What Is Construction Loan Financing

Apply For A Construction

You donât want a loan â you want a home. Assurance Financial understands that. Itâs why we pride ourselves on being The People People with technology. We treat you like a person, not a number, and we explain your options in plain English. We are not just about numbers, but rather about your homeownership goals.

Our goal is to help more Americans reach the dream of homeownership. Itâs why we focus on mortgages and offer a range of loan products to help you accomplish your goals. Whether youâre building new construction, renovating or buying an existing home, Assurance Financial has loans for you.

You can apply for a construction-to-permanent loan in 15 minutes with Abby, your virtual assistant. The application is simple, with no need to know complicated terms or enter strings of numbers. Abby lets you sign in to your payroll and banks to instantly verify assets and income, which can help streamline your application without sending in any statements.

If you prefer to speak to a person, we have mortgage experts licensed in 28 states. Our friendly and experienced professionals can listen to your goals and concerns and address them with customized advice.

Even if you apply with Abby, a real person will handle your application, so you donât have to worry about being treated like a number or getting lost in a computer system.

Where To Get A Construction Loan

If youre set on using a construction loan to build your dream home, then start shopping around for lenders now. For one, not all lenders offer these loans. More importantly, shopping around can ensure you get the best rates and terms possible.

Here are some places you can start:

• Your local bank or credit union. They may have a construction loan program, and you might enjoy loyalty perks for using your home bank.
• Your builder. They may have recommendations for local lenders in your area.
• Loan marketplaces. Loan marketplaces like and can help you find and compare loan terms within minutes. Simply answer a few questions and youll have a list of top-tier providers at your disposal.
• A mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers are like personal shoppers for loans. A local broker should have recommendations for construction lenders in your area.

When you contact a loan officer, just ask if they offer construction loans, and if so, what type. Remember that construction-to-permanent loans will save you money on closing costs and remove the need for a second loan application later on.

Do You Have Homeowners Insurance In Place

Even though you dont live in the home yet, your lender will likely require a prepaid homeowners insurance policy that includes builders risk coverage. This way, if something happens during the construction process the halfway-built property catches on fire, or someone vandalizes it, for example you are protected.

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How Long Does It Take To Get A Construction Loan

Typically, the average borrower would wait weeks for their loan request to be processed and approved, somewhere between 30 and 60 days depending on the borrowers ability to supply the lender with the necessary documentation promptly. If the lender has all of the information available and the projects plans and financial assessments are rock-solid, then there should be no need for the appraisal process to take longer than 60 days.

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What Are The Requirements For A Home Construction Loan

Unless you get a home construction loan through a government agency, like the FHA or the VA, youll typically need to meet conventional mortgage requirements, including having a credit score of 620 or higher and a debt-to-income ratio below 45%. Depending on the lender, you may be required to make a substantial down payment, possibly up to 20%.

In addition to all the requirements for a traditional mortgage loan, youll also need to show the construction plans, schedule and contract that you have with a licensed builder or contractor.

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Is It Cheaper To Buy Or Build A House

The answer to this question depends on several factors unique to each potential homeowner. Variables that influence price include the propertys location and the homes style and size. With construction projects, delays may emerge due to weather, shipping setbacks or other unexpected holdups, which can set you behind schedule. There are no setbacks like this when buying a finished home if an inspector doesnt detect any issues.

New construction can also provide you with several areas for saving. You have the flexibility to choose a less expensive property, like one further from a city center. Buying off-plan property or a vacant lot can lower stamp duty, the property tax based on the lands value at the time of sale. Some states also offer grants specifically for first-time homeowners. When exploring this option, carefully consider long-term payment requirements.

How Are Construction Loans Different From Mortgages

Construction loans are different from other home loans in a few important ways. Term length, rates, how involved your lender will be in the process, and how you go about paying the loan back are not quite the same as with all mortgage loans.

Term length

Typically, a construction loan has a fixed term of about one year the length of time most new home construction is expected to take. After the completion of the construction of your new home, your construction loan is then refinanced and converted into a conventional mortgage.

Lender Involvement

Construction loans are more tightly structured than other loans, and they involve a lot more lender interaction. When you take out a construction loan, in most cases, your lender will actually be paying money directly to your contractor, not to you. The lender pays the contractor in installments, also known as draws, which are issued whenever the contractor completes one stage of the project.

