5 Things to Know About Financing New Home Construction

Building a home for the first time comes with some new styles of financing with which to acquaint yourself. Borrowing funds to cover the process will likely include a construction loan.

Read on for five things you should know about financing a home construction project.

1. There may be money down.

Just like you would encounter with a traditional mortgage, a construction loan often comes with a required downpayment. This can reach as much as 20 percent in some cases. That’s why you should plan on saving up a bit prior to embarking on your construction journey. You may have to offer up some starter money to get the loan rolling.

Levo is a rarity—we don’t require a downpayment on our construction loans. Talk to a lender about your options.

2. You don’t pay it like a mortgage.

Construction loans don’t function quite the same way that typical mortgages do. In fact, most often, your construction loan payment plan will include solely anticipated interest payments until the construction is complete. (This interest rate may vary during the construction.) Then, once you’re issued a certificate of occupancy, the total of your loan is due.

That’s where a mortgage comes in—let’s talk about how Levo can help. Our credit union doesn’t even require payment during construction!

3. Loan payoffs function differently.

Speaking of paying off your construction loan balance, there are options for how you approach this, depending on your lender. Some construction loans are paid off by a completely separate mortgage account.

4. Budget preparation is key.

The best way to ensure a speedy pre-approval on your construction loan is to come to your lender with a clear-cut budget plan. Have a lot chosen and house specs outlined—in addition to a contractor in writing—to share with the loan officer. The more detail, the better—it’ll make it easier to approve your financing.

5. You should identify your milestones.

Most construction loans operate differently than mortgages in that you are advanced funds to cover construction costs based on designated milestones. This is often up to the lender’s discretion, but may include closing on your lot, foundation completion, roofing completion or even specific time periods.

The mortgage pros at Levo are ready and waiting to make the construction loan process as smooth as possible for your next project—contact us to get started.