Mortgage loan Interest rates can and do change on a daily basis; some of those changes are minor, others may result in a sharp upward or downward turn. The mortgage loan rates a borrower checks in the morning may not be the same rates as those posted later in the day.

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FHA One-Time Close Construction Loans and Interest Rates

January 26, 2019

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Are you considering an FHA One-Time Close construction loan in 2019? Are you concerned about interest rates in the new year?

It’s true that mortgage loan interest rates have had an interesting ride in 2018, and the new year may bring more of the same. But there is a tool borrowers and lenders use when the time is right that can help protect the borrower from future rate adjustments.

Mortgage loan Interest rates can and do change on a daily basis; some of those changes are minor, others may result in a sharp upward or downward turn. The mortgage loan rates a borrower checks in the morning may not be the same rates as those posted later in the day.

But when you are fully ready to commit to an FHA mortgage loan, you and the lender will have the option to negotiate something called a mortgage rate lock-the commitment you and the lender make to a specific rate which will be held for a specific length of time.

This means that you and your participating FHA lender will commit in a written, legally binding agreement to a specific interest rate for a limited span of time. FHA loan rules say the lender may charge for this service as described in HUD 4000.1:

“The Mortgagee may charge the Borrower lock-in and rate lock fees only if the Mortgagee provides a lock-in or commitment agreement guaranteeing the interest rate and/or discount points for a period of not less than 15 Days prior to the anticipated closing.”

There are situations where the mortgage rate lock may be longer than what is mentioned in that quote above, greatly depending on the agreement you make with the lender. It is NOT safe to assume anything about the length or conditions of the interest rate lock agreement on your FHA One-Time Close construction mortgage. What is written in your legally binding agreement is what will apply.

Mortgage rate lock periods expire and the terms of that expiration will be spelled out in your agreement. But borrowers can sometimes experience complications with the loan and the loan’s closing date-it is entirely possible in such cases that the expiration of a mortgage rate lock agreement will pass before the loan closes.

Borrowers should discuss such contingencies in advance with the participating FHA loan officer to see what arrangements can be made in the event you need to extend the lock or renegotiate it. The mortgage rate lock is a powerful tool that can help borrowers as they get closer to home ownership, but the lock is something that you will need to become literate about in order to make the most informed decision possible.

Ask your loan officer what the financial institution’s standard terms and conditions are regarding mortgage rate locks for construction loans in advance of the need for it if you aren’t sure how they will affect your construction loan transaction.


Construction Loans at OneTimeClose.com FHA, VA, and USDA: One-Time Close Loans

Want More Information About One-Time Close Loans?

We have done extensive research on the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) One-Time Close Construction loan programs. We have spoken directly to licensed lenders that originate these residential loan types in most states and each company has supplied us the guidelines for their products. We can connect you with mortgage loan officers who work for lenders that know the product well and have consistently provided quality service. If you are interested in being contacted by a licensed lender in your area, please send responses to the questions below. All information is treated confidentially.
 
FHA.com provides information and connects consumers to qualified One-Time Close lenders in an effort to raise awareness about this loan product and to help consumers receive higher quality service. We are not paid for endorsing or recommending the lenders or loan originators and do not otherwise benefit from doing so. Consumers should shop for mortgage services and compare their options before agreeing to proceed.
 
Please note that investor guidelines for the FHA, VA, and USDA One-Time Close Construction Program only allows for single family dwellings (1 unit) – and NOT for multi-family units (no duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes). In addition, the following homes/building styles are not allowed under these programs:  Kit Homes, Barndominiums, Log Cabin Homes, Shipping Container Homes, Stilt Homes, Solar (only) or Wind Powered (only) Homes.
 
Your email to [email protected] authorizes FHA.com to share your personal information with a mortgage lender licensed in your area to contact you.
  1. Send your first and last name, e-mail address, and contact telephone number.
  2. Tell us the city and state of the proposed property.
  3. Tell us your and/or the Co-borrower’s credit profile: Excellent – (680+), Good - (640-679), Fair – (620-639) or Poor- (Below 620). 620 is the minimum qualifying credit score for this product.
  4. Are you or your spouse (Co-borrower) eligible veterans? If either of you are eligible veterans, down payments as low as $0 may be available up to the maximum amount your debt-to-income ratio per VA will allow – there are no maximum loan amounts as per VA guidelines.  Most lenders will go up to $750,000 and review higher loan amounts on a case by case basis.   If not, the FHA down payment is 3.5% up to the maximum FHA lending limit for your county.

 

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