Your lender will carry out regular inspections to see how work is proceeding and to determine whether your contractor has earned the next installment. Youll work with your lender before construction begins to set up a schedule for inspections and payments.

Repayment

You make interest only payments on your construction loan until the work on your new home is complete. When construction is finished, you can refinance and convert your mortgage into a conventional mortgage.

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Cmhc National Housing Co

The fund is designed to finance the development of energy-efficient, accessible and socially inclusive housing throughout Canada. The housing can be for mixed-income, mixed-tenure and mixed-use affordable housing purposes. Builders can receive up to a 95% loan-to-cost through low-interest and forgivable loans.

The low-interest loans offer a 10-year fixed interest rate. You can also receive up to a 50-year amortization period. Projects with low cash flow are eligible to receive forgivable loans. However, they will not be prioritized for funding. You can learn more and apply to the program throughCMHCs National Housing Co-Investment Fund webpage.

How Construction Loans Work

Construction loans can come with fixed or adjustable interest rates and operate much like a . They come with a line of credit, and you can draw on those funds as needed throughout your homes construction.

The nice thing about this approach is that you only pay interest on what youve borrowed so far. So if youve only taken $10,000 from your construction loan this month, thats all youll pay interest on. You wont pay interest on the rest of your line of credit until youve withdrawn those funds.

As for retrieving the funds, the lender will release funds via a draw schedule basically a disbursement plan set by your builder and pay either you or your contractors/builders directly. The lender will require an inspection to confirm any work done before disbursing the money.

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Find A Licensed Builder

It is important to work with a licensed builder, as they will be familiar with the building codes and regulations in your area. If you do not comply with these, you may end up having to tear down your house or pay expensive repair costs. The builder will be able to carry out an inspection and help you in the building process.

Equipment And Material Financing

Equipment financing operates like a car loan or mortgage: A bank gives you a loan to purchase it and uses the equipment as collateral. For construction companies, this type of financing may be used for heavy machinery, vehicles, tools, or pretty much any operational equipment that improves their workers productivity.

The more you want to finance, the higher the interest rate will be. Because equipment depreciates, banks dont like to lend an amount equal to the full retail value of the equipment. However, there are some lenders out there that will finance 100% of the equipment value. More typically, the borrower will be required to put down a percentage of cash upfront.

Material financing is similar to equipment financing, in that a loan is exchanged for the purchase of construction materials. A financing company pays the supplier right away and then offers long-term payment terms to the contractor. These terms may offer contractors as much as 90 to 120 days to pay the finance company, which should be long enough for them to be paid by the customer.

Pros:

• Usually lower interest rates
• Added productivity from equipment can help pay for the cost of the loan

Cons:

• Equipment loans may require a down payment
• Requires a credit check and financial statements
• Equipment can be repossessed if payments are missed

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Qualifications For A Construction Loan: What You Need For Approval

As with any other loan, you really need to have your finances in order. However, given there is inherently more risk in financing a construction project, securing a construction loan is a more extensive process than obtaining a traditional mortgage, explains Steve Kaminski, head of residential lending at TD Bank.

For instance? Some lenders may require marginally stronger credit scores or increased documentation to ensure those risks are mitigated.

Plus, along with evaluating your credit score and overall financial situation, lenders will also closely examine your builder.

The project plans, costs, and land value are some of the things taken into consideration by the lenders appraiser so that the value of the overall project is adequately compared to other homes recently sold, he says.

As such, you will need to have all the details of the project in place before applying for a mortgage, and youll need to provide more documentation for a construction loan than you would for a standard mortgage, says Christian Wallace, head of sales at online mortgage lender Better.com.

Exactly what varies by state and lender, but usually loan applications require building permits, property surveys, building plans, signed construction contracts, proof of land purchase, project specifications, estimated costs, and a timeline for the build.

Lenders also determine real estate tax estimates for the completed project.

