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!
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
August 9, 2024Choosing the right mortgage is essential to build a new home. Some borrowers confuse residential construction loans with non-residential equivalents and waste time in their loan planning and saving stages, looking at options that do not suit their needs. One-Time Close construction loans are approved for residential properties. You can get these as a VA or FHA construction loan, and the usual occupancy requirements associated with VA loans and FHA mortgages apply to construction, too.
August 2, 2024Are you exploring your home ownership options and thinking about the construction of a brand-new home? Consider the basic loan options available: single-close construction loans and two-close construction loans. You may already know what loan type is right for you, but making an informed decision is key.
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.
