Building Your Home With Peace Of Mind
May 3, 2023
FHA, VA, and USDA: One-Time Close Loans
Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?
We have done extensive research on the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) One-Time Close Construction loan programs. We have spoken directly to licensed lenders that originate these residential loan types in most states and each company has supplied us the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders that know the product well and have consistently provided quality service. If you are interested in being contacted by a licensed lender in your area, please send responses to the questions below. All information is treated confidentially.
OneTimeClose.com provides information and connects consumers to qualified One-Time Close lenders to raise awareness about this loan product and to help consumers receive higher quality service. We are not paid for endorsing or recommending the lenders or loan originators and do not otherwise benefit from doing so. Consumers should shop for mortgage services and compare their options before agreeing to proceed.
Please note that investor guidelines for the FHA and VA One-Time Close Construction Program only allows for single family dwellings (1 unit) – and NOT for multi-family units (no duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes). In addition, the following homes/building styles are not allowed under these programs, including but not limited to: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes, Dome Homes, Bermed Earth Sheltered Homes, Tiny Homes, Accessory Dwelling Units, or A-Framed Homes.
All known FHA/VA One-Time Close Lenders known to our company will not allow a borrower to act as their own contractor, whatsoever. There cannot be self-builds, relative builds, or employer builds.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe
Please send your email request to [email protected] which authorizes OneTimeClose.com to share your personal information with one mortgage lender licensed in your area to contact you. No SSN required • No credit check • 100% free to get started
1. Send your first and last name, e-mail address, and contact telephone number.
2. Tell us the city and state of the proposed property.
3. Tell us your and/or the Co-borrower’s credit profile: Excellent – (680+), Good - (640-679), Fair – (620-639) or Poor- (Below 620). 620 is the minimum qualifying credit score for this product.
4. Are you or your spouse (Co-borrower) eligible veterans? If either of you are eligible veterans, down payments as low as $0 may be available up to the maximum amount your debt-to-income ratio per VA will allow – there are no maximum loan amounts as per VA guidelines. Most lenders will go up to $1,500,000 and review higher loan amounts on a case-by-case basis. If not, the FHA down payment is 3.5% up to the maximum FHA lending limit for your county.
If 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.
One-Time Close Construction Loan Advice: Check Your References
You want to know the online reputation of any service provider you work with-the lender, real estate agent, broker, etc.
You may know some of the most-advertised contractor names in your housing market, but what do their most recent 12 months of customer reviews say about them?
When you read online reviews of these service providers, don’t take any review seriously (good OR bad) unless they provide specifics.
It’s easy to say, “This builder was GREAT!” or “This lender REALLY HELPED me”, and easier still to say, “Bad lender” or “Substandard contractor.” Without specific details, these reviews are useless. Find the ones that say precisely what happened, and pay attention to those reviews.
Single-Close Construction Loan Mistakes To Avoid: Cost Creep
Yes, you sometimes have to expand your budget for an unanticipated issue. But what about when the contract requires you to choose between upscale materials and features versus “budget” versions?
Don’t give into the temptation to add just one more expense to the budget, hoping it will stay just under the dollar amount set for the project overall.
Costs tend to add up over time, and those who consistently err on the “paying more” side of that equation may find their budgets are broken fairly quickly in the process, depending on circumstances. Don’t give in to the temptation to keep adding or upgrading.
Don't Automatically Hire The Lowest Bidder
How cheap is too cheap? Some find out the hard way and wind up living with results they hate for a long time. Determine your budget early, but also decide where your lower limit is.
The lowest bidder likely won’t offer you the same perks or features other contractors might; the key is determining who offers you the best options for your budget.
But even if your budget is small, don’t give in to the temptation to skimp on essential areas of the home, such as weatherproofing, energy efficiency, and durability.
One-Time Close Construction Loan Advice: Check Your References
You want to know the online reputation of any service provider you work with-the lender, real estate agent, broker, etc.
You may know some of the most-advertised contractor names in your housing market, but what do their most recent 12 months of customer reviews say about them?
When you read online reviews of these service providers, don’t take any review seriously (good OR bad) unless they provide specifics.
