Blogs

What are Construction Soft Costs

The flooring, cabinets, fixtures, and other items inside a building can really make your construction costs skyrocket. However, did you know that you must be well-prepared for the items that are considered construction soft costs as well? What are Construction Soft Costs Construction soft costs are any of those items that are not tangible. These items include inspection fees, real estate, fees, project management fees, design work, and even taxes.

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Everything You Need to Know About Hiring an Architect

There are so many homes already available to purchase, but that doesn’t mean that those houses have exactly what you want in your dream home. With that in mind, you may be tempted to construct your dream home, but do you know where to start? After all, we are assuming that you have no idea how to design a house or draw up plans. That is where an architect would come into play, and while their services can be pricey, the money they can save you in the long run will benefit you immensely.

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3 Things You Must Know if You are Considering a Land Loan

A land loan is basically just as it sounds. A loan that you take out for land that you want to purchase. There is never a building on the land for these loans, so you would also need to secure financing for any construction that you want to do. While it all sound fairly basic, there are a few things that you must know before you sign on the bottom line.

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Budgeting for Building Permits

As you know, having a budget in place is very important for constructing a home, remodeling a home, and even purchasing a home. Therefore, you must have an amount of money in mind before you start to tackle any of these things. However, did you know that in addition to materials and labor, you must also figure in the cost of building permits? What You Need to Know About Building Permits If you are not aware of building permits, they are documents that give you permission to do any type of work on your property.

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Are Balloon Lot Loans Your Best Option

The low monthly payments that are available with balloon lot loans are quite tempting, but you might want to reconsider your options before signing on that dotted line. These types of lot loans and land loans used to be very popular many years ago, and while their popularity is fading fast, they are still an option that is given to those who want to make a purchase but do not want a huge mortgage.

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Due Diligence - Buying A Lot with Access to Utilities vs Buying A Lot with no Utilities

While utility and infrastructure matters might be easier to confirm if you are buying a finished lot for sale in a recently developed or established community there is more to keep in mind. Your construction agreement with your builder can cover many of the things you need. On the other hand, you should know about how things may impact your plans and costs. It is even more important if you are buying a vacant lot for your home without a specific builder in mind.

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Well and Septic Systems: What are the Average Costs?

REQUEST A LOAN OFFICER NOW In case you are not aware of this small fact, choosing a rural piece of land to build your perfect home is going to have additional costs. You need to make sure that you factor in the costs of a few extras, like a well and septic system, so you do not exceed your construction budget. Many people forget to factor those items into their costs, as they forget that these areas are not hooked up to any municipal wastewater or regular water systems.

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Everything You Need to Know About Land Loans

REQUEST A LOAN OFFICER NOW Anyone who is considering purchasing a plot of land will need a way to pay for it. While a few select people may be able to pay cash for their new land, most people will need to obtain a land loan for their purchase. Land loans are basically financing, similar to a home mortgage, and you can obtain them from either a bank or a lender.

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Construction Lenders Rely on What is Known as a “Subject To” Value Appraisal

REQUEST A LOAN OFFICER NOW Appraisals are necessary for any type of loan, because after all, lenders need to know that they can get their money back if someone defaults on their payments! Without an appraisal, a lender would not know if the item was worth the amount that a person wanted to take out a loan for, and while that could be bad for the lender, it can also be bad for the borrower when they go to sell in the future.

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Reasons Why Fixed Contracts Always Make Sense

REQUEST A LOAN OFFICER NOW When comparing fixed contracts and cost plus contracts, there are major differences that even the most oblivious person will notice. Let’s start by talking about cost plus contracts. These contracts will give you an amount that you will need to pay for a specific amount of labor and materials for your new home construction. However, that cost is most likely to rise if anything not listed comes into play.

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