Fix It Up Homes in Baltimore: Renovation Financing and Project Management for Owner-Occupants

Fix It Up Homes is a renovation financing and project management company that works with Baltimore homeowners to fund and oversee repairs, upgrades, and rehabs on properties they own and occupy. The firm bridges a common gap in the city's real estate market: homebuyers who close on a property but lack the capital, contractor relationships, or bandwidth to manage a substantial renovation before moving in.

What Fix It Up Homes actually does

Fix It Up Homes functions as both a lender and a project manager. The company provides renovation financing (separate from a primary mortgage) and assigns a project manager to oversee contractors, timelines, and quality on the owner's behalf. This two-part model appeals to Baltimore buyers who purchase fixer-uppers at a discount but cannot sustain a lengthy owner-managed renovation, particularly in neighborhoods like Canton, Hampden, and Remington where the spread between a deferred-maintenance price and a move-in-ready price can exceed $100,000.

The company does not buy properties itself, does not flip homes for resale, and does not work with investment landlords. It serves owner-occupants only, which means the homeowner must intend to live in the property when the work is complete.

Financing terms and project costs

Fix It Up Homes structures loans as subordinate liens, meaning the renovation loan sits behind the primary mortgage. Interest rates and terms vary by project scope and borrower credit; the company typically funds projects between $25,000 and $300,000. A verification call to the company is advisable for current rates, as renovation lending rates shift with market conditions.

The project management fee is generally 15 to 20 percent of the total renovation budget, though this can move depending on the scope and complexity. A $100,000 renovation, for example, would carry a management fee in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. This fee covers the project manager's time to solicit bids, negotiate with contractors, schedule inspections, and manage change orders.

Homeowners remain responsible for permitting costs and the underlying contractor labor and materials. Baltimore's permit fees vary by project type; a full-house electrical upgrade costs more to permit than a bathroom remodel. The company can guide clients through the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development permit process, but the owner pays the city directly.

How it compares to other Baltimore financing options

A homeowner can pursue renovation financing through a traditional bank construction loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a contractor's in-house financing. Each path differs in speed, flexibility, and oversight.

A bank construction loan requires a detailed set of plans and permits before closing and typically involves periodic draws tied to inspection milestones. The process takes 60 to 90 days. Fix It Up Homes can close in 10 to 15 days and does not require permits to be in place at funding; instead, the company's project manager coordinates with the permit office during construction. This speed matters for buyers who need to occupy a home quickly or who do not want to carry a mortgage on an unlivable property for months.

A HELOC works only if the homeowner has substantial equity in another property or if they purchased with a down payment large enough to borrow against immediately. A buyer who put 10 percent down on a $350,000 row house has little equity to draw on. Fix It Up Homes requires no existing equity.

Contractor financing, offered by some larger firms, ties the homeowner to one builder and often includes markups of 10 to 20 percent on labor and materials; the homeowner has limited leverage if quality issues emerge. Fix It Up Homes' project manager solicits competing bids and can bring in different subcontractors if the primary contractor underperforms.

The trade-off is cost. Fix It Up Homes is more expensive than a HELOC (which carries no management fee) and potentially more expensive than a contractor's own financing if that contractor charges no markup. For a homeowner who values speed, wants competitive bidding, and cannot qualify for or access a HELOC, Fix It Up Homes is typically the fastest and most hands-off path.

Who this service suits and who it does not

This service works for first-time homebuyers in Baltimore who buy below market, have stable income and decent credit, and want to move into a renovated home within 6 to 12 months without managing contractors themselves. It also suits move-up buyers who are trading a smaller property for a larger fixer-upper and lack the time to oversee a major renovation.

It does not suit investors, landlords, or house-flippers (the company will not work with them). It does not suit homeowners who want to self-manage contractors or who have the capital to pay cash. It does not suit buyers who need to occupy a property immediately, before renovation can begin, since Fix It Up Homes' timeline assumes the home will be torn up during the work.

What the first visit or inquiry involves

A prospective client typically starts with a phone call or online form. The company requests basic information: the property address, the estimated renovation budget, the primary mortgage lender (to confirm no title or lien conflicts), and the borrower's credit score and income. If preliminary qualification looks feasible, the company schedules a property walkthrough with the project manager.

During the walkthrough, the project manager assesses scope, identifies obvious structural or code issues, and estimates the renovation timeline. The manager may ask the homeowner to obtain a home inspection or structural engineer's report if major issues are suspected. Once scope is clear, Fix It Up Homes provides a financing proposal and a projected timeline. If the homeowner accepts, the company orders a formal appraisal (to confirm the property's post-renovation value supports the loan) and underwrites the application.

Closing typically occurs within 10 to 15 days of a complete application. At closing, the homeowner receives the loan proceeds (less fees), the project manager begins soliciting contractor bids, and renovation starts within 2 to 4 weeks.

Hours, location, and logistics

Fix It Up Homes operates across the Baltimore metro area and does not require in-person office visits; most communication is by phone, email, or virtual walkthrough. The company's main office is in Baltimore, but project managers meet homeowners and contractors on-site.

Verify current hours and contact information by calling or visiting the company's website, as renovation financing firms sometimes shift staff schedules.

Why this matters in Baltimore's real estate landscape

Baltimore's housing stock skews older (median construction year in the mid-1950s), and acquisition prices for move-in-ready homes are substantially higher than for properties requiring work. Fix It Up Homes allows a buyer to capture that price advantage without absorbing the project management burden, making it one of the few locally focused tools that bridges the gap between a cheap fixer-upper and a livable home.