It’s easy to say, “This builder was GREAT!” or “This lender REALLY HELPED me”, and easier still to say, “Bad lender” or “Substandard contractor.” Without specific details, these reviews are useless. Find the ones that say precisely what happened, and pay attention to those reviews.
Single-Close Construction Loan Mistakes To Avoid: Cost Creep
Yes, you sometimes have to expand your budget for an unanticipated issue. But what about when the contract requires you to choose between upscale materials and features versus “budget” versions?
Don’t give into the temptation to add just one more expense to the budget, hoping it will stay just under the dollar amount set for the project overall.
Costs tend to add up over time, and those who consistently err on the “paying more” side of that equation may find their budgets are broken fairly quickly in the process, depending on circumstances. Don’t give in to the temptation to keep adding or upgrading.
Don't Automatically Hire The Lowest Bidder
How cheap is too cheap? Some find out the hard way and wind up living with results they hate for a long time. Determine your budget early, but also decide where your lower limit is.
The lowest bidder likely won’t offer you the same perks or features other contractors might; the key is determining who offers you the best options for your budget.
But even if your budget is small, don’t give in to the temptation to skimp on essential areas of the home, such as weatherproofing, energy efficiency, and durability.
FHA, VA, and USDA: One-Time Close LoansWant More Information About One-Time Close Loans?We have done extensive research on the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) One-Time Close Construction loan programs. We have spoken directly to licensed lenders that originate these residential loan types in most states and each company has supplied us the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders that know the product well and have consistently provided quality service. If you are interested in being contacted by a licensed lender in your area, please send responses to the questions below. All information is treated confidentially.
OneTimeClose.com provides information and connects consumers to qualified One-Time Close lenders to raise awareness about this loan product and to help consumers receive higher quality service. We are not paid for endorsing or recommending the lenders or loan originators and do not otherwise benefit from doing so. Consumers should shop for mortgage services and compare their options before agreeing to proceed.
Please note that investor guidelines for the FHA and VA One-Time Close Construction Program only allows for single family dwellings (1 unit) – and NOT for multi-family units (no duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes). In addition, the following homes/building styles are not allowed under these programs, including but not limited to: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes, Dome Homes, Bermed Earth Sheltered Homes, Tiny Homes, Accessory Dwelling Units, or A-Framed Homes.
All known FHA/VA One-Time Close Lenders known to our company will not allow a borrower to act as their own contractor, whatsoever. There cannot be self-builds, relative builds, or employer builds.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe
Please send your email request to [email protected] which authorizes OneTimeClose.com to share your personal information with one mortgage lender licensed in your area to contact you. No SSN required • No credit check • 100% free to get started
1. Send your first and last name, e-mail address, and contact telephone number.
2. Tell us the city and state of the proposed property.
3. Tell us your and/or the Co-borrower’s credit profile: Excellent – (680+), Good - (640-679), Fair – (620-639) or Poor- (Below 620). 620 is the minimum qualifying credit score for this product.
4. Are you or your spouse (Co-borrower) eligible veterans? If either of you are eligible veterans, down payments as low as $0 may be available up to the maximum amount your debt-to-income ratio per VA will allow – there are no maximum loan amounts as per VA guidelines. Most lenders will go up to $1,500,000 and review higher loan amounts on a case-by-case basis. If not, the FHA down payment is 3.5% up to the maximum FHA lending limit for your county.
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Articles, Updates, and Guidelines
FHA Update New Construction Inspection Rules
October 12, 2024In 2020, the FHA and HUD announced pending changes to the FHA Single-Family Home Loan Lender's Handbook, HUD 4000.1. This was due to policy alterations in 2018 and 2019 which required the FHA and HUD to overhaul portions of HUD 4000.1 to accommodate the modified rules.
Build On Your Lot in Texas with an FHA or VA Construction Loan
October 10, 2024Texas residents are finding out that they can utilize these low One-Time Close down payment programs in order to build a new home with the same underwriting guidelines and qualifications as if they were purchasing a resale. Now may be the time to start looking into building a home that suits your exact needs. Learn more about the One-Time Close construction mortgage.
Using Escrow For Your Construction Loan
October 7, 2024If you have started talking to construction lenders, escrow is likely a term you have encountered in your discussions. However, some aren't sure what escrow is or why it is necessary. Escrow is basically an account used in conjunction with an agreement between you and the lender.