What Are The Different Types Of Home Construction Loans

• Construction-to-permanent loan: Construction loans taken in this form function as a conversion loan. Receiving this type of loan starts with you borrowing the money to pay for the costs of building your home. Upon completion of the project, the loan converts into a permanent mortgage.
• Construction-only loan: When you have a construction-only loan, you take out the money for the building process but need to pay it back in full without adjoining or converting it into a mortgage. You may need to pay it by the end of the project, or you might be able to pay interest payments until the conclusion of the project.
• Renovation loan: A renovation loan is for smaller projects instead of a full house build. It comes in a variety of forms, depending on how much money the project needs.
• Owner-builder construction loan: You can take out this kind of construction loan if you are acting as the home builder as well. Lenders may not offer this due to the complexity of building a house, and thus the increased risk without a licensed professional.
• End loan: An end loan functions as a mortgage, essentially. This type of construction loan is taken out after the construction is complete.

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New Home Construction Loans

A construction loan is useful if you are building a home yourself as a general contractor or working with a custom builder these are often paired with lot financing loans. Most new home construction loans provide short-term funds designed to get you through the building stage of your project followed by a conversion into a permanent long-term loan of 30 or 15 years this is called a single-closing loan.

A two-closing loan, on the other hand, refers to buyers taking out a construction financing loan, closing it when the house is built, and then applying for a new loan for their permanent financing. While this is more expensive due to the requirement of two loan approvals and two closing costs, this option is helpful if construction costs go beyond budget.

New-home construction loans are a specialized niche in the lending industry and nowhere near as widely available as standard mortgages. Your best bet is to shop among community banks that know the local or regional marketplace, especially savings banks and thrift institutions, though some brokers advertise online and are worth checking out.

How Can You Get A Construction Loan

Is it harder to qualify for a construction loan? Yes, construction loans are harder to get than a typical mortgage. Most lenders consider construction loans risky , so youll face some stiff requirements if you decide to apply. Here’s what many lenders require for a construction loan:

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Can You Do The Work

What if you want to do all of the building yourself? Unfortunately, that makes things even more difficult. Banks are hesitant to work with owner-builders. Banks fear that non-professionals have a better chance for delays and problems. Unless youre a full-time professional contractor with years of experience, youll probably have to hire someone else.

Obtain Your Credit Information

Well in advance of home shopping, you need to order your national credit files ideally from all three credit bureaus . Make sure there are no inaccuracies or outdated information. You can get your files free once a year at Annual Credit Report. Correct anything you find in error upfront otherwise, youll delay the entire financing process. Also order your FICO from one or more of the bureaus. Theyll play a key role in determining what sort of terms your lender will offer.

Any lender will need to see documentation of your income, employment, two years of IRS filings if you are self-employed, bank accounts, 401 funds and other assets. Its smart to compile this before you even begin shopping for financing options. Its also useful to have at least a rough idea of your current household expenses they will affect the amount of mortgage you can obtain and the maximum price of the house you can finance.

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How Do Construction Loans Work In Canada

What is Construction Loan?

Construction loans could be the ideal financial vehicle to help you develop a new home for yourself and your family, whether youre a builder or contractor, a small construction firm, or simply an individual.

In todays economy, however, acquiring a construction loan isnt always as simple as it appears. A traditional lender may take weeks to assess the sustainability of your home construction project, and even longer to determine whether you are eligible for a construction loan or mortgage.

This is where Freedom Capital enters the picture. We understand the difficulties of obtaining finance for a home construction project or a small business, and we want to assist you in achieving your goals.

We can give you with the sensible financing solutions you need to move ahead with our unique mortgage program, allowing you to receive the money you need to finish your home construction project on time.

Construction Loan Rates Vary By Lender

Construction loans involve more risk for the lender and therefore tend to have higher interest rates than conventional mortgages. Like a traditional mortgage, the interest rate you get on a construction loan varies based on current market rates and borrower qualifications, including credit score, income and the loan amount.

Fees also tend to be higher for construction loans because lenders must review building plans and prepare architectural documents. FHA rehab loans have a 3.5% down payment requirement for qualified borrowers.

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Types Of Funding For Construction Projects

Whether youre looking for traditional funding options or need to be a little more creative, various funding options are available for construction projects. Some options rely on a specific condition, such as acquiring the land, while others are broader. You might need a loan for construction that turns into a mortgage once the building or home is complete, or you may need funding for labor and supplies while youre completing a project for a client. Here are some of your options.