Monday, February 23, 2009

Common Types Of Land Loans

By Spencer Hall

If you are interested in buying some land and want to know what type of loan would be ideal then this is the article for you. If you have some money to put in as a down payment then there are currently a few options for you.

From a banks perspective land loans carry more risk then developed land. This is because the bank is taking on extra risk. Banks do not want to be property developers so if they ended up owning the land they would have to sell it and it is harder to sell raw land then to rent out an existing building. This is also why interest rates are higher for these types of loans.

In addition to the fact that it is raw land there are a lot of other variables. One of the bigger variables is what type of land it is. If it is farm land that has yet to be farmed then it is going to cost a lot more to finance then if it is an empty lot right next to a thriving development.

If it is raw land that is not even hooked up for sewage and electricity then the bank will want even more money to finance the project. This is again because of the risks involved from the lenders perspective.

Make sure that if you are developing raw land you get a staked survey done and that you know for sure if you can get the required permits and utilities that you will need later down the road. If you have plans to immediately build on it you will have an easier time getting it then if you want the land for pure speculation.

When it comes to financing the project you may be amazed to learn that home equity loans are usually cheaper then a direct loan. Why is this? Mainly because you will work harder to keep your home than to keep an empty parcel of land. Remember that banks love certainty.

Land loans usually have a ten to fifteen year term. Homes have thirty years but you live in them and they are a finished product. Raw land is not so the bank will not take on the extra risk of sitting on it for thirty years.

Land held for investment purposes can usually help you come tax time. This is because the IRS lets you deduct the interest expense in most cases so the real rate is less then the nominal rate. - 15224

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