Do you have long-term plans to purchase a plot of land and build your dream home? If so, you are not alone. Many folks want the opportunity to purchase their land and build from scratch.
It is pretty straightforward when you want to start construction on building a home and need financing. Most home buyers would procure construction loan financing and start their house-building projects.
What happens when you are not ready to build and want to buy a lot? This is exactly where land loans come into play. With a land loan, you can buy and hold until you're ready to start construction.
Let's review some of the finer points you should know about land loan financing.
What is Land Loan Financing?
To start a new business, build a home from the ground up, or take on a new farming venture, you will need to acquire land. A land purchase mortgage allows you to accomplish these goals fairly easily.
However, it is essential to note that getting a land loan is a bit more challenging than getting a traditional home mortgage. Not every lender will do land loans. They are a much more specialized loan product.
Some better sources for land loan financing include community banks and credit unions. Land buyers using these loans should understand that they typically have higher interest rates, more significant down payment requirements, and shorter loan terms.
Different Types of Land Loans Explained
Land loans come in many different variations. Let's take a look at some of the most common.
Raw Land Loan
Raw land is undeveloped. Nothing has been done to it, and it remains natural. There are no roads or public services. When you want to purchase this kind of property, it's a raw land loan. Procuring land loan financing when the land has no improvements is more challenging.
Land such as this is usually for builders and developers with experience building subdivisions. You will typically need a comprehensive plan to submit to the lender. Substantial down payments and excellent credit scores are required.
Improved Land Loans
Improved land loans are far better for mortgage lenders because they are less risky. Improved land includes those that have roads, water, and other utilities. Land that has improvements is far more valuable because it is almost guaranteed that it can be built on.
Interest rates and other terms on these types of land loans tend to be more favorable than their undeveloped counterparts. The down payment requirements may also be a bit more relaxed.
What Are The Pros and Cons of Land Loans?
With most loans, there are advantages and disadvantages. Let's review the pros and cons of land loans/
Pros Of a Land Loan
- A land loan allows a purchaser to finance land with the intention to build at some point in the future.
- A USDA land loan may provide the opportunity to get a no-down payment mortgage.
- Since they buy and hold loans, buyers don't need to feel rushed into starting their building project immediately.
Cons of a Land Loan
- The interest rates charged on land loans are almost always higher than on home loans.
- Finding lenders that will provide land loans is more challenging than finding a traditional home mortgage.
- Most of the time, you will not be able to get a longer-term loan when financing land.
Concluding Thoughts
Land loans are a type of loan that can be used to help you finance the construction of a new home or business venture. Maybe instead of moving into a larger home, building a custom home suits you better?
While this may be the case, it is important to know that they are not as straightforward as most loans.
Research and due diligence will become more essential with this type of loan. Working with a mortgage broker or banker familiar with land loans will be very helpful.
Make sure you have a detailed long-term plan on how much your home will cost. What will matter most is the result of your land loan combined with the expense of building your dream home.
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