Since there is more risk with a construction loan than with a standard mortgage, interest rates may be higher. In addition, the approval process is different from that of.
Construction loans
are very short-term, generally with a lifespan of one year or less. Interest rates are usually variable and fluctuate with a reference point such as LIBOR or the prime rate.In addition, the approval process is different from that of a normal mortgage. The originator of the construction loan will insist on detailed plans, a construction schedule, and a budget that makes business sense. A home construction loan is a short-term loan with higher interest rates that provides the funds needed to build a residential property. This type of loan makes sense if you are sure that your financial situation will not change during the construction process, which is usually lengthy, and you don't mind looking for two loans.
Decide whether you want to go through the lending process once with a permanent construction loan or twice with an exclusive construction loan. The advantage of the build-to-permanent approach is that you only have to pay a set of closing costs, reducing your overall rates. Depending on the type of construction loan, the borrower could convert the construction loan into a traditional mortgage once the house is built. A one-time fixed-term construction loan, also known as a permanent construction loan, automatically converts the construction loan into a long-term mortgage when the house is built.
You should leave room for these additional costs within the amount of the loan you're paying for and ensure that you can easily cover planned payments. A construction loan is used during the construction phase and is reimbursed once construction is complete. To get approved for a construction loan, you'll usually need to show that you have a qualified builder involved in the project. A final loan simply refers to the homeowner's mortgage once the property is built, Kaminski explains.
With this type of loan, you have one loan for the construction phase and another for the mortgage phase once the house is finished. At a minimum, most lenders require a 20% down payment on a construction loan, and some require up to 25%. Although similar to a home loan, there are some additional requirements needed to get a construction loan. While building your own home from the ground up can be an extremely rewarding process, getting a construction loan isn't easy.
Most lenders don't allow the borrower to act as their own builder because of the complexity of building a home and the experience required to comply with building codes.