FACT SHEET ABOUT U. S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DISASTER LOANS

In the wake of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, tornados and other physical disasters, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) plays a major role.  SBA's disaster loans are the primary form of Federal assistance for nonfarm, private sector disaster losses.  For this reason, the disaster loan program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses.  Disaster loans from SBA help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations fund rebuilding.  SBA's disaster loans are a critical source of economic stimulation in disaster ravaged communities, helping to spur employment and stabilize tax bases.

By providing disaster assistance in the form of loans which are repaid to the Treasury, the SBA disaster loan program helps, reduce Federal disaster costs compared to other forms of assistance, such as grants.  When disaster victims need to borrow to repair uninsured damages, the low interest rates and long terms available from SBA make recovery affordable.  Because SBA tailors the repayment of each disaster loan to each borrower's financial capability, unnecessary interest subsidies paid by the taxpayers are avoided.  Moreover, providing disaster assistance,in the form of loans rather than grants avoids creating an incentive for property owners to underinsure against risk. ,Disaster loans require borrowers to maintain appropriate hazard and flood insurance coverage, thereby reducing the need for future disaster assistance.

Types of Disaster Loans:

*  Home Disaster Loans.  Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster damages to real estate or personal  property owned by the victim.  Renters are eligible for their  personal property losses.

*  Business Physical Disaster Loans.  Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster damages to property owned by the business, including real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and supplies.  Businesses of any size are eligible.  Non profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc. are also eligible.

*  Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).  Loans for working   capital to small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period.  EIDL assistance is available only to applicants with no Credit Available Elsewhere   if the business and its owners cannot provide for their own recovery from non government sources.

Credit Requirements:

*  Repayment.  SBA's disaster assistance is in the form of loans.  Applicants must show the ability to repay all loans.

*  Collateral.  Collateral is required for all physical loss loans over $10,000 and all EIDL loans over $5,000.  SBA takes real estate as collateral where it is available.  Applicants do not need to have full collateral; SBA will take what is available to secure each loan.

Interest Rates:

*  By law, the interest rates depend on whether each applicant has Credit Available Elsewhere.  An applicant does not have Credit Available Elsewhere when SBA determines that the applicant does not have sufficient funds or other resources, or the ability to borrow from non government sources, to provide for its own disaster recovery.  An applicant which SBA determines can so provide for its own recovery has Credit Available Elsewhere.  Generally, SBA determines that over 90% of disaster loan applicants do not have Credit Available Elsewhere.

*  Interest rates are determined by formulas set by law, and may
vary over time with market conditions.  Currently (for disasters which occurred on or after January 16, 1998) the applicable interest rates are:

                                No Credit Available    Credit Available
                                                 Elsewhere             Elsewhere

Home Loans                       3.437%                6.875%
Business Loans                   4.000%                8.000%
Non profit Organizations       4.000%                7.000%
Economic Injury Loans         4.000%                 N/A

Loan Term:

*  The law authorizes loan terms up to a maximum of 30 years
However, for businesses with Credit Available Elsewhere, the law limits the loan term to a maximum of 3 years.

*  SBA determines the term of each loan in accordance with the borrower's ability to repay.  Based on the financial circumstances of each borrower, SBA determines an appropriate installment payment amount, which in turn determines the actual term.

Loan Amount Limits

*  Home Loan amounts are limited by SBA regulation to $200,000 to repair/replace real estate and $40,000 to repair/replace personal property.  The actual amount of each loan, up to  these maximums, is limited to the verified uninsured disaster loss.  refinancing of existing mortgages on homes is eligible in some cases up to the amount of the loan for real estate repair/replacement.  Loan amounts may be increased by up to
20% for devices to mitigate against damage to the real property of the same type as the disaster.

* Business Loan amounts are limited by law to $1,500,000 for real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and all other physical losses.  The actual amount of each loan, up to this maximum, is limited to the verified uninsured disaster loss. 

Refinancing of existing mortgages or liens on real estate and machinery and equipment is eligible in some cases up to the amount of the loan for real estate and machinery and equipment repair/replacement.  Loan amounts may be increased by up to  20% for devices to mitigate against damage to the real property of the same type as the disaster.

*  Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) amounts are limited by  law to $1,500,000.  The actual amount of each loan, up to this  maximum, is limited to the actual economic injury as calculated by SBA, not compensated by business interruption insurance or otherwise, and beyond the ability of the business and/or its owners to provide.

The $1,500,000 statutory limit for business loans applies to the
combination of physical and economic injury, and also applies to
all disaster loans to a business and its affiliates.  If a business is a major source of employment, SBA has authority to waive the $1,500,000 statutory limit.

Loan Eligibility Restrictions:

*  Uninsured Losses.  Only uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster losses are eligible.  Any insurance proceeds which are required to be applied against outstanding mortgages are not available to fund disaster repairs and do not reduce loan eligibility.  However, any insurance proceeds voluntarily applied to any outstanding mortgages do reduce loan eligibility.

*  Ineligible Property.  Secondary homes, personal pleasure  boats, airplanes, recreational vehicles and similar property is not eligible, unless used for business purposes.  Property such as antiques and collections is eligible only to the extent of its functional value.  Amounts for landscaping, swimming pools, etc. are limited.
 
*  Noncompliance.  Applicants who have not complied with the  terms of previous loans are not eligible.  This includes prior borrowers who did not maintain required flood insurance.

Refinancing:

SBA can refinance all or part of prior mortgages, evidenced by a
recorded lien, when the applicant (1) does not have Credit
Available Elsewhere, (2) has suffered substantial disaster damage
(40% or more of the value of the property), and (3) intends to
repair the damage.  Refinancing of prior debts improves the
victim's ability to afford the SBA disaster loan.

Relocation:

Use of SBA disaster loans for relocating is subject to limita
tions. Generally, victims may relocate where they need to do so
for reasons beyond their control.  If the victim is forced by
state or local authorities to relocate, the amount of eligibil
ity is the replacement cost of the property which must be
abandoned.

Insurance Requirements:

To protect each borrower and SBA, SBA requires borrowers to
obtain and maintain appropriate insurance.  Borrowers of all
secured loans (physical loans over $10,000 and economic injury
loans over $5,000) must purchase and maintain full hazard
insurance for the life of the loan.  Borrowers whose property is
located in a special flood hazard area must purchase and maintain
flood insurance for the full insurable value of the property for
the life of the loan.

Rev. 1 98    Previous editions obsolete