How does buying land and building a house financing work?

When you are buying land and planning to build a home, financing usually happens in one of two ways, depending on where you are in the process and your financial situation.

Option 1: Separate Loans for Land and Construction

Some buyers start by purchasing the land first, using a land loan.
Land loans are used only to buy the lot and tend to have shorter terms, higher interest rates, and larger down payments (often 20 to 30 percent) since there is no structure yet to serve as collateral.

Later, when you are ready to build, you apply for a construction loan to cover the cost of building the home.

Once the home is complete, you can often refinance both loans into a single traditional mortgage, also called a construction-to-permanent loan.

Option 2: One Loan That Covers Both

A construction-to-permanent loan can simplify the process by combining land purchase and construction financing into a single loan from the start.

You make interest-only payments during the construction phase. Once construction is complete, the loan automatically converts into a standard long-term mortgage, saving you a second round of closing costs and underwriting.

What to Expect

Down Payment: Typically 10 to 30 percent, depending on the lender and whether you already own the land.

Draw Schedule: The lender pays the builder in stages as work is completed.

Appraisal and Inspections: The lender will require appraisals and progress inspections during construction.

In short, yes, you can have separate loans for land and construction, but a combined construction-to-permanent loan is often the smoother and more cost-effective route for most buyers.

There are speciality financing loans for this type of build. The price of the land and the construction costs are added together to become one loan. Not all banks offer land/home loans. You may need to shop around. If you are looking to build in a community that is currently actively growing with a onsite builder -- they will usually assume the lot/house cost until closing. Then your financing will be a mortgage -- just like a exhibiting home would be.