The "FHA" One-Time-Close Loan
Single Close Loans allow you to wrap up the financing of lot purchase, construction and permanent mortgage into one loan insured by the FHA. Under this option, you can apply for a 15- or 30-year loan with a fixed rate that’s locked in before construction on your new home begins.
With a Single Close Loan comes a single set of closing costs. These costs can be partially paid for you, since the FHA allows interested party contributions (sometimes referred to as seller concessions, although commonly paid by the builder in the case of a construction-to-permanent loan) up to 6 percent of the total acquisition cost.
What is an FHA Loan?
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a government agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In an effort to stimulate America’s housing market and assist Americans in securing safe and affordable housing, the FHA insures mortgages on single and multifamily homes.
The FHA offers homebuyers a number of mortgage options, including the One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent loan. The loan is provided by private, FHA-approved lenders and is backed by the FHA, giving lenders peace of mind about approving borrowers for large mortgages.
Who Can Apply
While only veterans and rural residents can apply for loans with the VA, securing a Single Close Loan with the FHA is easier for other homebuyers. It also allows you to take advantage of the FHA’s lenient borrower guidelines.
There is a low down payment requirement of 3.5 percent. If you already own the land on which your new home is being built and have equity in the land, the equity can be used towards the 3.5% down payment. Furthermore, the down payment can be paid for entirely with "gift funds."
Most lenders typically have a credit score requirement of at least 620. The FHA also requires proof of employment and income, and no late or missed payments in the last 12 months.
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
May 10, 2023Building a home on your own land or on land you buy in conjunction with the mortgage is a smart move for those who want more control over the features in their home, don't want to compete with other buyers, and may hate the negotiation process with a seller. An FHA or VA One-Time Close Construction Loan can be a great alternative to buying someone else's house. What should you know about these loans before you commit?
May 3, 2023If you want to build a home from the ground up using a VA One-Time Close mortgage or an FHA One-Time Close Construction Loan, there are some things you can do to buy with greater peace of mind.
April 25, 2023When you decide to build a home with an FHA One-Time Close construction loan or its VA single-close equivalent, you've chosen a more complex path to a new home than buying existing construction, but it is a journey worth taking. How do construction loans differ from mortgages used to buy existing properties?
