What Kind Of Loan Do I Need To Buy Land

How To Find A Land Loan

Where youll want to look for a land loan depends on what you want to do with the land. Generally, land loans are more difficult to find than traditional mortgages, says Robin Kencel, a real estate agent with Greenwich, Conn.-based Compass Real Estate. She says some lenders are cautious about issuing land loans. If the loan is defaulted on, they need to sell that property to get the money back, said Kencel, and its often more difficult to sell raw land.

With no structure yet built on the property, lenders may view these buyers as having less skin in the game. If construction plans fall through or the buyer no longer wants the land, the risk of default increases. This is why some lenders will offer mortgages, but not loans for raw land or construction loans. Simply put, land loans are riskier.

Kencel says she often recommends a specific bank or mortgage brokers to clients seeking land loans since brokers have a wider net for finding lenders. The type of lender you need depends on what you plan to build on the land or if you just want a vacant parcel to keep as an investment or develop later.

Raw land loans can also be found through specialized lenders , credit unions and smaller local lenders familiar with land in the area.

Direct From The Seller

Finally, you may be able to work out a financing deal directly with the person who is selling the plot of land. This option may eliminate the hassle of tracking down a third-party lender and applying for a loan, but an individual seller may want to receive a much larger down payment and be repaid within a couple of years. Be sure that if you do take this route, you get the details of the agreement down on paper and even consult with a lawyer.

Improved Land Versus Raw Land For Building A House

• Improved land: Land that has access to things like roads, electricity and water.
• Unimproved land: Raw land that doesnt have access to these services. It needs to be inspected and can support things like a septic tank or be able to reach certain public utilities.

Unimproved land can require a substantially higher down payment than improved land. Construction on unimproved land often takes longer; you will likely have to do more clearing for utilities and roadway access.

Also take into consideration the size of the lot youre looking to buy. Kraft says you can run into acreage limitations for the area because lots should be similar to other lots in the area. And it often helps to keep it compact: The bigger the lot, the more problems you might run into, said Kraft.

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Using A Personal Loan To Buy Land

Personal loans are generally unsecured, meaning they dont require collateral. They are a flexible form of financing, as they can be used for a variety of reasons, such as debt consolidation and home improvement financing even a land purchase.

Since these loans for land dont require collateral, lenders rely more heavily on your to determine your eligibility as a borrower. Lenders typically look for the following when analyzing potential personal loan candidates:

• Good credit score
• Steady income
• Low debt-to-income ratio

Community banks, credit unions and larger banks may be more inclined to consider personal loan borrowers who, along with having strong credit and income, are existing customers with well-managed savings accounts or other loans with their institution. Online lenders offer personal loans to those who qualify based on creditworthiness and other factors specific to the borrowers financial profile.

Usda Construction Loan Rates

As mentioned earlier, the interest rate you may be quoted on a USDA construction loan will likely be higher than rates offered for a separate lot loan, construction loan, and 30-year mortgage loan.

Rates are difficult to compare among the lenders, investors, and brokers offering this loan, says Duncan.

Every loan is priced uniquely based on individual factors, fees, and margins. You may also be able to buy down your rate, which could become a factor when trying to qualify at a certain debt ratio with higher payments.

As always, you should shop with a few different lenders to find the best rate available to you.

If you cant find multiple USDA construction loan lenders to compare, try expanding your search to include other types of construction loans.

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Land Loans: Using A Personal Loan To Buy Land

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If you need funding to buy a plot of land, you can potentially use a personal loan. However, it might not be your first choice when compared to land loans and construction loans, which typically carry lower interest rates.

Using a personal loan to buy land does come with benefits, though. Personal loans dont require collateral, so you dont risk losing an asset if you default on the loan . Plus, personal loans carry less restrictions than land loans and mortgages.

In this guide:

• FAQ: Personal loans and land loans

Finding A Lender & Related Considerations

The economic downturn and crash of the housing market continues to affect the availability of;financing. Indeed, the market for purchase money mortgages for buying new homes the typical, conventional mortgage still is in flux and continues to make it difficult for many buyers of existing homes to get;loans. These difficulties are amplified for the non-conventional lot loans, land loans and construction loans and this type of financing may not even be available in some markets. But the housing and lending markets steadily have been improving and these issues will continue to work themselves out as time goes on.

