Renovate America offers two consumer financing options for home improvements: HERO financing and Benji financing.
How you pre-qualify: HERO financing approval is primarily based on your home’s equity and debt payment obligations. Only homes in PACE-approved municipalities may use HERO financing. Benji is primarily based on your credit score.
Which home improvements are eligible: Nearly every type of home improvement project can be financed using Benji, and only energy-efficient, water-efficient or hurricane protection projects may qualify for HERO Program. Specific product eligibility varies by state.
How you pay back the financing: HERO is secured by your home and allows you to repay through your property taxes. Benji financing is paid back in traditional monthly payments.
HERO is currently available in California, Florida, and Missouri. Benji is currently available in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. We are expanding to cover more communities.
Apply for Benji through a contractor who is part of the Renovate America network. Applications are accepted through the online application, mobile application or with the assistance of a Benji customer service representative. Contact a representative at 844-GO-BENJI.
Learn More About BenjiIf you live in a city or county where HERO has been approved by the local government, you can apply for HERO financing.
See participating communitiesThe HERO Program from Renovate America provides homeowners access to financing for energy-efficient, water-conserving, renewable energy and hurricane protection home improvements. Types of products that are eligible for HERO vary by state, depending on local legislation.
The HERO Program is different from other forms of financing because:
*You should consult your tax advisor regarding potential tax benefits.
If you make property tax payments through an impound escrow account, your mortgage servicer will increase your monthly payment to include the amount due for HERO financing. Your mortgage servicer may make your first annual payment on your behalf, which you’ll need to pay back. In this case, the first and second annual payments will be divided into monthly installments added to your mortgage payment, so your first year of monthly payments may be double what you were expecting. This is temporary and should adjust back to normal once you’ve paid back your mortgage servicer. If you have any questions or for more information, give us a call Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm PST at 855-225-HERO (855-225-4376).
If you live in a city or county where HERO has been approved by the local government, you can apply for HERO financing.
No, only contractors registered with Renovate America and in good standing with the HERO Program can install products financed through HERO. Each state has different qualification requirements in order to register for HERO. Contractors can determine applicable eligibility requirements at our contractors page. Find a registered Renovate America contractor on our website.
While a residential or commercial energy/water audit is not required to participate in the HERO Program, it is recommended in certain cases, particularly if you are looking to do whole-property improvements to maximize your energy and water-cost savings. An energy audit by a certified auditor may be the best way to determine which eligible products are best suited for your property. In addition, the cost of the audit is eligible for financing through HERO, along with the eligible products themselves.
Yes, you can finance multiple projects. However, all projects must be approved in order to make sure they meet efficiency standards.
Yes, you can visit our sample documents page to view them in English and Spanish. Enter your ZIP to find the version of the sample financing documents for your area.
See our frequently asked questions about selling and refinancing.
Benji is a home improvement financing option from Renovate America. You can use it to finance nearly any home upgrade. It’s only offered to homeowners by contractors who are part of the Renovate America network.
How you pre-qualify: HERO financing approval is primarily based on your home’s equity and debt payment obligations. Only homes in PACE-approved municipalities may use HERO financing. Benji is primarily based on your credit score.
Which home improvements are eligible: Nearly every type of home improvement project can be financed using Benji, and only energy-efficient projects qualify for HERO Program.
How you pay back the financing: HERO is secured by your home and allows you to repay through your property taxes. Benji financing is paid back in traditional monthly payments.
No, there are no application fees for HERO.
Renovate America works with contractors registered with the HERO Program to offer flexible terms of 5-25 years, depending on the useful life of the improvements and the state in which they are financed.
The interest on HERO payments may be tax deductible. You should consult a tax advisor regarding potential tax benefits. The IRS has offered specific guidance on Topic 503.
No, there are no application fees for Benji.
You can schedule automatic payments or pay in one of these three easy ways:
Yes, your retail installment contract provides information about the specific fees applicable to your financing.
Any homeowner who lives in a city or county where HERO has been approved by the local government can apply for HERO financing. To find out if HERO is available in your community, check our communities list.
Any homeowner who lives in a community where Benji is offered, and is interested in obtaining financing for a home improvement.
First, you apply to find out how much HERO financing your home may be approved for.
Next, you choose your project and find the right contractors based on your needs and location.
Once you've selected your contractor and work with them to select products for your project, you'll review your HERO financing terms and sign your financing documents, so your project can begin.
After your project is completed to your satisfaction, your contractor gets paid. Then, you'll pay back the financing through a voluntary property tax assessment on your property tax bill.
Some criteria can vary state to state or city to city. For a full list of your eligibility requirements, give us a call at 855-HERO-411 (855-437-6411). Eligibility requirements for residential properties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Mobile or manufactured homes are eligible for Benji if the mobile home is either permanently attached to land or if the home is part of a mobile home community.
No, total mortgage debt on the home cannot exceed 90% of the current value of the home.
Mobile or manufactured homes are eligible if they are permanently attached to the real property and pay real property taxes (not DMV fees). The owner of the mobile home must also be the owner of the underlying land. Since the fair market value is often not available for mobile or manufactured homes, the tax assessed value or recent appraisal value may need to be used for the debt-to-value and eligible product costs calculations.
Condominiums may be eligible, depending on the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) of the complex as well as the physical design of the unit. Condominium owners who apply for financing through HERO may need to obtain written authorization from condominium management stating that the homeowner is allowed to install the proposed eligible products.
