Pros And Cons Of Building A Home
November 10, 2022
Is it smarter to build a home or buy one? In late 2022 some borrowers are asking that question, faced with rising interest rates, a lack of inventory, and high prices. What are the pros and cons of building your own home on your own lot with a One-Time Close mortgage?
Pros And Cons Of Building A Home: Control
When buying someone else’s house, you have no say in the design, layout, or features in the home except for what you might be able to negotiate with the seller in terms of keeping or replacing appliances, etc.
Building a home means working with an architect or design company to select the right floor plan, features, fixtures, countertops, etc. You have more control over the process when using a single-close construction loan to build rather than buying existing construction.
Pros And Cons Of Buying An Existing Home: Down Payments
If you decide to build rather than buy, you will be required to make a minimum down payment. Some borrowers worry about their ability to come up with that down payment and turn to local assistance programs which may provide cash help with down payment and closing costs.
But a One-Time Close lender is likely to require you to come up with your own down payment to build a home--you likely won’t be able to use down payment assistance to build your home.
Pros And Cons Of Building A Home: No Competition
House hunters looking at existing construction in today’s market may find it tough to compete, depending on circumstances, that particular housing market, etc. Some housing markets were so competitive in the summer of 2022 that people were foolishly waiving their right to get a home inspection before purchasing.
You won’t have to worry about such contingencies when building a home.
Pros And Cons Of Buying A Home: Repairs Or Corrections
If you buy existing construction (homes that have been previously owned) you may inherit other people’s problems with the central air conditioning system, electrical system, or other critical areas of the home. When you build a home from the ground up, you are installing all-new appliances, fixtures, features, etc. That is an important aspect to consider if you are on the fence about building or buying.
Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?
We have done extensive research on the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) One-Time Close Construction loan programs.
We have spoken directly to licensed lenders that originate these residential loan types in most states and each company has supplied us with the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders that know the product well and have consistently provided quality service.
If you are interested in being contacted by a licensed lender in your area, please send responses to the questions below. All information is treated confidentially.
OneTimeClose.com provides information and connects consumers to qualified One-Time Close lenders to raise awareness about this loan product and to help consumers receive higher-quality service.
We are not paid for endorsing or recommending the lenders or loan originators and do not otherwise benefit from doing so. Consumers should shop for mortgage services and compare their options before agreeing to proceed.
Please note that investor guidelines for the FHA and VA One-Time Close Construction Program only allow for single-family dwellings (1 unit) – and NOT for multi-family units (no duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes).
In addition, the following homes/building styles are not allowed under these programs: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe
Please send your email request to [email protected] which authorizes OneTimeClose.com to share your personal information with one mortgage lender licensed in your area to contact you.
1. Send your first and last name, e-mail address, and contact telephone number.
2. Tell us the city and state of the proposed property.
3. Tell us your and/or the Co-borrower’s credit profile: Excellent – (680+), Good - (640-679), Fair – (620-639), or Poor- (Below 620). 620 is the minimum qualifying credit score for this product.
4. Are you or your spouse (Co-borrower) eligible veterans? If either of you is an eligible veteran, down payments as low as $0 may be available up to the maximum amount your debt-to-income ratio per VA will allow – there are no maximum loan amounts as per VA guidelines. Most lenders will go up to $1,000,000 and review higher loan amounts on a case-by-case basis. If not, the FHA down payment is 3.5% up to the maximum FHA lending limit for your county.
Pros And Cons Of Building A Home: Control
When buying someone else’s house, you have no say in the design, layout, or features in the home except for what you might be able to negotiate with the seller in terms of keeping or replacing appliances, etc.
Building a home means working with an architect or design company to select the right floor plan, features, fixtures, countertops, etc. You have more control over the process when using a single-close construction loan to build rather than buying existing construction.
Pros And Cons Of Buying An Existing Home: Down Payments
If you decide to build rather than buy, you will be required to make a minimum down payment. Some borrowers worry about their ability to come up with that down payment and turn to local assistance programs which may provide cash help with down payment and closing costs.
But a One-Time Close lender is likely to require you to come up with your own down payment to build a home--you likely won’t be able to use down payment assistance to build your home.
Pros And Cons Of Building A Home: No Competition
House hunters looking at existing construction in today’s market may find it tough to compete, depending on circumstances, that particular housing market, etc. Some housing markets were so competitive in the summer of 2022 that people were foolishly waiving their right to get a home inspection before purchasing.
You won’t have to worry about such contingencies when building a home.
Pros And Cons Of Buying A Home: Repairs Or Corrections
If you buy existing construction (homes that have been previously owned) you may inherit other people’s problems with the central air conditioning system, electrical system, or other critical areas of the home. When you build a home from the ground up, you are installing all-new appliances, fixtures, features, etc. That is an important aspect to consider if you are on the fence about building or buying.
Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?
We have done extensive research on the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) One-Time Close Construction loan programs.
We have spoken directly to licensed lenders that originate these residential loan types in most states and each company has supplied us with the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders that know the product well and have consistently provided quality service.
If you are interested in being contacted by a licensed lender in your area, please send responses to the questions below. All information is treated confidentially.
OneTimeClose.com provides information and connects consumers to qualified One-Time Close lenders to raise awareness about this loan product and to help consumers receive higher-quality service.
We are not paid for endorsing or recommending the lenders or loan originators and do not otherwise benefit from doing so. Consumers should shop for mortgage services and compare their options before agreeing to proceed.
Please note that investor guidelines for the FHA and VA One-Time Close Construction Program only allow for single-family dwellings (1 unit) – and NOT for multi-family units (no duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes).
In addition, the following homes/building styles are not allowed under these programs: Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes.
Contact Us: Send Us Your Request – Spam Safe
Please send your email request to [email protected] which authorizes OneTimeClose.com to share your personal information with one mortgage lender licensed in your area to contact you.
1. Send your first and last name, e-mail address, and contact telephone number.
2. Tell us the city and state of the proposed property.
3. Tell us your and/or the Co-borrower’s credit profile: Excellent – (680+), Good - (640-679), Fair – (620-639), or Poor- (Below 620). 620 is the minimum qualifying credit score for this product.
4. Are you or your spouse (Co-borrower) eligible veterans? If either of you is an eligible veteran, down payments as low as $0 may be available up to the maximum amount your debt-to-income ratio per VA will allow – there are no maximum loan amounts as per VA guidelines. Most lenders will go up to $1,000,000 and review higher loan amounts on a case-by-case basis. If not, the FHA down payment is 3.5% up to the maximum FHA lending limit for your county.
See Your Credit Scores From All 3 Bureaus
Do you know what's on your credit report?
Learn what your score means.
Articles, Updates, and Guidelines
Building A Home In 2024
November 28, 2023FHA loans and VA mortgages are necessary low-to-no down payment options for first-time home buyers, and the programs are also open to other financially qualified applicants. What do you need to know about these loans? The fact that they can be used to build a new house and are not limited to existing construction sales. What’s important to know about these options?
Construction Loans: What To Ask Before You Commit
November 16, 2023Are you tempted to build a home from the ground up with an FHA construction loan or a VA One-Time Close mortgage? Building is better for some than buying existing construction but there are some important factors to consider.
Construction Loan Limits
November 9, 2023At the time of this writing, the FHA is preparing to release 2024 FHA loan limits for purchase loans, construction loans, and renovation mortgages. If you are building a home and are unsure what loan limits may apply to you, keep reading. We address this issue below. Some might wonder if delaying their loan application until the new year is a good idea, assuming loan limits will be higher.
