Consulting Fees and Project Pricing, Explained Clearly

How non-203(k) consulting is priced

North Texas starting fees are $995 for a renovation-loan starter documentation package, $495 for one contractor bid alignment review, and $350 for one oversight visit with a report. The published service details define each starting scope. Additional work and travel are quoted separately. Private housing and renovation consulting is quoted by the requested deliverable, property complexity, review time, site visits, travel, supporting documents, and turnaround. The written quote identifies what is included, what is excluded, and what would require additional authorization.

Current FHA 203(k) maximum consultant fees

• Feasibility Study: up to $375
• WWU — repairs of $50,000 or less: up to $1,000
• WWU — $50,001 to $85,000: up to $1,200
• WWU — $85,001 to $140,000: up to $1,400
• WWU — more than $140,000: the lower of 1% of repair cost or $2,000
• Additional dwelling units: up to $25 per additional unit
• Draw inspection: up to $375 per requested inspection
• Change-order request: up to $120
• Reinspection requested by the lender: up to $225

What the WWU fee covers

The Standard 203(k) initial inspection, WWU, Specifications of Repairs, and consultant cost estimate are shown together as the initial consultant package. HUD does not publish a separate generic initial-inspection fee in addition to the tiered WWU fee. Draw inspections follow later and are priced separately per requested and performed visit.

How the initial package connects to draws

The project begins with one initial consultant inspection. That inspection supports the WWU/SOR and cost estimate. Once the lender approves the rehabilitation baseline and construction progresses, draw inspections document completed line items against that same WWU/SOR.

• Initial inspection + WWU/SOR fee: based on HUD's repair-cost tier
• Draw inspection fee: up to $375 for each requested and performed draw
• Example for repairs of $50,000 or less with five draws: $1,000 + (5 × $375) = $2,875
• Mileage: added separately for each eligible, documented property visit

Draw fees are earned per inspection

For Standard 203(k), the current framework allows up to five draw requests: four intermediate draws and one final draw. A draw fee applies only when the inspection is requested and performed; it is not automatically earned at engagement.

Corrected four-property example

If each property has $50,000 or less in rehabilitation and receives one WWU plus five draw inspections at the published maximums, the calculation is $1,000 + (5 × $375) = $2,875 per property.

Four separate properties: 4 × $2,875 = $11,500, plus separately documented mileage for each applicable visit to each property. Draw fees alone would be 4 × 5 × $375 = $7,500, plus mileage.

How mileage works

When the consultant's place of business is more than 15 miles from the property and HUD permits mileage, the charge is calculated using the IRS business-mileage rate effective on the service date. The current reference is $0.76 per mile for qualifying travel on or after July 1, 2026. The quote states the starting point and method. Each trip is documented by date, property, purpose, miles, and effective rate.

What your written quote will show

• Property address and requesting party
• Requested service and assumed loan track
• WWU tier or standalone service fee
• Expected draw or reinspection structure
• Mileage method and starting point
• Payment timing, exclusions, and conditions requiring a revised quote