Owner builder construction loans have become harder to find as the mortgage industry has all but done away with these highly specialized products. The owner builder programs that remain strong are using the industry titan, Fannie Mae, for rates and pricing. How does this affect you? Your loan will have higher financing fees (discount points) wrapped into it if your credit score is not strong.

Owner builder construction loans have not been immune from the pains within the mortgage industry over the last couple of years. In fact, there have recently been some major changes within the world of construction financing that are worth examining. It's time to take stock as an owner builder, and fully assess your current options for the new realities of today's market.

When looking to build your home as an owner builder, you will undoubtedly want to compare loan programs and closing costs. If you want an owner builder construction loan, you will need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples when looking at overall loan fees. A specialized owner builder loan will have more fees than simpler mortgages, but it should be worth it in the long run.

If you want a mortgage, you need a real estate appraisal. If you want to be an owner builder and need a construction loan, you will need two appraisals wrapped into one. An owner builder construction loan will require an appraisal prior to construction and one follow-up appraisal upon completion. Knowing the details of this system will help you get the construction loan you want.

Many families who fix up their homes save money by doing some of the labor themselves. In many cases, it would be a waste to hire a general contractor for simple home improvements that you can do yourself. Therefore, people often get this DIY version of home improvement confused with full scale owner builder construction. Knowing the difference will make finding the right financing much easier.

If you want to build your home with a general contractor or as an owner builder, you are almost certainly going to need financing in the form of a construction loan or an owner builder construction loan. So, before you ever commit to that dream plot of land, you better first understand the zoning implications - not just for your county's building permits but also for your owner builder loan terms.

A good owner builder construction loan will have only one closing to cover the land purchase, construction phase, and conversion to your permanent financing. Therefore, the owner builder loan will have two sets of interest rates: one while you build, and one rate for when you move into your new home. Every owner builder should understand the inner workings of these rates when planning to build.

Owner builder construction is a creative way to build instant equity in your primary residence, which will jump start a family's nest egg even in today's financial climate. The decline of the housing industry leaves the doors wide open for an owner builder to take advantage of decreased costs and save tens of thousands of dollars in sweat equity in a new home.

Owner builder construction loans, like the rest of the mortgage industry, have had to tighten their belts to survive in today's lending climate. For borrowers who wish to build their own homes, this translates into tougher guidelines to secure financing. However, there are still four creative ways that an owner builder has available to close on a construction loan without a down payment.

Owner builder construction gives you the chance to build your own home and earn a lot of instant sweat equity in the process. However, the loan process is more involved and time consuming than a simple purchase or refinance loan. If you are considering being an owner builder, understanding these nine basic steps will make the project financing and planning much smoother.