Construction Loans - How to Buy and Build A Home with a Single Loan

The tides are definitely changing. The appeal of construction mortgages are on the rise, as they give homeowners the perks of building their dream home with a single mortgage. With a construction loan, home owners can not only add luxurious amenities like swimming pools but also transform their properties onto stunning vacation homes. Major renovations such as adding an extra room or upgrading with an extension is also possible through a decent construction loan.

So What Exactly is a Construction Loan?

Construction loans are short term financing options that can cover the building costs while the construction in the home is in progress. The demand for these loans is steadily increasing, particularly because of the lack of inventory in most markets. Instead of choosing from the limited number of choices, a lot of people go for the more viable option of building their home and enhancing its value.

Why is the Demand for Construction Loans Rising?

Mostly when home owners need to expand their property or build their own home, they go for contractors who have their own financing to carry on the construction. At the end of the job, the homeowners can opt for a standard home mortgage. But it often happens that these specialty contractors don't have front end financing of their own. In these cases, going for a construction loan is the only choice available.

Types of Construction Loans

There are different types and variants of construction loans, but the most popular of these is the construction-to-permanent loan. This loan covers all the building costs and then converts into a normal mortgage loan after the construction is completed.

The main advantage of this kind of loan is that it has one application and one closing, and it acts like a line of credit during the entire construction phase. It provides the borrowers with the cash inflow that they need, and only the interest amount needs to be paid during the construction period. Once that is finished, the borrower can proceed with the interest as well as principal payment.

However, despite all the advantages there are a few setbacks that make these loans a little difficult to handle. Some of these issues include:

Getting an Appraisal

Construction loans are usually approved after an appraisal by the lender. This can prove to be a disadvantage if other homes in the market are of a lower value, because the lender will then approve a lower value loan. To overcome the issues, borrowers have to make larger down payments which can sometimes be unaffordable.

Higher Interest RatesMost lenders offer construction loans with adjustable rates only. This means that the payment amount can increase in the future as the Federal Reserve resets the interest values. A lot of lenders also charge a higher interest rate for these kinds of loans, which are around a quarter of a percentage point higher as compared to private mortgage loans.

Hidden Charges

Aside from the interest rate and down payment, beware of the extra fees and costs that will come with the loan! While origination fee is often charged as 1% of the total loan amount, some lenders may also charge a penalty if you pay off the loan early or go for a refinance.

Tony Busanich is a loan officer with TD Bank, a portfolio leader from Maine to Florida. You can trust TD Bank to deliver a superior mortgage experience. Whether you're purchasing or refinancing, we provide straightforward, easy-to-understand products and advice, allowing you to make smart borrowing decisions that meet your needs today and tomorrow. My web site at www.tdbank.com/tonybusanich includes mortgage rates updated every morning. You can run different scenario that include monthly payments, different programs and closing cost. Please contact me at 908-300-6660 or by email at anthony.busanich@td.com and on my web site at www.tdbank.com/tonybusanich