changes to window ironwork required for refinancing mortgages
My husband and I are in process of refinancing our mortgage with Citibank and one request put to us after the appraisal inspection was done is to install safety latches on the window bars at the front and back windows of the ground floor. Presently the iron work is, as commonly seen in brownstone homes,…
My husband and I are in process of refinancing our mortgage with Citibank and one request put to us after the appraisal inspection was done is to install safety latches on the window bars at the front and back windows of the ground floor. Presently the iron work is, as commonly seen in brownstone homes, solid bars affixed to the masonry. I have not yet called an iron worker to schedule this change. Does anybody have information on how common is this request? have their been changes to fire code? Also if we make changes how do we register this with landmark committee?
The bars have to be removed or quick releases have to be installed because banks consider it a health and safety issue in the case of a fire. The bars are only required to be removed from sleeping areas.
Vanessa Thatcher
Atlantic Home Capital
631-687-3510 x106
Only some banks require this. Meanwhile, I have heard Landmarks will not allow you to remove the bars.
Thanks all
I am inclined to fight this. The idea of removing the bars because of faulty assessment is galling.
Citibank will not budge on this issue I have battled them time and time again. There are a small handful of lenders that will do the loan as is with the bars in place. These lenders are also Fannie Mae banks with the same rates as Citibank if not better.
You can either remove them for the appraiser and re-install after he leaves, remove completely, or install the safety releases.
When I pre-qualify my clients that have Brooklyn brownstones this is one of my questions that I now ask as it caused problems in the past for a few clients. Some elected to remove the bars while other installed the releases. Technically you need to have 2 forms of egress from each bedroom so you only need to have one window that releases in each bedroom. The city does not mandate this in the fire code but the lenders impose it
Adam Dahill
adahill@wcslending.com
free yourself. Remove the bars.
A neighbor of mine had her bars modified so they open on a hinge. The latch has a hasp & can be locked. Done by Ricardo Iron Works.
hello,
the banks usually ask for the bars to be removed or safety latches installed if your new loan is an fha loan, as fha property requirements are usually tougher then conventional.
that being said it could be the appraiser noted in the appraisal that the windows dont have safety latches the bank would have to address the issue, even if it was a conventional loan…..
if you have any questions feel free to call me or email me.
ben levin
wells fargo home mortgage
212-805-1682
benjamin.levin@wellsfargo.com
http://www.benlevinloans.com
We had the same issue.
We took photos of the bars – we have a gate at the back, and submitted bak to the bank.
The appraiser checked again and said “oh, it’s ok”
We still didn’t get the last approval from the bank…
We give them everything they want but they keep finding stuff.
Dont change it before you are sure it isn’t up to code.
Be strong!
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/2009/05/safety_latches.php