The "FHA" One-Time-Close Loan
Single Close Loans allow you to wrap up the financing of lot purchase, construction and permanent mortgage into one loan insured by the FHA. Under this option, you can apply for a 15- or 30-year loan with a fixed rate that’s locked in before construction on your new home begins.
With a Single Close Loan comes a single set of closing costs. These costs can be partially paid for you, since the FHA allows interested party contributions (sometimes referred to as seller concessions, although commonly paid by the builder in the case of a construction-to-permanent loan) up to 6 percent of the total acquisition cost.
What is an FHA Loan?
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a government agency within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In an effort to stimulate America’s housing market and assist Americans in securing safe and affordable housing, the FHA insures mortgages on single and multifamily homes.
The FHA offers homebuyers a number of mortgage options, including the One-Time Close Construction-to-Permanent loan. The loan is provided by private, FHA-approved lenders and is backed by the FHA, giving lenders peace of mind about approving borrowers for large mortgages.
Who Can Apply
While only veterans and rural residents can apply for loans with the VA, securing a Single Close Loan with the FHA is easier for other homebuyers. It also allows you to take advantage of the FHA’s lenient borrower guidelines.
There is a low down payment requirement of 3.5 percent. If you already own the land on which your new home is being built and have equity in the land, the equity can be used towards the 3.5% down payment. Furthermore, the down payment can be paid for entirely with "gift funds."
Most lenders typically have a credit score requirement of at least 620. The FHA also requires proof of employment and income, and no late or missed payments in the last 12 months.
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March 8, 2024If you want to build a home from the ground up on your own lot using an FHA One-Time Close construction loan, you need to know some things before you start. According to Census Bureau data, the construction time for a single-family house is approximately seven months. This does not consider delays due to supply chain issues, weather or natural disasters, or cost overruns, but it’s a good benchmark to start with.
March 2, 2024Texas residents are finding out that they can utilize these low down payment programs in order to build a new home with the same underwriting guidelines and qualifications as if they were purchasing a resale. Now may be the time to start looking into building a home that suits your exact needs. Learn more about the One-Time Close construction mortgage.
March 1, 2024Building your dream house using a One-Time Close (OTC) construction loan is one option among many. But there are reasons why people don’t choose some of the other options. For example, an owner-builder loan offered by some banks allows the borrower to be their own contractor and do the construction work themselves.