How to borrow money to fix up a house

Kevin Quinn's 1866 home, before restoration

Have you ever been watching an episode of House Hunters where a young couple with a modest homebuying budget finds a fixer upper that's under budget and says they can use the savings to repair the house?

I've always wondered where they get that money from, since they probably barely have enough money for a down payment. Where would they find the cash to fix the hideous kitchen and the outdated bathrooms, or to replace the dingy carpet with gorgeous hardwood floors?

While House Hunters doesn't get into the details of homebuyers' finances, there are home loans available that will help you finance a fixer upper, and I've written about two of them for Interest.com.

Kevin Quinn, owner of Bartlett Home Improvement in Memphis, used one of these loans to fix up a house that was in such bad condition that he was repeatedly urged to tear it down and start over.

But he's a big believer in historic preservation, and wanted to restore a crumbling 1866 house.

The before and after photos you see here show what home renovation loans make possible.

Kevin Quinn's 1866 home, after restoration

If you're interested in buying a fixer upper, too, but don't have enough cash to make both a down payment and all the improvements, you can get the details on how these loans work and how Kevin used a renovation mortgage in my Interest.com article, How to finance a fixer-upper.