Articles in Category: Build On Own Land

November 18, 2019

Construction Loan Advice For New Borrowers

Are you thinking about using a construction loan to build a home from the ground up on your own land? The FHA One-Time Close construction loan features a low 3.5% down payment even for those who have never borrowed or purchased a home before. There is also a VA version of the One-Time Close construction mortgage offering 0% down to qualified veteran borrowers, those who still serve, and certain military spouses. The One-Time Close construction loan offers a single mortgage application for both the construction of the home and the mortgage itself; borrowers no longer have to apply for one loan to build and one loan for the mortgage. That means peace of mind during the entire process, but there are some rules and guidelines you’ll need to follow during | more...

November 15, 2019

Construction Loans For First-Time Home Buyers

By Joe Wallace

Some first-time homebuyers have a dream to build a home on their own land. These borrowers may wish they had more home buying experience so that they could pursue this dream. The good news is that with an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, even a first-time home buyer can potentially qualify for the loan that features one application, one closing date, and no worries about needing to apply for a second loan for the mortgage after the construction loan has been approved. The FHA One-Time Close construction loan can be used by first-time homebuyers with better credit (many participating lenders require slightly higher FICO scores for construction loans). It’s best not to be in a hurry to get the home completed since the process of hiring and using contract laborers | more...

November 13, 2019

Build A Home On Your Own Land With A One-Time Close Construction Loan

By Joe Wallace

A construction loan to build a house on your own land is not out of reach even for a first-time homebuyer. There are multiple options for building a home from the ground up; you can apply for an FHA One-Time Close loan, a VA construction loan, and there are even USDA construction loans that allow qualified borrowers (this is a need-based loan) to build a house instead of buying an existing one. But there are some mistakes some house hunters make when pursuing a construction loan you should avoid; sidestepping these can definitely help you save time and money. Save Early For Your Down Payment Some construction loans (VA and USDA) have no down payment requirement. All others do. And even the VA and USDA equivalents of an FHA One-Time | more...

Home Loans For Building On Your Own Land

November 8, 2019

FHA Loan Appraisal Requirements: Repairs

By Bruce Reichstein

FHA loan rules require an appraisal of the property secured by the mortgage regardless of whether it’s an existing construction home or if you choose to build on your own land using a One-Time Close loan. Do you know what the home loan rules say about any required repairs or corrections? You may not expect an appraisal-directed repair from a new construction home. But if the FHA appraiser finds something that does not meet local building code, or if there was some kind of damage uncovered during the appraisal (these are just two examples of what could happen at appraisal time on a new construction home) those issues must be corrected. HUD 4000.1, the FHA Single-Family Home Loan Handbook, instructs the lender that in cases where the appraisal uncovers things | more...

October 28, 2019

Home Loans For Building On Your Own Land

By Bruce Reichstein

If you do not want to buy existing real estate or hire a realtor, and prefer to design your own home (or have one designed for you), a One-Time Close (OTC) construction loan is for you. These loans are named “One-Time Close” because unlike some construction loans that require two applications, two approvals, and two closing dates, One-Time Close mortgages have ONE loan for both the construction of the home and for the mortgage itself. These construction loans are available under several government-backed lending programs such FHA One-Time Close construction loans, VA Construction loans, and the USDA equivalent. VA and USDA loans have no down payment requirement, but VA mortgages are not for the general public (qualifying veterans, currently serving troops, and certain surviving spouses of military members who died | more...

October 24, 2019

The FHA Loan That Helps You Build On Your Own Lot

By Bruce Reichstein

The FHA One-Time Close construction loan FHA One-Time Close Loan is a mortgage that lets the borrower design and build a home on the borrower’s own land. If you would rather build a home rather than look at real estate listings for an existing construction house, the One-Time Close loan is for you. There is an FHA version of the One-Time Close construction mortgage that requires a low 3.5% down payment. There is also a version of this construction loan offered by the VA to qualifying veterans and currently serving military members. The VA One-time Close construction loan has a 0% down / zero-down option. No money down is required for a VA construction loan up to the VA loan limit. See the end of this article for more information | more...

October 21, 2019

FHA Mortgage Rates For The Rest Of 2019

By Joe Wallace

Those who are ready to buy a house, or build a home on their own land using an FHA construction loan are considering their options at a time when mortgages are said to be as much as $200 cheaper than this time last year (depending on the price, down payment, and other factors). Mortgage rates in general are lower now than predicted last year and the rates are, according to some market watchers, due to remain low in November 2019 if the predictions come true. There are a variety of factors affecting mortgage loan interest rates at the moment; Brexit has an effect on investor behavior that can influence mortgage rates, the tariff war with China is another variable. Add to that consumer behavior in U.S. housing markets, and the | more...

October 18, 2019

FHA Loans For Buying, Building, Or Assembling A Home

By Bruce Reichstein

Did you know that FHA home loans can help you buy an existing home as a first-time home buyer, but can also help a first-timer or experienced homeowner have a house built for them from the ground up on your own lot or a lot you purchase in connection with the mortgage. It’s also possible to have a manufactured home assembled for you on a lot you purchase or already own. These loans, especially the FHA One-Time Close mortgage for building a home from the ground up, are offered to both experienced borrowers and first time home buyers alike with no difference in the basic terms and conditions. That means that a first-time borrower is not penalized for being a first-timer; there are no elevated down payment requirements, no added | more...