Mortgage vs Construction Loan: Understanding Key Differences

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Most homeowners have a mortgage against their house, and homebuyers who purchase existing homes usually secure a traditional mortgage before closing. When building a new house, however, you’re likely to need a construction loan before getting a home mortgage. Here’s a breakdown of each, including how they’re used in the new home building process.

The Purposes of Construction Loans and Home Mortgages

A home mortgage is intended to finance the sale of an existing house. Instead of paying the full purchase price up-front, the buyer typically pays a portion and borrows the rest from a bank, credit union or other lending institution. The mortgage is then paid off in monthly installments, and the house is used as collateral in the event of default.

A construction loan is intended to finance the building of a new home, and this brings some notable changes. Construction loans are disbursed in phases as the building project proceeds (as opposed to all at once at the time of purchase). Lenders also consider construction loans to be higher risk, since there’s not already an existing house to use as collateral.

Common Terms of Construction Loans and Home Mortgages

Because construction loans and home mortgages are used differently, they come with different terms. While each type of financing itself has many variables, there are a few general principles that largely hold true:

Construction Loans Are Shorter: Home mortgages are normally paid off over a period of years, with 15- and 30-year mortgages being common. Some lenders even offer 40-year mortgages.

Construction loans are much shorter, because they’re only for the duration of the building project. A construction loan might last for 1 year or less.

Construction Loans Require More Down: Home mortgage programs vary widely in how much they require homebuyers to pay at closing. Traditional mortgages eliminate private mortgage interest (PMI) with a 20% down payment, but many mortgages accept down payments of 10, 5 or 3%. Some federally backed programs even require nothing down.

Construction loans usually require 20 to 25% down, and programs that reduce this amount are rare. The increased down payment is due to the increased risk that lenders assume.

Construction Loans Have Higher Interest Rates: Because construction loans are considered higher-risk, they also come with higher interest rates than home mortgages normally do. Interest rates are always based on current conditions and credit, however.

How Construction Loans and Home Mortgages Are Used

When building a new home, a construction loan is typically required (unless you’re paying in full). The loan isn’t intended to last for years, however. You’ll usually have a construction loan only for as long as you’re building. When construction is complete, it’s normal to take out a home mortgage. The funds from the mortgage are used to pay off the construction loan, leaving you with a mortgage just like many other homeowners have.

How To Apply for a Construction Loan

If you need a construction loan for a new home build, contact a homebuilder in your area. They’ll be able to recommend a loan officer who can help you apply for a construction loan that suits your situation. The loan officer can also assist with transitioning to a home mortgage when the time comes.