Understanding How Construction Loans Work
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011When you consider to go in for a residential construction loan, it is essential for you to first understand the way it differs from other types of home loans, say, a mortgage loan. As the very term suggests, it is a loan taken by the residential borrowers towards the construction of their homes and hence they are short term loans in nature. This implies that it has to be paid off once the construction is completed for which the determining point is the issuance of certificate of occupancy.
Since construction loans do not fall within the category of standardized loans wherein a refinance option is available for the lenders, a residential construction loan have some distinct features some of which (there could be some overlapping with other types of loans) are:
- During the construction, you are obliged to pay only the interest and such interests can also be variable in nature
- The interest rates are linked to short term prime lending rates and the actual rate would be above the prime lending rate which however may not be too high. This means you do not get soft interest rates
- The duration of the loan varies between six and twelve months
- As already pointed out, the amount becomes payable in full once the certificate of occupancy is issued.
These features bring along with them some advantages as well as disadvantages some of which are figured out here for the benefit of our borrowers.
The main advantage a residential construction loan confers over permanent loan program relates to the fact that the borrowers need to complete only one application both- while applying as well as closing-which means the costs are lesser. If they wish, they can convert such loans into adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) or fixed rate mortgages (FRMs). Depending upon the lender you choose- (that is where our expert guidance comes in handy) - you can negotiate a program that would lock the interest rates. The borrowers can also have the option to go in for a 'float down' rate and this can get you the advantage of availing lower interest rates assuming they decline. Given the current state of the US economy where the Fed has decided to keep the interests nearer to zero levels at least until 2013, this sounds beneficial.
On the down side, due to the complex nature of dual options, it may be cumbersome for the borrowers to compare a two loan option –vs-a construction to permanent loan. This can be overcome by approaching experts who have specialized in understanding such complexities and dedicated to the job (for which we are meant), because it should be possible for us to advise you by evaluating moot points and tell you the best one that would suit you.
Yet another disadvantage seen in residential construction loan is seen in the borrowers getting 'locked in' to a specific deal. Backing out from such a deal would go against the interests of the borrowers because that would result in forfeiting points that would accrue towards improving your eligibility (credit scores) for a permanent loan.
Still there is a way out for such borrowers to get the best of both the worlds. They can opt for builder financed construction. The advantage here is that the responsibility towards financing the construction remains with the builder and the borrowers have the time and choices to shop for the best option available to them. Nonetheless, the borrowers need to read between the lines to see as to what costs the builders pass on to you and the manner in which they do them. If this is not done, the borrowers may ultimately end paying a higher price than what they would have paid if had financed the residential construction on their own. This would turn out to be a case of the remedy turning out to be worse than the disease. In order that not to happen we are at your service at any point of time as we have our presence through out USA










