Never realized how much a good credit score could offset the “ugly” factor on a property until I started looking myself. I always assumed banks would run for the hills if the house needed too much work, but apparently not. Did you run into any issues with lenders wanting extra inspections or repairs before closing? That’s what’s making me nervous—like, even if my numbers are solid, what if they don’t like the roof or something?
Did you run into any issues with lenders wanting extra inspections or repairs before closing? That’s what’s making me nervous—like, even if my numbers are solid, what if they don’t like the roof or something?
You’re right to be cautious. Lenders do sometimes flag things like roofs or foundation issues, especially if it’s an FHA or VA loan. But with a strong credit score and solid financials, you’ve got leverage. Worst case, they might require escrow for repairs or a price adjustment. It’s not always a dealbreaker—just a hurdle to plan for.
Had a deal last year where the lender suddenly got picky about the electrical panel—old fuse box, nothing had ever been flagged before, but this time the underwriter wanted it swapped out before closing. The seller wasn’t thrilled, but we negotiated a credit and the buyer handled it after closing. It slowed things down, but didn’t kill the deal.
Honestly, it’s more common than people think for lenders to zero in on roofs, foundations, or anything that might affect the home’s value as collateral. Sometimes it’s just a paperwork thing, other times they’ll want actual repairs or money held in escrow. It can feel like a pain, but usually there’s a workaround if everyone stays flexible.
I’ve seen deals fall apart when folks dig in their heels, but most of the time, a little creativity gets everyone to the finish line. Just don’t get too attached to closing dates... those tend to shift when repairs come up.
Lenders can be wildcards sometimes. Had a similar situation with a roof—looked fine to me, but the underwriter wanted a full replacement before closing. Like you said,
My step-by-step: always budget extra time (and patience), line up contractors early, and keep your negotiation hat handy. Sometimes it’s just about who blinks first.“Just don’t get too attached to closing dates... those tend to shift when repairs come up.”
I get the logic of budgeting extra time, but sometimes I wonder if we're letting lenders have too much power in these situations. There have been times when I've pushed back on requested repairs, and the deal still went through—no full replacement needed. Maybe there's more room for negotiation than we think, especially if the inspection report isn't that dire.