New-build loans: dead horse or business opportunity?

One sector of the mortgage industry seems to be dying: fewer and fewer lenders are financing self-build mortgages, according to one broker.

“Mortgage options for new construction builds are pretty limited, especially when it comes to self-build homes; I don’t have any options for clients who want to construct their own homes,” Jonah Wright, a mortgage consultant with Mortgage Intelligence, told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. “Any time I get a new construction deal where a client wants to do a self-build, I have to mould it into a contract build.”

Generally speaking, there are three types of new construction mortgage options; self-build, where the owner/client acts as contractor as well; contractor build, where the client works with a contractor; and builder purchases.

Wright says clients are frustrated when they put the work into preparing for a self-build mortgage but are forced to take out a contractor build mortgage.

He even had one case where a contractor – who actually builds homes for a living – was forced into a contractor build mortgage.

“It’s frustrating for clients because that’s not what they originally had in mind; the clients do all the cost analysis themselves, but lenders are requiring a third-party contractor attached,” Wright said. “So they have to hire a contractor and sometimes pay for a new home warranty.”

According to Wright, the only option for clients set on self-build mortgages is to go through one of the banks.

“I have to send clients to the banks if they don’t want to do (a contractor build mortgage).”

For his part, Steve Bucher, a broker with Mortgage Intelligence, says construction mortgages are a dying breed and that any broker who still does them should be commended.

“Construction mortgages are a nightmare; they’re written in such a way for them to fail, essentially,” Bucher said. Conflict between lenders and clients is common, he says, because lenders release funds in stages and the money provided is often not enough to cover the costs of certain building stages.

“A lot of brokers won’t even do them anymore,” Bucher continued. “I don’t think I have access to any lenders that will do them, but there are a few credit unions I can send clients to.”

MBN

We hope you are finding our Blog informative and enjoyable to read while keeping you up to date with the ever changing real estate market.

Please feel free to contact me via Direct/Text or e-mail at any time and my team will be pleased to assist you, family members and friends with all your real estate needs. Referrals are always welcome!