Policies & Procedures

Termite Report Review and Clearance Policy

Overview
Basic Review Process

VA Transactions Condominiums

Conventional & FHA VA

New Construction
Standard Clearance Verbiage Requirements

Overview

A termite report and clearance is required on Conventional, FHA, and USDA transactions if the Purchase Contract indicates in Section 4a, Item 1, that the buyer or seller shall pay for an inspection. VA requires a termite report and clearance on all transactions in the State of California with the except the IRRRL loan.

If the contract is NOT marked and the buyer does not sign the Wood Destroying Pest Inspection and Allocation of Cost Addendum, the termite report and/or clearance will not be required.

If the purchase contract is marked “yes” and both the buyer and seller agree to waive the termite report and have done so by executing either a purchase contract addendum or an escrow amendment, as long as a termite report has not been provided to MWF or a termite report fee does not appear on the Closing Disclosure.

A termite report cannot be waived once the underwriter has seen the report at any point in the transaction including funding, regardless of whether the contract calls for it or not. A termite clearance will be required and Underwriting may request that all of SECTION I and II items be corrected.

Note: A termite report is always required if the Purchase Contract and/or Appraiser conditions for it. Note: Any work identified must be completed PRIOR to closing

Basic Review Process

The termite report will be reviewed in detail by the underwriter who will condition accordingly at the time of Loan Underwriting.

• The termite report must be a COMPLETE report with all pages. If it is a supplemental report or re-inspection, we will require the original report to determine if all items have been addressed.

• A termite report is good 180 days from the report date on Conventional and USDA program and good for 90 days from the report date with the FHA & VA program. 

• The property address on the report must match the appraisal, contract, and preliminary title report.

• The underwriter will READ ALL VERBIAGE throughout the report including any comments or NOTES to assure all items on the report grid are addressed in the body of the report.

• SECTION I: Contains items where there is evidence of active infestation, infection or conditions that have resulted in or from infestation or infection.

• SECTION II: Items are conditions deemed likely to lead to infestation or infection, but where no visible evidence of such was found. The Structural Pest Control Board has advised that SECTION II items will probably be major items that have not become infestations or infections but possibly will become in the future.

• If a condition of the termite report is waived the underwriter is to address the item and document why based on contact with the appraiser to determine the impact on the value.

• The underwriter will condition for clearance of any major infestation, dry rot, fungus or termites that affect the soundness of the property to be corrected whether or not it is a SECTION I or II items.

• Both SECTION I and II items will need to be corrected on VA transactions

SECTION II items if it has to do with plumbing, water stains, roof leaks, or health and safety.

• Peeling paint, and those items leading to structural unsoundness (earth to wood contact, dry rot, excessive moisture, etc. should not be waived
• Any reference to water stains on the ceiling or roof will require a Roof Cert or licensed contractor certification: 1 year for conventional or 2 years for FHA and VA. Note: Review the appraisal and floor plan diagram. If the water stains on the ceiling are in a room that has no other rooms above it may be a roof issue otherwise it could be a plumbing issue.
• Fascia roof damage does not require a roof cert.
• Patio and/or carports that share the same roof as the house must be included in the roof cert/licensed contractor cert.
• Patio and/or carport that do not share the same roof as the home, a roof cert/ licensed contractor cert is not required unless it is a condition of sale or a condition of the appraisal.
• If the termite company completes the work, an additional roof cert/licensed contractor cert is not required.
• Any reference to water stains on the walls, baseboards, doors, under sinks, under water heaters, etc., requires a licensed contractor or tradesman to inspect and comment on whether the water stain is old and the cause has been previously remedied or if the problem needs to be corrected.
• Loose toilets need to be repaired. The work can be performed by a handyman.
• If Earth to wood contact impacts the structural integrity of the structure, its correction should be conditioned for.
• Faulty grade must be corrected on all FHA loans.
• Cracked tile in kitchen and bathroom should be repaired due to the potential for mold, fungus, and termites.
• Cellulose debris in small amounts does not need to be cleared.

Items in the report calling for a licensed contractor to further review. The item is to be reviewed and corrected by a licensed contractor and the bill must be provided to MWF

Repairs other than electrical, plumbing, roof can be completed by a handyman.

VA Transactions

Repairs may be paid by the buyer or seller. If the buyer agrees to pay for repairs, additional monies must be verified to cover the additional repairs.

The Veteran must sign the report and the following verbiage must be typed on both the 1st page of the report and the clearance, "I have received, read and approved a copy of the Termite Report and hereby certify that it was ordered at no cost to me"

Note: The Borrower (Veteran) cannot pay for the termite report. The veteran can pay for the required repairs.

Condominiums

A condominium is subject to the same inspection requirements as a Single Family or PUD. The inspection is to include the unit, attached and/or detached garage, and other structures that are a part of the subject.

Limited reports are acceptable on a condominium due to the homeowner associations being responsible for the common areas. The termite company will only inspect the interior of the unit.

Conventional & FHA

If a Termite Report reveals problems with sections of the condo held in common with other owners, the work will need to be completed by the Homeowners Association. If the work cannot be completed by the close of escrow, a letter from the Homeowners Associated detailing the following is required prior to closing:

New Construction

There are specific and detailed requirements for new construction. If the property meets requirements in the International Residential Code (IRC) by the International Code Council (ICC) on protection against subterranean termites (specifically Sections R317 and R318), it is generally considered acceptable. Acceptable treatment methods for protection include chemical soil treatment, pressure preservative treated wood, naturally termite resistant wood, bait systems, or any combination of these methods. 

Standard Clearance Verbiage Requirements

The following verbiage should appear in the clearance:

“THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE PROPERTY IS NOW FREE FROM EVIDENCE OF ACTIVE TERMITE INFESTATIONS AND INFECTION WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE ABOVE WORK. THE PROPERTY MEETS THE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL BOARD AND ITS RULES AND REGULATIONS.”

If the termite company states the work was done by someone other than the termite company and those items required a licensed contractor or tradesman, need a certification from the licensed contractor or tradesman verifying the completion of the repair and the license of that company.

If there is more than one termite report in the file, a clearance on all termite reports.