Buy the house. Fix it up. One loan.
Stop losing bidding wars on move-in-ready homes. Finance the purchase price and the renovation budget together, and close on a home with real upside.
Most homes need it — and it pays off
| Project | Typical cost | Value recouped |
|---|---|---|
| Garage Door Replacement | $4,672 | 268% |
| Entry Door Replacement (Steel) | $2,435 | 216% |
| Manufactured Stone Veneer | $11,702 | 208% |
| Siding Replacement (Fiber-Cement) | $21,485 | 114% |
| Minor Kitchen Remodel | $28,458 | 113% |
| Siding Replacement (Vinyl) | $17,950 | 97% |
| Backup Power Generator | $13,534 | 95% |
| Deck Addition (Wood) | $18,263 | 95% |
| Deck Addition (Composite) | $25,096 | 89% |
| Grand Entrance (Fiberglass) | $11,754 | 85% |
| Bath Remodel (Midrange) | $26,138 | 80% |
| Window Replacement (Vinyl) | $22,073 | 76% |
| HVAC Conversion (Electrification) | $19,484 | 72% |
| Basement Remodel | $52,012 | 71% |
| Window Replacement (Wood) | $26,781 | 70% |
| Roofing Replacement (Shingles) | $31,871 | 68% |
| Bath Remodel (Universal Design) | $42,183 | 61% |
| Bathroom Addition (Midrange) | $60,645 | 53% |
| Major Kitchen Remodel (Midrange) | $82,793 | 51% |
| Roofing Replacement (Metal) | $51,865 | 50% |
| Backyard Patio | $51,454 | 46% |
| Bath Remodel (Upscale) | $81,612 | 42% |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit | $166,406 | 41% |
| Bathroom Addition (Upscale) | $111,255 | 36% |
| Major Kitchen Remodel (Upscale) | $164,104 | 36% |
| Primary Suite Addition (Midrange) | $170,517 | 32% |
| Solar Power Installation | $55,937 | 30% |
| Primary Suite Addition (Upscale) | $351,613 | 18% |
Renovation financing, matched to your goal
| FHA 203(k) Limited | FHA 203(k) Standard | HomeStyle Renovation | CHOICERenovation | USDA Renovation Standard | USDA Renovation Limited | VA Renovation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Light cosmetic updates | Major/structural repairs | Purchase or refi, incl. 2nd homes | Purchase or refi, incl. 2nd homes | Rural purchases, no down payment | Rural purchases, light repairs | Veterans, purchase or refi |
| Down payment | 3.5% | 3.5% | 5% (3% if first-time buyer) | 5% (3% if first-time buyer) | 0% — 100% financing | 0% — 100% financing | 0% — 100% financing |
| Minimum credit score | 620 | 620 | Per automated underwriting | Per automated underwriting | 620 | 620 | 620 |
| Repair budget cap | $75,000 max | No cap (county limits apply) | No cap (county limits apply) | No cap (county limits apply) | No cap (county limits apply) | $35,000 max | $50,000 max |
| Structural repairs | Not allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed | Minor only |
| Can add a pool | Not allowed | Not allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Can add an ADU | Not allowed | Attached only | Attached or detached | Attached or detached | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Your path, start to finish
What people usually assume — and what’s actually true
Choosing the right contractor
Questions we hear a lot
Meet the Kopelson Team
Aaron Kopelson helps clients turn a fixer-upper — or their current home — into exactly what they envisioned, by making renovation financing simple. As a dedicated renovation loan specialist, Aaron has completed extensive, ongoing training across every major renovation program on the market: FHA 203(k) (Limited & Standard), Fannie Mae HomeStyle Renovation, Freddie Mac CHOICERenovation, VA Renovation, and USDA Renovation. Where most loan officers see a complicated process, Aaron sees a roadmap — guiding clients from purchase or refinance through contractor draws to a finished home, with far fewer surprises along the way.
This expertise is backed by his partnership with Arbor Financial Group and access to all their wholesale lenders, giving clients options that a single-lender loan officer simply can’t match. Beyond renovation lending, Aaron and his team offer the full range of traditional products — Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo — plus niche solutions like bank-statement qualification for self-employed borrowers. Most loans close in under 30 days.
Aaron has been recognized as an expert in the lending field and featured in the Orange County Register and other publications. He holds the Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (CMPS) and Certified Mortgage Advisor (CMA) designations, and is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University, where he studied business. With over 25 years of industry experience and more than a thousand families served, Aaron brings both deep technical knowledge and a genuine advisor’s approach to every renovation project — helping clients navigate a niche corner of lending that too few loan officers truly understand.
Buying a home that needs work? Put Aaron’s renovation loan expertise to work for you.
I have had the pleasure of working with Aaron Kopelson, Certified Mortgage Advisor at Arbor Financial Group, for over 24 years, and I can confidently say he is one of the most knowledgeable and professional mortgage advisors in the industry.
Aaron consistently provides exceptional service, outstanding communication, and expert guidance throughout the entire lending process. He takes the time to thoroughly explain every detail, ensuring that clients fully understand their options and feel comfortable with every decision. His follow-up is impeccable, and he is always accessible, promptly returning calls and addressing questions or concerns.
What truly sets Aaron apart is his ability to make what can often be a complicated process feel seamless and stress-free. His professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to his clients are second to none.
I highly recommend Aaron Kopelson to anyone seeking mortgage financing or refinancing assistance. His expertise, integrity, and dedication to client service have earned my trust time and time again over the past two decades.
Just closed on a home loan with Aaron and team. This was not my first time to work with him, and I will continue to work with him going forward.
Aaron knows the loan business, is great at explaining all the details for a non-lender expert, his team is top notch and they make the overall process very easy.
Bottom line, you will have no regrets working with Aaron and his team.
Aaron is amazing! This is the third mortgage I've worked with him, and every experience has been smooth and easy. He's professional, knowledgeable, and always offers competitive rates! Highly recommend!
Working with Aaron was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. He is honest, straightforward, and genuinely has your best interests at heart. Throughout the entire mortgage process, Aaron was always available to answer questions—no matter how big or small—and he explained everything clearly and patiently.
What stood out the most was his deep knowledge of the mortgage industry and how helpful he was at every step. He made what can often be a stressful process feel smooth and manageable. I always felt informed and confident in the decisions I was making, thanks to Aaron's guidance.
If you're looking for a mortgage broker who is reliable, transparent, and truly dedicated to helping you, I can't recommend Aaron enough!
Aaron is phenomenal communicative, informative, smart, diligent proactive well. The list just goes on and on I could not recommend Aaron more to anyone who is interested in purchasing a home and securing a great rate and mortgage.
Working with Aaron Kopelson was absolutely fantastic. He is always available, always makes time for his clients, and is very easy to work with. He went above and beyond for my wife and I throughout our first home buying process. Can't say enough good things about the experience!
Aaron and his team were great to work with. Made the entire process as painless as possible. Excellent communication the entire time. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Ready to talk it through?
No pressure, no obligation — just a clear picture of what’s possible.