Who was the incompetent nerd that came up with FHA sketch labeling requirement regarding covered and uncovered porches and decks?

[Tom D]

FHA rules were written long ago before most of america even had the highway system. so from a 1935 stance they make sense.
i don't want to play semantics but isn't an uncovered wood porch a deck? dictionary porch definition: 'a covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building.'
and isn't a patio uncovered, as by definition: 'a paved outdoor area'
i do what FHA wants, even when they and some of the brains here are wrong also.

 

[Tru Red]

then stop doing FHA. I did. Less aggravation and liability.

100% agree. My last FHA report was in 2016 and I've never missed a beat.

 

[Tru Red]

neither do people who walk away from existing problems.

Like the people that founded the United States of America?

 

[Mike Ault]

The typical reviewers at FHA are competent personnel who are supremely knowledgeable of their guidelines and how they apply to different scenarios. Getting "uppity" with them over their review of you will not get the desired response. As a park ranger told a group of us long ago, "Boys, do you have any idea how many laws there are on the books? Be a smart azz with me and I'll guarantee I can find one that you are breaking". We knew we weren't going to get our bluff in on that guy.

 

[RCA]

FHA 4000.1 states: "Sketches must show porches and outbuildings that have value, and porches and decks must be indicated “covered” or “uncovered.”.

Is there such a thing as an "Uncovered Porch" versus "Covered Porch", when by definition a porch is a covered entrance area?

And regarding "Covered Deck" versus "Uncovered Deck", wouldn't a "Covered Patio" automatically mean it is a covered deck, versus an "Open Deck" automatically means it is an "Uncovered Deck"? NOT according to an FHA reviewer who insists i label the porch in my sketch as either an open porch or covered porch --- so, i labeled it as an open porch even though it is contradictory in definition/terminology, the revision was accepted.

Then on a different assignment, a sketch included a ":Gazebo" and an "Open Pool Deck". The reviewer says the gazebo must be labeled as a "Covered Gazebo" or an "Uncovered Gazebo", and the "Open Pool Deck" must be changed to a "Covered Pool Deck" or an "Uncovered Pool Deck".

Obviously, there must be a difference in definition between an "Open Deck" versus an "Uncovered Deck"... but what is the difference?

I AM SICK and TIRED of COMPLYING with nonsensical meaningless FHA guidelines written by incompetent policy writing nerds who obviously have never done an appraisal in his/her behind-the-desk career.

Although the Dictionary of Real Estate defines numerous things in terms of "porch", they do not define porch. They do however have a diagram of an "open porch", shown below. The general defintion of "porch" is "a covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building."

So, all porches are in fact covered. An uncovered porch is really a deck. But we know people sometimes cover decks, and call them "covered decks". So if you have a "covered deck" projecting in the front entrance of a building, it is a porch.

OK, so now that we have that out of the way, we have the next variaion: "Open" or "Closed". That of course relates to if part or all of a porch has sides or not.

As far as the FHA statement, the thing to look out for is "... have value." I take that to mean, have value in the since that my MARS regression program would find that porches have some value; i.e. that two otherwise equal homes except for a porch on one would have a significantly different sale price. My gut feeling is only if it is a sizeable porch capable of providing some functional utility. So, a small uncovered porch should not have to be in the sketch. But if it is covered (which it should be by definition), and more than say 4x6', then you might want to consider it. BUT, of course, if anywhere in your report you state the house has a porch, they are probably going to want to see it in the sketch. Another issue here, is that you are not likely to find any indication of a porch in the MLS data. So, whether or not it has a certain value, is likely something nobody can prove one way or another - in most cases.

 

[Fernando]

I don't have a covered porch anymore but I put quality tile flooring including steps and nice iron handrails.
Besides few months with heavy rain, it's mostly sunny. Nice to open door and sun shines on my face. Beautiful day today.

 

[Dale Floyd]

I fail to understand how this is so painful or aggravating.

There are scores of other things that bother me regarding FHA assignments, but it’s not the labeling requirements.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

In may areas large covered patios bring thousands more then uncovered patios. due to sun and heat .

Some people call it a pergola.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Some people call it a pergola.

Most pergolas I see are not really completely covered. Rain, sun, everything goes right through them due to the roof design with holes in it. I think they are overrated, but popular.

 

[RCA]

There is literally everything under the sun.