Yes, trust properties are eligible for HERO financing as long as adequate documentation of the trust is provided with the application, as well as the applicants' authority under the trust. All trustees must sign all HERO Program documents.
To register with Renovate America, contractors must provide the following information:
Additional contractor requirements may vary by state or region. Renovate America will conduct a due diligence review of the items provided and inform the contractor of approval or next steps.
After registering with us, all contractors and all individuals who perform services for registered contractors in connection with Renovate America’s financing products must do the following:
You can reach one of our HERO Property Advisors Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. PST at (855) 225-HERO (855-225-4376).
Homes with HERO assessments may be sold or refinanced. Please contact HERO Property Advisors for additional information as conditions may apply.
You should contact our HERO Property Advisors as soon as possible for guidance on your options when selling or refinancing a home. For additional information, we recommend calling our HERO Property Advisors 855-225-HERO (855-225-4376) or visiting hpa.heroprogram.com.
Yes, listing agents should disclose that there is an additional assessment on the property tax bill and may want to mention energy and/or water-saving benefits as a result of the improvement. The buyer’s lender may require the balance to be fully or partially paid off, based on what kind of mortgage the buyer is using and/or to help with the buyer’s debt-to-income ratio. For additional information, we recommend calling our HERO Property Advisors 855-225-HERO (855-225-4376) or visiting hpa.heroprogram.com.
There is typically no additional or specific paperwork required when buying or selling a home with a HERO assessment*.
For additional information, we recommend calling our HERO Property Advisors 855-225-HERO (855-225-4376) or visiting hpa.heroprogram.com.
*The Preliminary Title Report should disclose the HERO assessment.
No, homeowners are free to pay off the HERO assessment at any point in an amount of at least $2,500.
To help real estate professionals to successfully close a HERO home transaction, we host workshops that provide official knowledge about the HERO Program, including the recent support of PACE and guidance from the FHA and VA regarding PACE assessments. These free workshops are designed to answer all your questions about HERO, particularly ones that come up during a property transaction.
In addition, our team of specialists provide individual agent support throughout the entire transaction process. Reach our team of real estate professionals, HERO Property Advisors, at (855) 225-HERO (855-225-4376) or visit us online at hpa.heroprogram.com.
Call the HERO Property Advisors at (855) 225-HERO (855-225-4376)
There are more than 60 types of products that qualify for financing through HERO. Most improvements that help conserve energy or generate renewable energy qualify, including:
Water-efficient and drought-resistant products are available in some states, such as California. Home improvements that help conserve water include:
Hurricane protection upgrades are eligible in Florida. Upgrades to help protect your home from hurricane damage include:
Explore our list of eligible products for more information:
Homeowners or contractors who wish to install a product that is not on the list may fill out our Product Application or contact us at 855-HERO-411 (855-437-6411) for a review.
No, products that have already been installed are not eligible for financing through HERO.
Only contractors that have registered with Renovate America's HERO Program. In California, a homeowner who has signed a Self-Install Agreement, may install products financed through HERO. Contractors must adhere to all licensing requirements in their state or locality. Contractors located in California must have a valid California State Business License (CSLB) to register.
Yes, in California. However, the homeowner will not be paid for their own labor and must sign a Self-Install Agreement. If the homeowner is also a contractor who has registered with Renovate America’s HERO Program and is installing products on his or her own house, they may be reimbursed for the labor costs of their work crew, but not for their own personal time and labor.
See our list of eligible products:
Any home improvement is eligible as long as it is permanently affixed to the home.
Only contractors that have registered with Renovate America and are in good standing may provide Benji financing. Contractors must adhere to all state and local licensing requirements. Homeowners may not install their own Benji-financed products.
Yes, as part of Renovate America’s HERO Program, partners can provide 100% financing for the lease/PPA of eligible solar energy systems.
Renovate America works with contractors registered with the HERO Program to provide a new way for homeowners to finance the lease of a solar system, that may better meet their financial needs. HERO financing for a solar lease is repaid through a voluntary property tax assessment on the property tax bill. How billing is received will depend on the state in which the property is located. Flexible terms of up to 25 years are available, depending on the useful life of the improvements chosen and the state in which they are applied. The HERO financing term cannot exceed the length of the solar agreement. To find out more, contact 855-HERO-411 (855-437-6411).
Yes, HERO-improved homes can be sold or refinanced at any point. Remaining HERO assessment balances may be paid off or the remaining assessment payments may be assumed by the new owner. Homeowners should be aware that lending criteria can vary between lenders. Some lenders and/or buyers require the outstanding assessment balance to be paid off when a homeowner refinances or sells a property. The selling and refinancing process has recently been streamlined for HERO homeowners, buyers, and real estate professionals with the assistance of our in-house group of dedicated real estate professionals, HERO Property Advisors. They are available at 855-HERO-411 (855-437-6411) for assistance at any point in the transaction.
No, a complete payoff of the HERO assessment requires paying off the remaining principal amount and any associated interest with no prepayment penalty. Please refer to the lease for details on any remaining lease obligations. A homeowner may have a remaining lease obligation that they would be required to pay at close of escrow. Contact our HERO Property Advisors at 855-225-HERO (855-225-4376) for assistance with a prepayment schedule for your HERO financing.
Call HERO at (855) HERO-411 (855-437-6411) to identify a solar lease partner near you.
Only solar products are available.
No, homeowners are not able to install the system. The solar lease company will direct the installation of the system by one of their participating contractors in order to ensure the function and production of the system as required by the lease.
Need more help? Call (855) HERO-411.
