Loan Guidelines

One Irvine Home Improvement Loan Program 

Applications will be accepted beginning June 17 at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Please ensure your application is complete with all required documents and information before submitting, as incomplete applications cannot be accepted and will result in the loss of your position in the application queue.
Please be prepared to submit:

  • Photo Identification of all persons on title
  • Copy of Grant Deed or Deed of Trust
  • Copy of Recent Utility Bill
  • Copy of Property Insurance Documentation and Declaration, all pages

Important Information Before You Apply

You May NOT Qualify If:

Your property has a reverse mortgage

  • Properties with existing reverse mortgages are not eligible for this program

Your property has too many liens

  • Maximum of 3 liens allowed on your property
  • Common acceptable liens include: first mortgage + solar panel financing
  • If you have more than 3 liens, you will not qualify

What to Expect During the Process:

Required Property Inspection

  • City inspectors will examine both inside and outside your home
  • They will check for any work done without proper permits, including:
    • Unpermitted room additions
    • Unpermitted patios or decks
    • Other structural changes made without city approval

Unpermitted work may disqualify your application or require correction before approval

Important Future Considerations:

If You Later Want to Borrow Against Your Home

  • Planning a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) in the future?
  • Considering a cash-out refinance?
  • The city's loan will likely need to be paid back in full immediately if you pursue these options
  • Other lenders typically require the city loan to be in first position, which may not be possible

This city loan may limit your future borrowing options against your home's equity.

Application Guidelines and Instructions

The City of Irvine Home Improvement Loans provide loans to owners of single-family homes and condominiums built in or before 1980 for sustainability upgrades or critical repairs. Funding is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis until funding is exhausted.

Program Overview:

  • Sustainability upgrades or critical repair loans for single-family homes and condominiums built in or before 1980 for up to $25,000 for eligible expenses.

Questions?

Please contact us at oneirvine@cityofirvine.org or 949-724-6470.

For more information, visit the virtual meeting room. 

 

One Irvine Loan Application Steps

-Property must be a single-family home or condominium in the City of Irvine built in or before 1980
-Applicant must be the owner of record or the owner’s legally appointed representative
-Owners that have a Reverse Mortgage Loan are ineligible for the Home Improvement Loan

-Homeowner or legal representative must submit a complete program application.
-Applicants must disclose to the City any current lawsuits pertaining to the house, yard, utilities connections, or any other issues associated with the property.
-One Irvine funds may not be used to address any property improvements that are the subject of current lawsuits, unless One Irvine funds are needed to address immediate life and safety issues.
-City code enforcement and legal will review and issue a finding on One Irvine applications to address immediate life and safety issues for scopes of work items that are also the subject of current lawsuits.

Applicant (owner of record) must:

      -Agree to program guidelines in online application form.
      -Allow program staff to conduct at least two home inspections: one at application and one at completion. Additional inspections may be necessary during the project construction.

Sustainability upgrades must be:

-Listed as Eligible Expenses in the Application Guidelines and Instructions or an Exception Request must be filed by the applicant and approved by City staff.
-Made after the City approves the application.
-Fixed to the single-family home or condominium property.
-Permitted for installation when required by Municipal Code (the chart below provides a sample of the necessary City permit types for the program).
-Installed by a qualified, licensed, and insured contractor with a current City of Irvine business license.

The One Irvine Home Improvement Loan is no interest, and is repaid upon sale or transfer of the property.
During construction, funds are disbursed by the City to the contractor based on construction progress.

-Driveway repair
-Electric dryer (heat pump or condensing)
-Electric vehicle chargers (level 2)
-Exterior paint
-Front fence repair
-Front yard landscaping
-Induction cooktop stove
-Insulation/windows
-Heat pump water heater replacement
-Heat pump space heating/cooling
-Home battery storage system
-Home Energy Rating System (HERS) inspection – performed by qualified inspector
-Roof Repair
-Service panel upgrade
-Solar photovoltaic system

Other Home Improvement Loan Program proposed upgrades that are not listed here will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by City staff.

Verify your eligibility for the Home Improvement Loan Program

-Are you the owner of record of a single-family home or condominium in the City of Irvine?
-Was your single-family home or condominium built in or before 1980?
-Are the repairs or improvements you are seeking listed among the eligible uses above or do you plan to submit a request for an alternative sustainable upgrade?

If you answer “Yes” to all of the questions above, then proceed with the application process.

Complete the application forms.

Once your home improvement project is pre-qualified for the program, the City will provide you with the application forms and will be available to assist you through the application process.

Receive program approval/denial notification from the City of Irvine and, if approved, finalize your loan documents.

You will be notified via email if your application is approved and your loan funding has been reserved. The City will contact you to prepare and process your loan documents, including signing the promissory note and the deed of trust that will be recorded against property title.

Work with your contractor to submit a permit application, if required, for your sustainability upgrade.

Sustainable Upgrade Type

Permit

Driveway repair

No permit required

Electric clothes dryer (heat pump or condensing)

Minor Residential Permit

Electric vehicle charging station outlet only - Level 1 (120V) or Level 2 (240V)

Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) Permit

Electric vehicle charging station – Level 2 (240V)

Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) Permit

Exterior paint

No permit required

Front fence repair

No permit required

Front yard landscaping

No permit required

Induction cooktop stove

Minor Residential Permit

Insulation/windows

Minor Residential Permit or No Permit (If like for like)

Heat pump water heater replacement

Minor Residential Permit

Heat pump space heating/cooling

Minor Residential Permit

Home battery storage system

Minor Residential Permit

Roof repair

Check here

Service panel upgrade

Minor Residential Permit

Solar photovoltaic system

Solar Photovoltaic Installations for Single Family

 

Permitting Tips

-You can electronically submit building permit applications online only at irvineready.com
-Make sure that the email listed on the permit application matches the proper contact to respond to Plan Check comments (i.e. contractor)
-If applying online, respond to any Plan Check comments on your permit application ASAP to avoid permitting delays. Your contractor will receive an email notification if there are comments to review.

Once permit is issued (if needed), begin work.

Contractor submits progress or final invoices to homeowner and City representative. City representative and homeowner review the work and approve the invoice. City representative secures City approval and authorizes disbursement from the project escrow account.