Thinking about buying a piece of land and building a custom home? Read this information regarding financing for vacant lots. Call 702-373-9939 and ask about current available land listings.

There’s no single best land loan out there for everyone, so it’s important buyers to shop around to find the best loan for a their own situation.

Developing a comprehensive land use plan, determines what type of loan is best and how long the repayment term should be.

Land loans aren’t as common as mortgage loans, so options are limited.

What are Land Loans?

Land loans are a type of loan used to buy a vacant lot to (eventually) build a home on or develop the raw land at a later date.

Because land is much harder to sell (vs. a home) land loans are riskier for lenders than mortgage loans, since owners of raw land are more to likely default and walk away from the property in the event of a financial crisis.

That’s primarily because the demand for land is smaller than the demand for new and existing homes.

So, if a lender needs to foreclose on the land, there’s no guarantee it will get its money back in a timely manner, if at all.

As a result, lenders require a substantial down payment (30-50%), charge higher interest rates and the loans are typically adjustable rate mortgages.

5 Types of Land Loans

There are five common types of land loans to finance a land purchase, each with its own terms and features.

1. Lender Land Loans

Local financial institutions know the area and can better assess the value of the land and its potential, so community banks and credit unions are more likely to offer land loans than large national banks.

Some lenders, however, may be willing to take a lower down payment and charge lower interest rates if the buyer has plans to build on the land soon.

Also, local lenders are more likely to offer longer repayment terms, giving you more time to repay the debt.

2. USDA Rural Housing Site Loans

Building a primary residence in a rural area, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a couple of loans that can help.

Section 523 loans are for borrowers who plan to build their own home, while

Section 524 loans allow buyers to hire contractors to build the home.

Both loans are designed for families with low to moderate income, and have a repayment term of just 2 years.

Interest rates, however, can be low. Section 523 loans, for instance, charge just 3%, while Section 524 loans charge the current market rate.

3. SBA 504 Loan

Business owners planning to use the land for a business, buyers may qualify for a 504 loan thru the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

With a 504 loan, the SBA and a lender help contribute to the costs of the land purchase:

– The SBA provides a loan for 40% of the purchase cost.

– A lender provides a loan for 50% of the purchase cost.

– Buyers contribute 10 percent in the form of a down payment.

SBA loans have a 10- 20-year repayment periods, & rates are based on current market rates. The terms of the loan varies, depending on the lender.

4. Home Equity Loan

Buyers with an existing home with significant equity, may get a home equity loan instead of a land loan.

5. Seller Financing

In some cases, the person or company selling the land, may be willing to offer short-term financing.

But, a seller isn’t in the lending business & won’t have a portfolio of loans like a community bank / credit union; so buyers typically pay higher interest rates, higher down payments and the loan usually has a balloon payment.