Land Equity Loans

If you are looking into the possibility of land loans, you could not have picked a better time. Because there are fewer buyers (after all there is a bit of a recession going on) lenders are working a lot harder to get your attention. There is something odd related to this apparent shift in power dynamics. You would think that land loans would be available at low rates if the lenders want your business but that is not necessarily the case.

You will soon discover, that land loans are being offered at a wide range of rates for the very simple reason that land often entails a large investment and the impact of even a small percentage point difference could potentially mean big bucks to the lender.  If you are considering applying for a land loan, bear this in mind. You are in the driver’s seat, so to speak, so it is worth your while to look around. Even with the variable rates, there are some great deals out there.

Look for a long-term fixed rate at the lowest possible cost. As just noted above, with something as big as land loans can be, a fraction of a percentage point can cost you a pretty penny. This is no time to be getting into short-term or variable rates. You don’t need the surprises either of these can give you.

One of the options worth considering is raw land loans. Just a refresher here – raw land loans are loans for land that is, well, raw. It has no structures on it and has not been developed. It does not even have utilities installed or roads. Lenders look at the value of the land, not your credit-worthiness.  The good news here is that once you start improving the raw land, the value can leap to new heights. Side note here, if you do decide to go this route, make sure that your plans for the land are acceptable to the regulatory bodies.  It helps if you have a plan drawn up for the land that takes the zoning regulations into consideration. Lenders can be skeptical about such purchases because there is the danger of the grand plans never coming to fruition.

Bridge loans are great when you are buying a new house because there is a gap sometimes between selling your current home and buying your new home. However, these are not all that applicable to buying land. Unless of course, if you are selling land, where purchasing the new land depends on selling the current land. But this is not often the case. If you are having a hard time selling your land, then you might consider land equity loans.

Bare Land Loans

In order to buy a piece of land, it is most likely that a person will need to consider land loans. The fact is that parcels of land can be very costly and trying to attain secure financing can be a difficult task. There are some lenders who may be cautious about providing loans for land which is undeveloped more than if it were for a regular mortgage. Moreover, by going about it the right way, a person can get the loan they need in order to attain their dream property. Here are some ways for a person to go through the process of getting loans for land and ensure he gets the best land loans possible.

The first and number one thing that has to be done before applying for a land loan is for you to thoroughly check your credit report. If your credit score happens to be high, then this will be the ideal time to make an investment in land properties.

On the other hand, if the credit report shows a low rating, then you should think twice. This can cause a person to not be able to get approved for  loans for land and even if you happen to get a loan, keep in mind that there are higher fees, payments, and interest rates that apply.

It is essential to remember that if you are planning on building a home, you need money for that, as well as money for securing the loan. If your credit is in bad shape, then it may be a good idea to improve your score first before attempting to apply for land loans. If you get a loan to buy land before you are ready, there is a chance that foreclosure will be the result. This will be the case, especially if payments are not made on time. In turn, the money you used to invest on the said property will go to waste.

Once you get the loan, make sure you continue and start building on the land as soon as possible; this is the second thing you must take into consideration. Thirdly, try and get a line of credit with your land loan. One way to make a good deal is by taking out a mortgage on a piece of property and credit line for the construction of a home; then combine both in one loan. On this note, keep in mind that more money is needed, which will be something your lender has to think about as well.

Loans For Land

You’ve seen the parcel of land every day for years as you drive to and from work. Now it’s for sale, and you know that you can put it to good use. Maybe the parcel of land will make a great location for your dream house. Maybe it’ll be the perfect site for your new business venture. Maybe you just want to purchase the land so that no one else will build anything on it. Whatever your reasons for wanting this plot of land, the odds are good that you’ll need a land loan to buy it. So, what’s so special about land loans?

A land loan is similar to a standard mortgage loan that most people rely on to buy their homes. However, there are some key differences between the products.

For one, lenders usually require a larger down payment for land loans – or other loans used to purchase land. The reason for this is simple: Lenders view land loans as being riskier than loans used to purchase businesses or residential properties. That’s because it’s far easier for buyers to walk away from land without paying their bills.

That’s why the industry standard for land loans is a down payment of 20 percent. For comparison’s sake, most lenders only require down payments of 5 percent for borrowers with good credit who are applying for residential mortgage loans.

Lenders are also more cautious when giving out land loans. Again, this is because these loans are considered riskier. Lenders want to see a return on their investment. They want assurances that the buyers to whom they are lending money will eventually pay them back.

Because of this, lenders will be interested in learning what you plan to do with the vacant land you’re purchasing with their land loans. They’ll feel more comfortable if you plan to fill the land with an income-generating business. Again, this gives lenders more assurance that you’ll actually be able to pay back your loan.

Many buyers will want to use their new land purchase as passive open space. Others may want to leave it as an activity ground for their horses. If this is your desire, you’ll have to somehow assure your mortgage lender that you won’t default on the land loan. You can do this by disclosing your annual income level and by boasting a strong credit history.

In other ways, taking out a land loan is much like taking out any other mortgage loan. Lenders will be more willing to work with you if you have a steady, solid annual income. They’ll be more willing to lend you money if you have a good credit score. And they’ll be less likely to deny you if your level of revolving debt isn’t too high.

Taking out a land loan is far from an impossible task. But it will require you to jump through certain hoops. Just be patient and honest, and always make sure that potential lenders know that you are not a risky borrower.