Funding Your Backyard Dream

Lenders will want to see a credit score of 650 or higher with a history of on time payments. Foreclosures and bankruptcies must be at two years from being discharged.

Debt-to-income ratio will need to be 35% to 45% depending on the loan program. A good way to figure your debt-to-income ratio is to add up any monthly payment that is to a creditor (mortgage, car loan, credit card bill, etc..) plus an estimated pool payment amount then divide by your monthly gross income. We can help you calculate these figures.

Proof of income will be required for most loan programs. Variable income, such as commissions and bonuses, will need to have a two-year history to be counted towards your yearly salary amount. We do offer stated income loan programs, but those will have a higher interest rate.

You will need to submit proof that you are living in the home where the project will be installed. Most of the time, merely providing your driver’s license will suffice.

A secured loan is also called a second mortgage loan. Our lenders count the pool as an asset to the property before it is built, so the amount of equity you have in the home is usually not a factor.

Have lots of equity in your home? Then your rate could be even lower by applying for a HELOC. If you can maintain 80% loan-to-value while still taking out funds for a pool, then a HELOC might be a good option.

Secure loans have a $15,000 minimum loan amount and can go up to $250,000 for very well qualified buyers.

Unsecured loans are personal home improvement loans. Credit score and debt-to-income are the primary determining factors for credit approval. These loans fund quickly and have a maximum loan amount of $95,000.

Are you building a new home? Speak to your home mortgage lender about including a pool with your home purchase and how to maximize those funds available to you. Many first mortgage lenders will also ask that 50% of the pool price be placed in the escrow account as a show of good faith that the pool will be completed promptly. Clients are typically not made aware of this additional deposit, and this results in clients looking for assistance with these last-minute funds needed to close on the home. Many pool builders are not in a financial position to assist their clients with the additional holdback funds or charge a hefty fee. At California Pools & Landscape, we will place any holdback up to 50% of the pool price for our clients at no additional fee or hassle!

Interest rates are going to range between 5% to 9%, with the most common rate being 6.25% to 6.5%. Those with significant equity in their homes will be closer to 5%, and those with credit challenges may be closer to 9%. All loans have fixed rates with no prepayment penalties.

Secure loans have terms from 5 years to 20 years. We find that most customers choose the 15-year option as the rate does increase on the 20-year loan product. Unsecured loans have 5, 10, and 15-year term options.

Unsecured loans typically take 5 to 7 days from application submittal to loan signing.

Secured loans take 4 to 5 weeks from application submittal to loan funding.

Promptly returning the lender’s request for documentation will dramatically speed up the process!

The good news is that with a signed contract and a $1000 deposit, we can start on the construction plans and permits while you go through the loan process, which will help to get the pool dug up to a month sooner. All loans offer 100% financing, so the deposit would be refundable once the loan is funded, and those funds are released to CPL.

Secured lenders will mail you dual-party checks that are made out to both you, the pool buyer, and California Pools & Landscape. We will request a check during each of the major phases of construction (excavation, shotcrete, deck, and interior finish). You then endorse the check and give it to your Construction Manager or arrange for courier pickup.

Unsecured lenders will electronically disburse payments to California Pools & Landscape upon your approval or agreed upon date. Payment disbursement is prescheduled or requested at one of the major construction phases mentioned earlier.

Wonderful you are one step ahead to enjoying your new backyard! California Pools & Landscape accepts progressive payments throughout the major phases of pool construction (excavation, shotcrete, deck, and interior). Landscape and remodel clients will have their progressive payment schedule detailed on their contract documents as the scope of work with vary from project to project. A 15% deposit that goes towards your account balance is all that is needed to start the permit and engineering process. Are you ready to build? Contact us for a consultation today!