satisfied with the work.

By: Joel D McDonald