May 9, 2013
A reader asks, “The town home next door is ruined by fire in July 2012 and not repairing. Trash in carport…I have one wall connecting with that house and my roof is damaged too. I contacted the HOA (I pay $ 100 each month and they should repair roof, clean up territory, etc) but they will DO NOT make any repairs or clean-ups. Even broken sidewalk by broken unit not repaired!
I contacted the City and few Code Enforcement officers show up, now is almost year gone but no repairs…I call Code Enforcement again, but they told me, ‘case in progress’ and nothing more. How I can save my house from damage from that broken unit next door – and make Association do the work and repair the roof and sidewalk?
And possible to make an FHA appraisal on town home with problems with Association (if HOA do nothing and many units in complex is broken)?”
This is a complex problem with many possible methods of redress. Unfortunately, the reader is asking in the wrong place for all of the non-FHA issues, but the last part of this reader question does ask a direct FHA-related question, so it’s important to tackle it for future reference.
Before answering, it’s important to point out that for all non-FHA related issues we can’t be of much help except to advise readers to see legal advice from professionals where necessary and address non-FHA related issues with the appropriate authorities.
The last part of this reader question wonders if it’s possible to get an FHA appraisal, “on town home with problems with Association (if HOA do nothing and many units in complex is broken)?”
FHA appraisals are conducted when a borrower wants to purchase a home with an FHA guaranteed mortgage loan. The appraisal process is designed to make sure a property meets FHA minimum standards and establish a fair market value for the property. This, based on a reading of the FHA loan rules spelled out in HUD 4155.1, is the only application available for an FHA appraisal.
In other words, the FHA appraisal is used during the home buying process or for any FHA refinance loan that requires an appraisal. Unless you are purchasing a home or refinancing it with an FHA loan, an FHA appraisal would not be appropriate in the situation as described in the reader question.
Do you have questions about FHA home loans? Ask us in the comments section.
Joe Wallace has been specializing in military and personal finance topics since 1995. His work has appeared on Air Force Television News, The Pentagon Channel, ABC and a variety of print and online publications. He is a 13-year Air Force veteran and a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association. He was Managing editor for www.valoans.com for (8) years and is currently the Associate Editor for FHANewsblog.com.
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