FHA appraisal - house has NO Landscaping

[Tom Foster]

Hi,

I'm doing a FHA appraisal - 1 year old house has NO Landscaping, just dirt front and back. 18,000 SF level lot.

Is there anything special that you do when the house has No landscaping.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[realbiz]

That's kind of unusual, typically the builders provide front yard landscaping. This is cosmetic, but if comparables have landscaping an adjustment would be needed. If no landscaping is typical for the neighborhood and comparables, no adjustment needed. I see property here three and four years old with no rear yard landscaping, but never front yard missing landscaping.

 

[G-man]

Drainage, marketability issue.

A lack of landscaping could be a drainage issue, with rain water pooling around the home, eroding top soil away from the foundation and causing water infiltration. Also, this is a marketability issue, especially if all other homes in the neighborhood have landscaping.
Probably an adjustment is warranted. You could call a landscaping company and find out how much it would cost to hydro-seed the lot. That would be a defensible adjustment, I would think.
Then again, the underwriter may give it a pass, and all would be for naught.

 

[lostinthezone]

Actually, I don't think this is cosmetic. I believe it's a requirement that the soil be stabilized to prevent erosion, so you may have to condition this. If nothing else, there may be a marketability issue.

 

[Otis Key]

And what does the market say???????????? Go back and read the "newer/kinder FHA" requirements for a starter. Show Me - as they say in one state - where it says anything about landscaping.

 

[Chris Colston]

Landscaping is in the "eye of the beholder". Curb appeal is one thing, the lack of landscaping might extend the marketing time. However, it is not a livability issue, a health issue or a safety issue.

One might even go so far as to say the homeowners are doing their part for the environment by conserving water.

Perhaps they need an irrigation system installed before the sod is put in place. Maybe there is a problem there. Did you ask?

 

[Greg Bell]

Cosmetic , Not an MPR unless when they cross the yard they fall in a hole..(Safety)..........

 

[lostinthezone]

However, it is not a livability issue, a health issue or a safety issue.

But it *is* a marketability issue, which HUD is concerned about as well. If you don't think a property with a dirt front and rear yard has marketability issues as opposed to a grass yard, I can't help you.

HUD also specifically requires positive drainage and makes reference to having stabilised soil to prevent erosion, standing water etc. In new construction they also require you escrow for lack of landscaping (due to weather), so obviously it's a concern. I'd suggest calling your local HOC, explaining the situation and seeing what the "local" take on it is. I would *not* just consider it cosmetic and let it go.

 

[Dominic]

Hi,

I'm doing a FHA appraisal - 1 year old house has NO Landscaping, just dirt front and back. 18,000 SF level lot.

Is there anything special that you do when the house has No landscaping.

Thanks,

Tom

If you're in my neighborhood, this is not unusual... plenty of homes here with no landscaping.

 

[Charles Witt]

Do they have a C OF o? Or A CONDITIONAL C of O?