Special offer

FINDING Money for A LEED Certified/Green Built Home (Part I)

By
Education & Training with GLREA

 

So you are very interested in using some of the professionals in the GREEN RESOURCE DIRECTORY  AR Members are creating. You could pull your project together, build your dream home, and minimize your footprint on the environment.Hybrid Home Under Construction

Where do you start? Your very first step could be funding the project.

•·  You could give a call to a mortgage broker, like me. I could tell you about  investors with whom we work who specialize in a niche market. One of those niche's is the Construction Perm (CP Loan) .

The ONE TIME CLOSE CP LOAN IS a remarkable product to help you construct your LEED Certified or Greenbuilt home. Lenders design the CP (Construction Perm) Loan Program to  help  the  homeowner, the REALTOR®,  the builder, builder's subs and suppliers  get through the  construction process with minimal  grief.  For example, you could streamline the process. Instead of two loans for the construction process, possibly  3 if the land is purchased separately.

  1. Vacant Land/Lot Loan
  2. Construction Portion - many times interest only for one year
  3. Final Mortgage following Occupancy Permit

Wow! 3 closings.

You could use the CP Loan, a product I recommend to my clients.

                                        Time Is Money       

After all, you are the one who is  paying for several closings. And you could be saving money with the  ONE TIME CP Loan  where all the loans are combined into one. You close ONE TIME. . .for the Land, the Construction Loan and the Final Mortgage.  Are all combined in your first approval.

STAY TUNED FOR PART II of this series
I  take great care of  projects!!!

Stephanie Edwards-Musa
thredUP.com - The Woodlands, TX
knitwit at thred UP
Yep, still a great post!  :)  As always, Mary...
Jul 15, 2007 02:59 PM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Mary~ 

This is useful information. I know a young "green" builder who will be thrilled when I tell him about this ONE TIME CP Loan... Tell me...bottom line...and/or could you ballpark a figure...how much might my young builder-friend save with this type of loan?...include lender-related costs...

Jul 15, 2007 03:00 PM
Gary Smith
Agent Marketing Today - Commerce Township, MI
Mary,  Does this work for foreclosures that don't meet Freddie Mac guidelines? In my area, people that watch those flipping shows on tv, get started and then walk away from job.
Jul 15, 2007 03:07 PM
Chuck Christensen
Your Financial Coach - Bellingham, WA
Normal construction of a stick built is easy....Green could be difficult to refi or sell.....Right up their with geodesic, earth and underground homes....
Jul 15, 2007 03:13 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Thanks  Stephanie! Glad the information is useful!

Jul 15, 2007 03:13 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

JaneAnne - I would ball park several thousands in savings. Consider titlework/insurance, origination fees, any processing/underwriting fees. Additionally, in the rising interest rate environment we are in 1/2% could make a huge difference over the lifetime of a loan. 

Even more important than the savings is the fact that the borrower does not need to re-qualify.  The construction process can many times take 6 - 12 months and "life happens". I have been trying to help a client recently who took out a construction loan from a "bank". His financial situation has changed and he is not getting a very attractive end-loan. Unfortunately this happens all too often.

Jul 15, 2007 03:19 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!
Gary - what you are referring to would not be a regular "construction" loan but I do have a "rehab" product in my portfolio that may work on a primary residence. Give me a call to discuss specifics.
Jul 15, 2007 03:21 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Chuck - thanks for your comments. You are correct about "geodesic, earth and underground homes...." -- these still have challenges with refi's and resale due to the fact that they are hard to find comps for. That does not mean they cannot be financed. Sometimes they require a lower loan to value (LTV) as the lender does not want to risk 100% financing.

Take a look at the GreenHomes, LEED Certified Homes and Hybrid Homes of the 21st century! They do not necessary look any different from the home you live in. They are just more HIGH PERFORMANCE than what is normally in the marketplace.

  Adam Bearup Hybrid Homes Artist Rendering

This is the artists' rendering of what the Herkelrath Project will look like. (Rendering courtesy of Image Design and Hybrid Homes).

Your comments deserve merit. Thanks for the input. 

Jul 15, 2007 03:31 PM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Mary~ 

Now that (just above) is an interesting thing to know..are you saying that we are seeing a new awareness from financing people about the benefits of LEED certified homes?

Jul 15, 2007 03:38 PM
Mary McGraw
GLREA - Rockford, MI
2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

JANEANNE - I would say that we have a new awareness from designers and builders that the LEED certified homes do not have to look any different from what we consider a "traditional" home. It is the components within and the building materials and the process that make a home "green". We need to remember the "system". 

I was asked my opinion on financing a "DOME" home in northern Michigan. I could find lenders to take it -- just not at 100%LTV -- they were looking for a 20% investment by the borrower. I also have a "Berm/Log Sided" home in Northern Michigan -- on 20 acres -- which was financed -- just not 100%. Comps can be an issue but this is where "niche" lenders come in.  Log homes have always been a financing problem. I know of one lender who does not look at them as "log" homes, rather custom. Which is what they are.

I've been after my Account Exec's every day for the past several months to see this for what it is -- Sustainable living! 

Jul 15, 2007 04:18 PM