Build Or Renovate?
January 25, 2024
Do your mortgage loan options seem confusing? Home loan types and the application of those home loans have their own time frames and cost considerations.
You'll want to know the details of each option and decide whether you're right for building or buying existing real estate. Building and renovating typically cost a bit more than buying an existing home. For those not in a hurry, the options below each have their own advantages.
Who Is Right For A Construction Loan?
In a hurry to move in? Any mortgage involving contractors or renovation will have a longer time frame for accepting the keys and moving in after closing day. Buying an existing home means a shorter amount of time from start to finish, comparatively speaking.
Knowing how long a type of loan will take helps. Single-close loans to build and FHA rehabilitation loans for fixer-uppers may be good choices if you want a more customized home but don't want to commit to the full build-out.
If you don’t mind waiting a bit longer, an FHA One-Time Close construction loan is also a great option for a more customized home.
Borrowers should not be in a hurry with these two types of home loans. Construction and renovation projects take time.
Your Financial Needs And Goals
When is a construction loan a better option? Borrowers with good FICO scores and credit history may find these loans more accessible overall.
But do your home loan needs include saving more money upfront? If so, you may find better choices than building a house on your own land.
Rehab loans are typically less risky loans for both the borrower and the lender than construction loans. Down payment requirements are typical for VA and FHA mortgages.
FICO score requirements among participating lenders may be different for rehab loans. Your experience will vary depending on the housing market and the lender.
Requirements may vary among lenders. You could find FHA and VA lenders with different qualifications for a rehab loan than a construction loan. FICO scores and related issues are subject to lender standards in addition to FHA or VA guidelines.
Shopping around for a rehab loan or single-close loan lender may earn you a better deal depending on where and how aggressively you look.
Costs And Scope Of Work
Are you planning to keep the house for a long time? Either choice, construction loan or rehab loan, may be a good option.
What about those planning to sell within a few years? In these cases, could a fixer-upper be the best choice? It all depends on variables, including how extensive the rehab work winds up needing to be.
For example, when you take out a construction loan, you are paying for a brand-new roof along with the rest of the labor.
Purchasing a fixer-upper that includes a roof with a good amount of remaining utility is a mortgage expense you might not have to anticipate if you find the right property.
Does the fixer-upper make better financial sense than building from the foundation up? Not all borrowers will find homes with pristine roofs, but that's just one aspect to keep in mind.
A lot depends on the specific details of your transaction. You should ask each lender you compare for a version of each loan, including how the two may differ cost-wise. It can help to get the facts and figures on paper. Learn where and how your loan funds will be used to complete your dream home.
Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?
We have extensively researched 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 with the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders who 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 allow 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: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe - FHA / VA One-Time Close
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.
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 is an eligible veteran, 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 VA 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.
You'll want to know the details of each option and decide whether you're right for building or buying existing real estate. Building and renovating typically cost a bit more than buying an existing home. For those not in a hurry, the options below each have their own advantages.
Who Is Right For A Construction Loan?
In a hurry to move in? Any mortgage involving contractors or renovation will have a longer time frame for accepting the keys and moving in after closing day. Buying an existing home means a shorter amount of time from start to finish, comparatively speaking.
Knowing how long a type of loan will take helps. Single-close loans to build and FHA rehabilitation loans for fixer-uppers may be good choices if you want a more customized home but don't want to commit to the full build-out.
If you don’t mind waiting a bit longer, an FHA One-Time Close construction loan is also a great option for a more customized home.
Borrowers should not be in a hurry with these two types of home loans. Construction and renovation projects take time.
Your Financial Needs And Goals
When is a construction loan a better option? Borrowers with good FICO scores and credit history may find these loans more accessible overall.
But do your home loan needs include saving more money upfront? If so, you may find better choices than building a house on your own land.
Rehab loans are typically less risky loans for both the borrower and the lender than construction loans. Down payment requirements are typical for VA and FHA mortgages.
FICO score requirements among participating lenders may be different for rehab loans. Your experience will vary depending on the housing market and the lender.
Requirements may vary among lenders. You could find FHA and VA lenders with different qualifications for a rehab loan than a construction loan. FICO scores and related issues are subject to lender standards in addition to FHA or VA guidelines.
Shopping around for a rehab loan or single-close loan lender may earn you a better deal depending on where and how aggressively you look.
Costs And Scope Of Work
Are you planning to keep the house for a long time? Either choice, construction loan or rehab loan, may be a good option.
What about those planning to sell within a few years? In these cases, could a fixer-upper be the best choice? It all depends on variables, including how extensive the rehab work winds up needing to be.
For example, when you take out a construction loan, you are paying for a brand-new roof along with the rest of the labor.
Purchasing a fixer-upper that includes a roof with a good amount of remaining utility is a mortgage expense you might not have to anticipate if you find the right property.
Does the fixer-upper make better financial sense than building from the foundation up? Not all borrowers will find homes with pristine roofs, but that's just one aspect to keep in mind.
A lot depends on the specific details of your transaction. You should ask each lender you compare for a version of each loan, including how the two may differ cost-wise. It can help to get the facts and figures on paper. Learn where and how your loan funds will be used to complete your dream home.
Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?
We have extensively researched 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 with the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders who 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 allow 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: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe - FHA / VA One-Time Close
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.
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 is an eligible veteran, 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 VA 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.
See Your Credit Scores From All 3 Bureaus
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
Articles, Updates, and Guidelines
FHA Single Close Construction Loans
July 26, 2024The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers qualifying borrowers the option to build a home from the ground up using a Single Close FHA Construction Loan. This program, also known as a One-Time Close construction mortgage, allows borrowers to finance the construction of a new home and convert it into a permanent mortgage with just one closing, streamlining the often complex process of building a house.
The VA Construction Loan Timeline
July 19, 2024VA One-Time Close construction loans help qualifying veterans build homes they will own and occupy once the construction phase is complete. One-time close loans, or construction-to-permanent loans, combine construction and permanent financing into a single closing procedure. VA One-Time Close mortgages have no VA-required down payment or mortgage insurance, making them attractive options for qualifying borrowers.
Construction Loan Choices
July 12, 2024When planning a construction loan, you have many options. For example, do you want to buy land with a loan to build the house? Or do you already own a parcel suitable for the construction project? There are many other choices to make with home loans, but some don’t necessarily apply to construction mortgages.
