Washington State FHA / VA One-Time Close Construction Loans
Zillow® periodically tracks housing trends and has shown residential growth in many areas in the state that should continue into the near future. The fastest growing Washington cities include Seattle, Kent, Kirkland, Bellevue, Vancouver, Sammamish, Pasco, Spokane, Redmond and Tacoma. Many people in these cities are choosing to build their own homes rather than shopping around when there is not much to choose from.
What Does it Take to Qualify?
- Down payments for eligible veterans are not required. $0 down payment loans up to $1,500,000 may be available.
- Down payments for FHA borrowers are as low as 3.5%. Lending limits for most Washington counties will max out at $420,680, but some go as high as $891,250.
- You will need to verify two years of consistent employment.
- A "middle score" from the 3 credit bureaus of 620 or better is needed.
- The debt-to-income ratio measures your housing and long-term debt against your income. It should not exceed 41% - 43% and varies from one government agency to another.
You can finance your stick-built, modular, or double-wide manufactured housing with a One-Time Close loan in any of the 39 counties in Washington. Keep in mind that this construction lending program can only be used for single family homes, but not for duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes. Investor properties are not allowed, and you cannot function as your own builder.
A key advantage of the One-Time Close loan program is that borrowers will only experience one mortgage application, one mortgage approval, and a single closing date. Compare that with more traditional products that feature two of each along with a more complicated process. When construction of your home is complete, there will not be a new borrower requalification or a recertification of the property value. And until that point, mortgage payments will not begin.
If you are looking for a home that fits your family, lifestyle, and future needs, building might be a better plan than buying. Do yourself a favor and consider this option before you make one of the most important decisions in your life.
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: 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
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 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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October 18, 2022What makes government-backed single-close construction loans different from their conventional equivalents? Should you choose an FHA or a VA One-Time Close loan over a conventional construction loan? Both conventional loans and government-backed mortgages offer 30-year, fixed-rate loan terms, options to refinance, and for FHA and conventional mortgages, mortgage insurance premiums.
October 13, 2022An article published by National Public Radio points out that house prices have increased as much as 40% in the last 24 months. That has left some potential borrowers wondering if it’s smart to build a new home right now. The NPR report also mentions the fact that existing construction prices may have hit their peak in June of 2022, and since then prices on those homes have come down by as much as six percent.
October 11, 2022There are a variety of home loans that can be used for a variety of purposes. Getting the right loan is an important part of the journey toward home ownership. Did you know the loan used to build a home from the ground up is not the same as the one you use to buy an existing property with? You would not apply for a loan to buy an existing home in the suburbs when you want to build one from the ground up. The process is quite different.