Build a Home on Your Own Lot
The One-Time Close Loan is a mortgage program that finances the lot purchase (if necessary), the construction and permanent loan of a new home, all wrapped up in a single mortgage with a single closing. That's why it's called a "One-Time Close."
If you've decided to have your new home built from scratch, you might be wondering how to finance the construction and purchase. Previously, your only option would have been to secure a construction loan and then applying again for a permanent mortgage. You would have two closings, which means paying two sets of closing costs and having to re-qualify for the second loan once construction is complete.
The One-Time Close Loan, also known as a Single Close Loan, combines this process with a construction-to-permanent mortgage. You need only qualify once and pay a single set of closing costs. Your fixed-interest rate is locked in and the entire loan is in place before construction on your new home begins. Payment is only due after construction is complete when the loan automatically converts to a permanent mortgage.
Who Is This Loan For?
Homebuyers who are having trouble finding their dream home might decide it's not the right time for them to buy. After all, why go through the stress of a mortgage process for a home that you're just settling for? Well, maybe you don't have to! Maybe you can have the home you want - down to all the details and specifications - built from the ground up, with your own specifications. The One-Time Close loan can make that process a little easier for first-time homebuyers, and our lenders can help you find skilled contractors to make that dream home a reality.
You might even own your land already! This makes things more affordable and simpler. By owning the land your future home is going to sit on, you can use any equity you have accumulated towards your down payment.
Benefits of a One-Time Close Loan
The One-Time Close loan gets you from ground-breaking to move-in with a single mortgage, which streamlines the process, significantly. But it takes the pressure off you in other ways as well. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) both offer a version of the Single Close loan. While each agency may have certain additional requirements, there are some aspects both share.
Similar to other loans offered by the VA and FHA, the One-Time close loan comes with low interest rates as well. Getting a VA or FHA loan also means that you won't have to put up a huge down payment before construction starts, since these agencies have low requirements for upfront payment.
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May 21, 2025A One-Time Close (OTC) residential construction loan is a specialized financing product that combines the financing for a new home's construction phase and the permanent mortgage into a single loan with just one closing. Unlike other methods that require separate loans for building and then for long-term ownership, the OTC loan streamlines the entire process, offering a simplified and often more cost-effective approach to building a custom home than two-close construction loans.
April 29, 2025If you know about regular FHA loans for buying existing homes, the FHA OTC loan for building shares many similarities, but with some key construction-specific twists. FHA One-Time Close mortgages are backed by the Federal Housing Administration. This government insurance protects lenders if a borrower can't pay, allowing lenders to offer loans with easier qualification rules. This makes it a good option for first-time buyers or those who might find conventional loans harder to get.
April 16, 2025There are two popular ways to finance new home construction using a single loan: the FHA One-Time Close (OTC) loan and a similar Conventional single-close loan. What’s a single-close mortgage? Think of it as an "all-in-one" loan for building a house. Instead of getting one loan for the construction phase and then another separate mortgage loan once the home is finished, a single-close loan combines everything into one package. It covers land, materials, labor, permits, and builder fees.
