What is a 203k loan? Are they different from the loans people mention when they refinance to make improvements? How?

An FHA 203k loan allows you to borrow money, using only one loan, for both home improvement and a home purchase. … 203k loans are guaranteed by the FHA, which means lenders take less risk when offering this loan. As a result, it’s easier to get approved

The difference between both loans is that a FHA 203k rehab program only requires a 3.5 percent down payment. Conventional rehab loans can technically be done with as little as 5 percent down. But realistically you should expect to need a 20 percent down payment for conventional rehab financing

203K loans are FHA loans for owner-occupied properties that the owners need to remodel. The loan is meant for properties who need the upgrade to become FHA compliant. The way the loan works is that the bank would fund the loan amount plus an escrow amount to be paid towards remodeling.