{"id":2026,"date":"2016-10-27T16:11:10","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T16:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/?p=2026"},"modified":"2017-02-21T12:17:30","modified_gmt":"2017-02-21T17:17:30","slug":"home-improvements-and-how-to-finance-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/home-improvements-and-how-to-finance-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Improvements and How to Finance Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Home\u00a0Improvements and How to Finance Them<\/span><\/h2>\n

I don’t know what it is about the fall, but it seems to bring out the DIY-er in all of us. Instead of flocking to the beach or heading north for a quick getaway, everyone\u00a0is spending their weekends at home improvement stores. If you’ve been contemplating\u00a0a remodel of your own, but don’t know quite where to start, take a look at this short list of\u00a0ideas\u00a0below. These improvements may be\u00a0small, but they will drastically transform both the look–and increase the value–of your home sweet home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong>\u00a0Home Loans for <\/span>First Time Home Buyers<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kitchen<\/span><\/h3>\n

Kitchen improvements tend to add the most value, especially in older homes. And given it is one of the first rooms a guest sees, you\u2019ll want yours to make a great first impression. For a few hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen faucet set, spice up the cabinets with new door handles, and swap out old, dated light fixtures with new, brighter, more modern ones. Have a little more to spend? Hire a refacing company to refinish your cabinet boxes, and add new doors and drawers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Baths<\/span><\/h3>\n

Second only to the kitchen, baths are extremely important to update, and they too can be given new life without too much cash. For a shower that has seen its better days, replace broken or missing tiles, and re-grout the rest while you\u2019re at it. Then finish the area off with a fresh coat of caulking, and continue around all other fixtures. If you\u2019d like to take things a little further, consider swapping out the hardware, as I\u00a0mentioned in the kitchen, including faucets, door handles, lighting fixtures, and a new toilet seat.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Exterior<\/span><\/h3>\n

It may sound like a no-brainer, but a well manicured lawn and tasteful landscaping goes a long way toward increasing your home’s curb appeal. If you\u2019ve got a green thumb and a shovel, plant a few evergreen shrubs and patch thin areas of grass or sod. Pick up any branches or debris lying around and sweep the walkways. If applicable, you may also want to consider painting your basic steel front door and upgrading to a more substantial looking handle and lock set, to give your home a more impressive front entrance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Storage Space<\/span><\/h3>\n

Older homes are especially notorious for their lack of storage space. Think about any under-used space you have in your home\u2014under the stairs, in the garage, the unfinished attic– then take advantage of the many DIY closet and cabinetry systems available today. Most companies even allow you to redesign your space on their website, then pick up what you need at your local home improvement store. Still struggling to store your stuff? There\u2019s always room in the walls\u2014recessed cabinets are designed to fit in between the studs, and take just a few hours to install.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Basics<\/span><\/h3>\n

Certain essentials, such as roofs and windows, should\u00a0be kept in good working order. Both can be expensive to repair or replace, but not doing so could be significantly more costly–not to mention the extra you money you could be paying in utilities each month. If you\u2019re unsure of your home\u2019s structural condition, hire an inspector to check things out. They may discover hidden issues, allowing you to take care of them now, so they don\u2019t become a bigger, more expensive problem down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Financing Home Repairs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Now, if you aren’t the handy-type or don’t\u00a0have loads of cash lying around to fund your dream remodel, you might be wondering, can Riverbank Finance help me finance that?\u00a0Absolutely! There are several ways to go about it, but most notable are our renovation mortgage programs. Both the Conventional Homestyle Renovation\u00a0Loan<\/a> and the<\/span>\u00a0FHA 203(k) Loan<\/a>\u00a0are unique programs that can be used for both home purchases and refinances. These programs allow you–the homeowner–to finance repair costs, appliances, and other home improvements into your mortgage with one low monthly payment.<\/span><\/p>\n

For homeowners with a fair amount of equity, an even better option may be to\u00a0<\/span>Cashout Refinance<\/a>. This option allows you to borrow up to 80% of your home’s value\u00a0in the\u00a0<\/span>Conventional\u00a0Loan<\/a> program, or 85% in the <\/span>FHA Loan<\/a> program. The interest rate on a cashout refinance is typically lower than that of a renovation mortgage, and both are significantly lower than a home equity line of credit (HELOC).<\/span><\/p>\n

Have a specific scenario you\u2019d like to run past us?\u00a0 Give us a call to speak with one of our licensed loan officers. We would love to recommend the best loan program for you and your situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get More Information<\/span><\/h2>\n

To apply for a Renovation Mortgage or Refinance call Riverbank Finance today at 1-800-555-2098.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/p>

    <\/ul><\/div>\n
    \n
    \n<\/fieldset>\n
    \n\t

    Request Information Now!\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    \n\t

    <\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t

    <\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t

    <\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t