From Construction Phase to Move-In Day
You've closed on your One-Time Close Loan, and it's time for construction on your new home to begin! Your lender will start to disburse "draws" to your contractor over time as the building progresses.
Draw Disbursement
With a Single Close loan, payments are made to the builder on a work-completed basis. Draw requests must be submitted by the builder, along with an itemized report of the progress made on the home. An additional assessment comes from an independent, third-party inspection service that determines the percentage of work completed. Once these reports are received by the lender and the draw amount determined, the disbursements are made to your builder. Some lenders may flow the funds through the closing/escrow agent, while others may disburse directly to the builder.
It Begins With the Start-up Draw
A start-up draw might be paid to your contractor after closing is finalized. This includes the lot payoff amount, less any down payment. Your builder receives the final draw once the project is completed. Lenders may require additional documentation before making this last payment, such as a final appraisal inspection, an endorsement from the Title Company, and proof of the homeowner's insurance policy.
Construction Period
Whether it's FHA or VA, most lenders don't want to see the construction period on your new home exceed 9 months. Every home is different, which means that this timeframe can vary according to the location and type of home. Our lenders have provided average construction periods for the different, one-unit homes financed via One-Time Close loans:
- Site-Built homes -- 280 days average
- Modular homes -- 240 days average
- Manufactured homes -- 200 days average
Amortization and Move-In
During the interim construction period—however long it may be—you are typically not required to make payments on the loan or pay the construction interest. Your builder is responsible for the interest during the construction period, which is an incentive to finish building as quickly as possible. Payments are normally due once the project is complete, all required documents have been provided by your builder to the lender, and the construction portion of the loan converts to the permanent portion of the loan. Your permanent mortgage begins amortization no later than the first of the month following 60 days from the issuance of the certificate of occupancy by the local municipality or final compliance inspection, whichever comes later. No re-qualifying, no increase to your interest rate, and no additional closing costs!
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February 7, 2023If you are looking to finance the construction of your new home, you may be wondering if you can qualify for a VA or FHA One-Time Close construction loan. In this article, we will go over the four things you need to credit qualify for one of these loans. Remember, VA loans are not offered to all applicants but only to those with qualifying military or uniformed service. FHA loans are offered to all who qualify for the loan.
February 2, 2023If you are building a home in 2023 with a One-Time Close mortgage, you likely understand that these loans have higher credit standards than existing construction mortgages. Sometimes you need every advantage you can get to qualify for a more complex loan like a single close construction mortgage, and paying attention to the credit issues below can help.
January 26, 2023Finance blogs are reporting interest rates falling more than three-quarters of a point since the end of October 2022, with more improvements possible down the road. Now is a very good time to consider your construction loan options, though with the caveat that we may experience a bumpy road back to lower rates and less of a seller's market for real estate overall.