If you are ready to move forward with obtaining financing, then test the waters and see what options you will have. It goes without saying that you should make sure your financial house is in order so that you can make your loan look attractive to lenders.

Early in the process you should try to find a lender or mortgage broker that understands your needs and has experience in the type of loan that you are seeking. Getting pre-qualified will help you understand your budget and other financial limitations. Not all lenders or mortgage brokers work with loans for vacant land, so make sure you are partnering with someone who has the expertise, network and resources to deliver.

Read some of the other articles in this series that provide more details about Land & Lot Loans;and;New Home Construction Loans.

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How To Find A Usda Construction Loan

Although there are big potential benefits to a USDA construction loan, it can be difficult to find lenders offering them in practice.

Even the largest of lenders dont offer this program for many reasons. These include factors like longer closing time, higher risk to underwriting and investors, having to lock the rate longer, and needing to communicate with many moving parts over a long period, Duncan says.

An online search for USDA construction loan lenders should yield some lenders you can investigate.

I recommend choosing a lender that knows exactly what this process involves and has closed these loans before. You want someone transparent, upfront, and who doesnt sugarcoat or gloss over the details of what youre looking for, advises Mushlin.

How Your Credit Score Affects Personal Loan Affordability And Eligibility

Personal loans tend to come with higher APRs , which makes them less affordable, particularly for low-credit borrowers. Because there are no assets to be seized if the borrower defaults on the loan, personal loan eligibility will also vary depending on the borrowers creditworthiness.

Borrowers with a strong credit profile will generally see lower offered APRs than consumers with lower credit scores. See just how much APRs vary for people in different credit bands, according to the LendingTree Personal Loan Offers Report:

A personal loan is an unsecured loan that can be used to finance many different ventures, while a land loan is specifically issued to finance a land purchase. While you may be familiar with the basics of securing a mortgage to buy a home, it doesnt work the same way if you arent purchasing a lot with a home already built on it.

Getting a land loan can be a lot more complicated and expensive than getting a traditional mortgage. These loans are often considered risky, in part because land is a more illiquid asset. It can be difficult to sell, particularly if it is raw versus improved .

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Home Equity And 401 Loans

Finally, if you have sufficient equity in your home, you might consider borrowing against it to pay for your land purchase. The advantages here are clear. Home equity loans are fairly easy to obtain . Home equity lines of credit also carry fairly low interest rates, and very favorable repayment terms. Depending on the cost of the land you are planning to purchase, this can be an ideal solution.

Using the assets in your 401 to buy land may be an option, but only if your employer is willing to allow you to borrow money from the company’s retirement plan. There is no law requiring employers to allow employees to borrow from their existing 401, so this option may not be available to everyone. It’s worth noting, however, that even if you are authorized to borrow against your 401 you will only have access to a limited short term loan. Depending on the cost of the land you want to purchase, this may or may not be sufficient. Having said that, borrowing against your retirement savings can be a lower cost alternative to traditional financing.

Land loans are typically more difficult to obtain than other secured loans, but any challenges to your loan application can be overcome if you have a definite plan in place to improve the land and increase its value as an investment opportunity for your lender.

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The Right Land Loan For You

Whatever you want the land for, make sure you investigate all your options before committing to a loan. It would be best to plan for the land usage before you look for a loan. This will allow you to apply for the right loan and show lenders that you are less of a risk.

You also need to understand what loan terms are best for you. For example, are you going to pay off the loan quickly, or is a longer period required?

Buying land to build the home of your dreams is a big project, but if you have the right financing in place, it should make things a little easier. Due diligence is just as critical as buying a home and sometimes even more so when its land.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what you should know about buying land and getting a loan. There are many financing options, so its worth your time researching which is best for you.

About the author: The above Real Estate information on getting a land loan was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 34+ years.

