If you’ve found out that the house you’re thinking about buying isn’t up to code, you don’t necessarily have to walk away, but you should make sure the house is safe before you proceed. If you buy a house with code violations that create safety risks, you may have trouble obtaining a mortgage.

Can I remortgage my house to build an extension?

If you have enough equity in your home you may be able to remortgage to build a new house. If you cannot raise enough money on your existing property to pay to build a new house outright, you could use it as a deposit and get a loan to help you with the build costs.

If renovations were done without permits and an inspection, the house could be unsafe. Address the issue now so you don’t have to pay for repairs later. If you decide to buy an unsafe house, you may be denied a mortgage or have to pay extra for homeowners insurance.

Why would a bank not finance a house?

If the house isn’t habitable, a lender won’t finance it. Major issues are a kitchen or bathroom not functioning, or problems such as holes in the ceiling, walls or floors. “No lender is going to lend on a house where they ripped out the kitchen and there’s no kitchen,” Shulman says.

What to do if your mortgage rate goes up?

Contact your county and city to find your local tax rate. If taxes are the culprit, there’s little you can do – other than having your property reassessed. This is risky because there’s no guarantee the assessed value of your property will go down, and it could go up, which would mean you’d owe even more.

Do you need a mortgage to buy a new home?

You might find your new home before you’re able to sell your current one. Because of this, you might also need to hold two mortgage loans at one time, the loan on your new home and the one on your existing one.

Can a mortgage company change the interest rate?

This type of mortgage allows lenders to change the interest rate periodically. Adjustable mortgage rates are not as common as they once were, however. More than likely, you can rule out principal and interest and look to one of the other two categories.

Can a person live in their home with a reverse mortgage?

The owners of the house can live in their home the rest of their lives with this sort of loan. “Reverse mortgages can be an affordable option for older people that allows them to have the lifestyle they want like the ability to travel or take care of their house,” she says.