One of the best ways to ensure that your dream home really is your dream is to design and build it yourself. A home construction loan can help you accomplish your goals, but it’s important to be aware of some of the quirks associated with construction loans. Here’s what you need to know about how to get a construction loan.
How do construction loans work?
In most cases, construction loans are short-term and may come with higher interest rates than more traditional mortgages. Most of them are meant to be paid off within a year.
Home construction loans are usually disbursed in “draws” to the builder or contractor, rather than sent to you. Each draw is disbursed as certain milestones are met. For example, your contractor might receive a disbursement after the foundation is poured, and another might come after the home is framed. All the terms are set forth in the paperwork.
3 Types of Home Construction Loans
There are three main types of home construction loans: construction-to-permanent, construction-only, and renovation.
Construction-to-Permanent Loan
With this type of home construction loan, once the home is built, the loan converts to a permanent mortgage. You usually only have to pay closing costs once, which can save you money.
You can also choose to pay interest during the building phase, but it’s typically a variable interest rate, so your payments will fluctuate. After the home is built, and your construction loan converts to a permanent mortgage, you might be able to choose whether you want a variable rate or a fixed rate.
If you have a good plan for your home’s construction, and you want to pay off the loan over time with a reliable monthly payment for cash flow management purposes, this type of loan can make a lot of sense.
Construction-Only Loan
When you opt for this type of construction loan, you’re not going to have it automatically converted to a mortgage. Instead, you need to pay off the loan at the end of construction. As a result, you’ll pay two sets of closing costs, and have to get approved for two separate loans.
However, you might be able to make a smaller down payment on a construction-only loan than you would need for a construction-to-permanent loan. So, if you already own a home, you might want to get the construction-only loan for now. Then, wait until you sell your current home to get a bigger down payment for your mortgage.
Construction-only loans can work well for those with limited capital available now, but who expect to have money available later. Once the building is done, you can apply for a mortgage large enough to pay off the loan.
The downside, though, is that if something happens to your financial or credit situation during the construction phase, you could end up being unable to qualify for a mortgage big enough to pay off your loan. Then, when your loan becomes due, you have new problems—including the possibility that you could lose your home before you even move in.
Renovation Construction Loan
Rather than helping you build something new, a renovation loan is designed to help you cover the costs of a major remodel. If you want to turn a fixer-upper into the home of your dreams, but aren’t sure if you have the money for renovations, this type of loan can help.
It’s important to note that these aren’t home improvement loans. A home improvement loan often deals with smaller remodels and is based on how much equity you currently have in the home. Renovation construction loans are about major overhauls.
Typically, you’ll get a loan big enough to cover the costs of renovations as a mortgage. You only apply for one loan, and it’s based on the likely value of the home after the remodel is finished. This can be a big help if you don’t want to try to finance the cost of upgrades after you buy the house.
What is covered in your construction loan?
In general, you’ll find that most construction loans pay for various aspects of a project, including:
- Obtaining the land (or the fixer-upper if you’re getting a renovation loan)
- Getting the plans for the home
- Applying for the permits
- Paying the fees associated with construction
- Contingency reserves for covering unexpected costs
- Closing costs
You might also be able to have interest reserves built into your construction loan if you would rather not make interest payments while your home is being built or renovated.
The idea is that everything you need to complete your home, whether new-built or a renovation, is wrapped up in the loan.
Create a Plan for Your Custom Home
When building a home, you can’t just ask a lender for an appraisal or just get approved for a certain amount. Construction loan lenders expect to see a plan for the construction of the home.
When you apply for a home construction loan, you’ll need to let your lender know the following information:
- Size of the home and the lot
- Placement of the lot
- Home plans (possibly include blueprints)
- Materials used to build the home
- Types of renovations you plan to make (for an applicable loan)
- Timeline for completing the home
- Contractors that will be hired
Lenders will dig into this information to decide if you’re a good risk. They want to know that the home, or the lot, will at least be worth something if you default on the loan. Part of the process is understanding that the home will at least be worth what you’re borrowing once it’s finished.
At each stage of construction, and before disbursement is made, the work will have to be inspected. If you choose a general contractor that’s experienced and respected, they can help you provide needed information to your lender, and you can be reasonably assured that they will do good work.
Qualifying for a Home Construction Loan
Now that you have a plan for your new home, it’s time to qualify for your construction loan. In many ways, the process is the same as qualifying for a traditional mortgage. The construction loan lender will review your financial situation and decide if you present a relatively low risk. Some of the things that a construction loan provider looks at include:
- Credit score: This is the most important element of any home loan, and it’s no different with a construction loan. In fact, because there might not be anything of tangible value before construction, you might need an even higher credit score. You usually need at least a 680 credit score to qualify, so you need to improve your credit score if you’re not there yet.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio: As with a regular mortgage, the lower your debt-to-income ratio, the better off you’ll be. Most lenders require that your DTI be no more than 45% of your monthly income.
- Down payment: While you might be able to get by with 5% or less for a down payment with a traditional mortgage (FHA, USDA, and VA loans famously come with much lower down payments), a construction loan is a different story. You’ll likely have to put down at least 20% to make it happen. In some cases, though, as with a renovation loan, you might get away with a lower down payment.
By planning ahead and making sure your finances are in order, you have a better chance of qualifying for a construction loan.
Prepare for a Longer Closing Period
Realize that there are many moving parts to your home construction loan. It’s not just you and your lender involved. You’ve got a builder or contractor as part of the arrangement, and you’re not going to get a lump sum. Instead, the lender will evaluate you and the contractor you choose separately.
Additionally, a timeline for disbursements needs to be set up. Moreover, a lender might need to consider insurance related to the process. Plus, whether you choose a construction-to-permanent or construction-only loan matters a great deal as you negotiate with a lender about your terms.
As a result of these different aspects of construction loans, you might have to allow for a longer closing period. Additionally, you’re likely to see delays and additional costs during the building portion, so making sure you have adequate contingency reserves built into your new home is vital.
Bottom Line
A construction loan can help you create your dream home, whether you build from scratch or convert a fixer-upper. However, you need to be prepared for the differences that come with it.
Your lender isn’t just going to approve you for an amount and then hand over a lump sum and hope you use it appropriately. Instead, you’ll have to prove that you can handle the loan. They want to see that your construction project is viable, and they will watch you every step of the way as funds are doled out.
If you understand how a construction loan works, though, it can be a great tool for ensuring that you get exactly what you want in a new home.
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