Are you thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

The Pros Of A Usda Construction Loan

USDA construction loans come with a variety of benefits. First, while typical USDA loans allow borrowers to purchase an existing home, a USDA construction loan allows borrowers to start from scratch, allowing them to get exactly what they need in a home.

Another benefit of a USDA construction loan is that, unlike traditional construction loans, they take out just one loan for the land, construction, and finished home. This saves the borrower money because they only pay closing costs once. Borrowers also arent required to make payments during the building process, allowing them to save money.

Finally, the single close loan ensures that borrowers only have to qualify for one loan and that an unexpected change in their finances doesnt hurt their prospects of closing on the second loan. Imagine that after closing on the construction loan, a change to the borrowers credit score meant they would no longer qualify for their 30-year loan. Because theyve already closed, they dont have to worry about it.

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Everything You Need To Know About Land Loans

Buying a parcel of land, either as a long term investment or on which to build a new home, is not quite as simple as you might think. Unless you’re in a position to pay cash up front, you’ll need to borrow some money to finance the purchase. But borrowing money to purchase raw land is not quite that straight forward.

Land loans are unique financial products, and they are handled differently than mortgages and other secured loans. If you’ve never purchased land before, you may find the process a bit more challenging than you expected. But a short primer should help you understand how land loans work, and what your options are when looking for a lender.

Living In New Braunfels

Q: Are there community events for neighbors?

A: Vintage Oaks organizes community events throughout the year. In addition, resident-planned for neighbors and different groups take place in the clubhouse all year round.

Q: Are there employment opportunities nearby?

A: New Braunfels offers numerous employment opportunities with major employers including the Comal Independent School District , Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Walmart Distribution Center. The citys location between Austin and San Antonio also puts it within easy reach of both of these dynamic employment centers.

Q: How about dining, shopping, and entertainment?

A:New Braunfels is a hotspot for each. Dining Shopping ranges from the historic main plaza in Downtown New Braunfels to the Premium Outlets that have been voted among the Best places to shop by the Austin Business Journal just up the street. Restaurants reflect an international flavor and boast some of the best in Texas eats. Entertainment is largely focused on the Hill Countrys thriving music scene.

Are you a music afficianado? Do you want to live in the heart of the Hill Country music scene? Download our free guide now to discover everything you need to know about visiting and living in the heart of the;Hill Country music scene!

Q: Is tubing the main recreational opportunity in the area?

A: Vintage Oaks and New Braunfels are filled with opportunities for recreation, from walking on the community trails to hiking and biking throughout the city.

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Additional Costs And Requirements

For construction loans, lenders arent just looking at your buyer profile theyre also assessing the builder. If Im underwriting a , Im underwriting the builder. I need to know that builder is competent, said Kraft.

Approval is also more difficult for construction loans as there isnt a home or business to inspect and appraise. All the building plans, costs, fees and the feasibility of the building schedule will be closely considered. The builders previous work will likely be evaluated as well, so if your builder isnt up to par, then your loan will be denied.

Its important to keep an eye on the building process budget. If the budget grows beyond what the lender approved, the lender will probably require you to pay for it yourself or obtain a second loan to cover the cost. So dont go adding golden toilets and crystal chandeliers .

Seller Land Loan Financing

It can sometimes be possible to get finance for the land from the business or person you are buying it from. If you are lucky enough to have this as an option, you can expect to need a big down payment, and the interest is unlikely to be competitive.

Keep in mind if a seller is willing to finance the land purchase, they are probably interested in making it worth their while. That means making money at a higher interest rate than what you would expect to pay from a traditional land lender. A loan on land from the owner is probably going to be one of your more expensive options.

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These Loans Are Different

Most homeowners are familiar with the typical mortgage loan used to finance the purchase of an existing, already-built home . Purchase money loans are the standard of the residential lending industry, and entire financial markets, mortgage products and automated systems have been created to make these loans efficient and easy for banks to underwrite and process.

But conventional purchase money mortgages are different from lot, land and construction loans both in how they are structured and how lenders underwrite, process and account for them and understanding these differences is perhaps the most important takeaway that potential borrowers need to grasp before seeking a loan for buying land or building a home. ;Read about whybanks treat these loans differently.