Loan Advice for People Building Their Own Homes
May 9, 2022
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.
A One-Time Close construction loan is designed to let you build a house on your own lot instead of buying an existing property. Do you want to design and build your own home using professional contractors and plans created by a professional? There are dream homes, and then there are dream homes you approve of the design for before a single nail goes into the wood.
One Time Close Loans: You CAN Build A Home Instead Of Buying One
There are multiple government-backed One-Time Close mortgages, even need-based home loans that still allow you to build a home from the ground up. The need-based construction loans come via the USDA home loan program, but two other government backed construction loans are NOT need-based.
VA construction loans are offered to veterans, currently serving military members, and certain surviving spouses. These construction loans feature zero down payment and no VA-required mortgage insurance. They are perfect for military families, retirees, and anyone else who qualifies for the loan and wants to build a home.
Compare Costs And Don’t Assume Building Is Out Of Your Price Range
It's easy to assume that building a home will cost you more money than buying an existing construction property. But what kind of home do you need? Are you building a house to start a family in? Or are you building a home that you want to retire in?
Construction loans allow you to have a say in the design of the property, and "going green" is a concern for many. One advantage you have in building instead of buying?
Knowing how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your new home is based on what you decide on the design. Knowing that you will save money on your utilities even during the earliest days of your occupancy is not just comforting, but also a big help for some budgets.
Construction Loans Aren’t Just For “Certain” Home Buyers
Do you think you won’t qualify for an FHA construction loan or a VA construction loan because you are not a first-time home buyer? This is not true.
FHA credit score requirements state FICO scores 500 or above typically qualify under FHA guidelines. FICO score ranges between 500 and 579 technically qualify for FHA home loans at a higher down payment (10%).
FHA loan standards say FICO scores at 580 or higher qualify for the lowest down payment under FHA rules. However, lender standards also apply, so be sure to ask your loan officer. Construction loans may feature different lender standards than others. But FICO score requirements are just part of the loan approval picture--ask your loan officer what makes an ideal applicant for a construction loan.
One Time Close Loans: You CAN Build A Home Instead Of Buying One
There are multiple government-backed One-Time Close mortgages, even need-based home loans that still allow you to build a home from the ground up. The need-based construction loans come via the USDA home loan program, but two other government backed construction loans are NOT need-based.
VA construction loans are offered to veterans, currently serving military members, and certain surviving spouses. These construction loans feature zero down payment and no VA-required mortgage insurance. They are perfect for military families, retirees, and anyone else who qualifies for the loan and wants to build a home.
Compare Costs And Don’t Assume Building Is Out Of Your Price Range
It's easy to assume that building a home will cost you more money than buying an existing construction property. But what kind of home do you need? Are you building a house to start a family in? Or are you building a home that you want to retire in?
Construction loans allow you to have a say in the design of the property, and "going green" is a concern for many. One advantage you have in building instead of buying?
Knowing how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your new home is based on what you decide on the design. Knowing that you will save money on your utilities even during the earliest days of your occupancy is not just comforting, but also a big help for some budgets.
Construction Loans Aren’t Just For “Certain” Home Buyers
Do you think you won’t qualify for an FHA construction loan or a VA construction loan because you are not a first-time home buyer? This is not true.
FHA credit score requirements state FICO scores 500 or above typically qualify under FHA guidelines. FICO score ranges between 500 and 579 technically qualify for FHA home loans at a higher down payment (10%).
FHA loan standards say FICO scores at 580 or higher qualify for the lowest down payment under FHA rules. However, lender standards also apply, so be sure to ask your loan officer. Construction loans may feature different lender standards than others. But FICO score requirements are just part of the loan approval picture--ask your loan officer what makes an ideal applicant for a construction loan.
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
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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
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Using Escrow For Your Construction Loan
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