Some New London condo buildings run like hotels, rent out most of their units or share space with shops and offices. Others have a lawsuit, thin reserves or major repairs on the way. Any of these can make a project non-warrantable. Knowing which issue a building has, and finding a lender whose investors accept it, is the core of financing a unit like this in Connecticut.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about Non-Warrantable condo loans in New London. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
Condo buildings in New London
In New London, 5.9% of owners live in buildings of 10 or more units, the kind of property where a lender reviews the whole condo project, not just your unit. 83% of local housing was built before 1980, and older buildings are more likely to face major repairs or reserve questions during a condo review.
Checking a New London condo building before you make an offer
Write financing protection into your offer. A financing contingency that lasts long enough for the condo review to come back gives you room to walk away if no investor will lend in the building. Talk with your agent about how that timing fits the contract.
Read the condo documents the seller provides with care. Look for rental restrictions, limits on how many units one owner can hold, any commercial space and whether the association is still controlled by the developer. Note any planned repairs to roofs, balconies, facades or structural elements. None of these settle eligibility on their own, but each one tells a loan officer which questions the investor will ask and where the review may slow down.
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The condo questionnaire, HOA budget and reserves
Lenders read the association budget to see whether the building can pay for its own upkeep. They look for a line that sets money aside for reserves, the share of owners who are behind on dues and whether the association relies on special assessments to cover regular costs.
A reserve study, prepared by a specialist, estimates when major parts of the building will need replacing and how much money the association should hold for that work. Lenders and buyers both find it useful. If reserves are thin or a large assessment is coming, ask how owners will be billed and whether the cost lands before or after you close. The master insurance policy and its deductible are reviewed at the same time.
Who this tends to fit
- The unit is in a condo-hotel with a front desk or rental program
- A lender told you the condo project you picked does not pass agency review
- You own a unit in a building that lost eligibility and want to refinance
- The association has a lawsuit, thin reserves or a special assessment
- You are buying a condo as a second home or rental in a resort-style project
Local offices and Connecticut rules to know
Connecticut condo rules: Connecticut condominiums fall under one of three laws depending on when the complex was created: the Unit Ownership Act, the Condominium Act, or the Common Interest Ownership Act. A seller must give the buyer the declaration, association bylaws, rules and regulations, and resale documents, which include the common charges and the association's reserve for capital expenditures. Source: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
Condo-hotels, investor-heavy buildings and mixed-use projects
Buildings where most units are rented, or where a single investor or developer still owns a large block, also fall outside agency standards. So do many projects with a sizable share of retail, office or other commercial space, such as a tower with shops on the ground floor. Lenders worry that these buildings depend on a small number of owners or on businesses that could leave.
If you already own in a building that slipped out of eligibility, refinancing works much the same way. The lender reviews the project through a fresh questionnaire, then looks at your income, credit and equity. Ask whether the building's issue is likely to be temporary, since that may affect whether you refinance now or wait.
Before you call
- The master insurance policy and its deductible
- The HOA budget, recent financial statements and meeting minutes
- Contact details for the management company or association
- The listing details and the unit and building address
- Any notices about lawsuits, assessments or planned repairs
Questions New London borrowers ask about Non-Warrantable condo loans
How does a special assessment affect my loan?
A special assessment is a charge owners pay in addition to regular dues, often for a major repair. Lenders want to know its size, its purpose and whether it is paid in a lump sum or over time. Ask whether the seller or the buyer will pay it, since that affects your budget and your ability-to-repay review.
Should I check the building before I make an offer?
It helps. Ask the listing agent how other units in the project were financed, and request the HOA budget, meeting minutes and any notices to owners. Sharing that with a loan officer before you sign lets them judge whether an investor is likely to accept the building. It can spare you inspection and appraisal costs on a project no lender will finance.
Can I refinance if my building lost agency eligibility?
You may be eligible for a non-warrantable condo refinance. The lender reviews the project with a fresh questionnaire and then looks at your income, credit and equity. If the building's problem is likely to clear, such as a lawsuit near settlement, ask the loan officer whether refinancing now or waiting makes more sense for you.
Will a lender look at the unit itself in a condo-hotel?
Often, yes. Investors that lend in condo-hotels commonly ask about the unit's size, whether it has a full kitchen, whether owners must join the rental program and what the management agreement allows. Some programs treat a unit you keep for personal use differently from one placed in the rental pool, so tell the lender how you plan to use it.
Get answers about Non-Warrantable condo loans for a home in or around New London. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other non-QM options for New London borrowers
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Non-Warrantable Condo Loans near New London
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Conning Towers Nautilus Park, CT (3 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Pawcatuck, CT (13 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Norwich, CT (14 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Jewett City, CT (19 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Springs, NY (23 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Willimantic, CT (26 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Middletown, CT (32 mi)
- Non-Warrantable Condo Loans in Storrs, CT (32 mi)
Related guides
- What Is a Non-Warrantable Condo, and How Can You Find Out Before You Offer?
- What Is a Non-QM Loan?
- How to Compare Non-QM Loan Offers: Loan Estimates, Features and Fit
Non-Warrantable Condo Loans across Connecticut · Non-Warrantable Condo Loans guide · Connecticut overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, tables B25032 and B25034