Build new construction with your VA benefit.
A VA One-Time Close construction loan wraps the land, the build, and your permanent mortgage into a single loan and a single closing — no separate construction loan, no second closing once the home is finished.
Understanding the One-Time Close construction loan.
Six things worth knowing up front — no fine print you have to dig for.
One Loan, One Closing
The land (purchase or payoff), the construction costs, and the permanent mortgage are all combined into a single loan, closed once — before construction even begins. No separate construction loan, no second closing when the home is finished.
$0 Down for Eligible Veterans
The same VA benefit that makes purchase loans possible with no down payment applies here — qualified veterans can finance 100% of the land and construction costs.
Your Rate Locks at Closing
Because everything closes upfront, your rate is locked before construction starts — protecting you from rate changes during the build, which is a real risk with a separate construction loan you'd later refinance.
Builder Requirements Have Gotten Simpler
The VA no longer requires builders to register for a VA Builder ID. Your builder still needs to be licensed, insured, and experienced — I verify that as part of the process — but this removed a real bottleneck for veterans working with a builder who hasn't done a VA project before.
Funds Are Released in Draws
Construction funds aren't handed over all at once — they're released in stages as work is completed and inspected, the same protective structure used on VA and FHA renovation loans.
Recently Standardized Nationwide
The VA formalized a standardized single-close construction loan process nationwide in August 2026 — clarifying builder standards, draw schedules, and inspection requirements. This is a genuinely good time to explore this option; it's more consistent and accessible than it's been in years.
A couple more things worth knowing.
One-Time Close vs. Two-Time CloseThere are two ways to finance new construction with a VA loan
One-Time Close combines construction and permanent financing into a single closing — you apply once, close once, and the loan automatically converts to a permanent VA mortgage once the home is complete and passes final inspection. This is the more common path, and generally means fewer fees and less rate risk.
Two-Time Close separates the transactions — a short-term construction loan first, then a second closing into permanent VA financing once building is done. This means two sets of closing costs and two underwriting processes, and your rate isn't locked until the second closing.
What Happens During ConstructionPayments, timelines, and what to expect
You generally don't make mortgage payments during the build — your first payment is typically due once the home is complete. Your repayment schedule adjusts to reflect the construction period, so if building takes six months on a 30-year loan, you'd repay over the remaining 29 years and six months, not a fresh 30-year clock.
Progress inspections happen before each draw is released to your builder, which protects you from paying for work that wasn't actually completed to plan.
Construction Loan Estimate
Enter your land and construction costs. This shows your estimated total loan, funding fee, and future monthly payment once the home is complete.
Estimated Results
Estimate only. You generally won't make this payment during construction — it begins once the home is complete. Excludes taxes, insurance, and HOA. I'll confirm your exact numbers, builder requirements, and timeline together.
VA Construction Loan Myths vs. Facts
Common misconceptions about building new with a VA loan, corrected one at a time.
Myth: A VA construction loan always means two separate closings
Building a home with a VA loan means a construction loan first, then a completely separate closing to refinance into a permanent mortgage.
With a One-Time Close construction loan, it's a single closing — the loan automatically converts to a permanent VA mortgage once the home is complete. Two-Time Close still exists as an alternative, but it's the less common path and generally costs more.
Myth: Any contractor can build a VA construction home
Since the VA dropped its builder registration requirement, any contractor can now build a VA-financed new construction home.
The formal VA Builder ID requirement was eliminated, which removed a real bottleneck — but your builder still has to be licensed, insured, and experienced enough to meet lender standards. I verify this as part of the process, it's just less paperwork than it used to be.
Frequently asked, honestly answered.
Do I make mortgage payments while the home is being built?
What if construction takes longer than planned?
Can I use land I already own?
What's the funding fee on a construction loan?
Do I need to find a special "VA-approved" builder?
Ready to build?
No pressure, no jargon — just a real conversation about your project.