Construction & Construction-To-Permanent Loans 

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Buying a home is a dream not many can afford. But with sufficient savings and the determination to see it through, it’s not impossible. If you’re ambitious and have chosen to build your house from scratch instead of buying an already built one, what you’re getting is a construction loan. To explain fully, we will tackle construction loans and the many complexities involved in applying for them.  

What Is A Construction Loan?

Anybody looking to build their dream home will use a construction loan. There are two (2) types of construction loans, (a) construction to permanent and (b) construction only loan, respectively.

Used to cover the expenses of rehabilitating and building a home, a construction loan is like any other home loan but carries a higher interest during the construction phase and must be converted to permanent financing once completed. Contrary to a commercial home loan determined by the condition of the property and its market value, residential construction loans are based on the projected worth of the property after completion. 

Types Of Construction Loans

  • Construction-To-Permanent Loan

There are two (2) stages from construction to permanent loan. The first part is the interim financing of the structure of the home. The buyer pays interest only on the loan while the house is still under construction.

The lender pays the builder in stages called a “draw schedule,” the most significant chunk of the funds paid after completing the home. The builder must have enough funds and a credit line for materials and labor while building the house.

After completing the home, the borrower refinances the interim financing to permanent financing. The borrower locks the interest rate for whatever term they desire. This type of loan is great if you have feasible timelines and concrete construction plans. 

  • Construction-Only Loan

Albeit pricey, construction-only loans are perfect for people who have immediate access to sizable amounts of cash. This loan type calls for an accelerated payment once the property is done. Consequently, borrowers will have to look for a lender if they need a mortgage to cover the construction cost.

Repair and Renovation Loan

This loan type is utilized if a borrower is purchasing a fixer-upper. In this particular arrangement, government programs are accessible, and the project’s worth of rehabilitation is included in the mortgage, together with the property’s purchase price. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has a loan program for repair and renovation loans called the 203(k) loan. 

There are two types of 203k loans: (a) Standard and (b) Limited. The FHA 203k program combines both in a single, long-term, fixed-rate that covers acquisition and rehabilitation costs.

  • Standard 203k Loan

This program allows for a repair and renovation of a property that will cost at least $35,000 or more. The property must have the original foundation to qualify.

  • Limited 203k Loan

Limited or streamlined 203k is designed to finance property improvements of at least $5,000 and not exceeding $35,000.

All these established, many would-be homeowners and homebuyers alike prefer the construction loan because of its many perks and advantages. 

Benefits Of A Construction Loan

  • Flexibility

Because borrowers aren’t buying from a specific community; they can choose where to build a home and which contractors they’d like to work and collaborate with. Borrowers also can buy a lot and establish a house from the ground up using just one financing. 

  • Lenders May Offer One-Time Close Construction Loan

One-time close construction loans are home loans that allow you to close on a mortgage loan as if the home was already completed.  This enables you to achieve maximum financing of the property with minimal out-of-pocket.  The one-time close can be used for stick-built homes, modular and manufactured homes.

Several lending agencies may allow borrowers to deal with a one-time close. This in itself can already save a borrower thousands of money. This is called the one-time-close construction loan. A single-close construction loan is a home loan that the borrower may use to close the construction phase and the permanent financing of the new home simultaneously. Only one loan covers the interim construction and the permanent loan under one promissory note and one deed of trust with a single closing.

Benefits Of One-Time-Close Construction Loan

  1. Reduced and Limited Closing Costs

A single-close construction loan carries one set of closing costs instead of two. The borrower doesn’t have to get interim financing for the construction loan and permanent funding after completing the home. Since there is only one set of closing costs, this construction loan saves the borrower some money by not paying for closing costs twice.

  1. Fixed Interest Rate Option

With a one-time close construction loan, the borrower can lock the rate at any stage of the construction. The interest rate is predetermined, and there are no surprises at the end.

  1. One-Time Qualification Process

The borrower has to qualify for the loan only once. There is always an element of risk in a two-time close transaction because the borrower must be eligible twice, once for the construction stage and re-qualify again for the loan when the house is finished. 

  1. Single Appraisal Requirement

The traditional two-time close construction loan carries two sets of closing costs and two separate appraisals the borrower pays. The first appraisal is done for the construction loan, and the second is for permanent financing.

A one-time-close construction loan requires only one appraisal before closing on the loan. This means no surprises when the house is completed.
For additional information and details about one-time-close construction loans, please contact our Loan Specialists at (800) 960-4565 to get started.