Chris Esposito's Articles in Real Estate

  • Understanding Real Estate Zoning Before You Buy Your Land to Build Your House as An Owner Builder
    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.
  • The Inner Workings of Interest Rates for Owner Builder Loans
    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.
  • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: The Good, Bad and Ugly for Owner Builder Loans
    How will the government's bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac affect your ability to get an owner builder construction loan? Good owner builder loans are construction-to-permanent loans that let you wrap your permanent mortgage into the financing with the construction phase. This means that the Fannie and Freddie bailout will create some good and bad changes for you, the owner builder.
  • The 8 Benefits of Modular Construction that Every Owner Builder Needs to Know
    Owner builder construction is growing in popularity at a tremendous pace around the country as more and more people look to save money by building their own home. If you are considering being an owner builder to build your next house, then you need to know these 8 benefits of modular construction before you begin.
  • The Four Attributes of a Good Owner Builder - Your Construction Loan and Project Depends on Them
    Owner builder construction can save you 15% to 35% during the construction of your own home by cutting the costs of hiring a general contractor. However, if you don't take the planning and construction seriously, then you could end up losing a lot of money and your dream home. Therefore, you need to have these four attributes to be a successful owner builder.
  • Building a New Home? Should an Owner Builder Buy a Home Kit to Save Money?
    Home kits or material packages can be great tools to help owner builders construct a home, because they bundle the materials together for you and send it as one package. There is a myth, though, that these home kits are always a way to save money. But, an owner builder needs to take the time to break down the numbers.
  • How Owner Builders Should Find Land to Build On - The Right Way
    Are you considering building a new home? You'll need to find the right piece of land. But, you probably don't buy land every day. Whether you're hiring a builder, or being an owner builder, finding land is the first step of what may be the biggest purchase of your life. There are many things to consider, and doing it incorrectly will spell disaster for your future home.
  • The Construction Loan Timeline and the Number One Mistake Most People Make
    The number one mistake, hands down, that people make when building a new home is not allowing enough time to get through the process. Building a custom home, and obtaining a loan to do so, is not as simple as getting a mortgage to buy an existing home. You CANNOT do it all in 30 days. So, before you sign a contract to buy a piece of land, take a moment to learn how to avoid potential disaster.
  • Are You Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved? Knowing the Difference Can Save You a Lot of Time and Money
    Nearly everyone who has wanted to buy or build a home has been told that they need to obtain a "pre-qualification" or a "pre-approval" before making an offer on a property. The problem is that these terms are used interchangeably. This is a big mistake, and understanding the difference could save you a lot of time and money.
  • Shopping for an Owner Builder Construction Loan: The Features You Need to Look For Before Building
    It is hard to find construction financing when you want to build your own home as an owner-builder. When looking for the loan that is right for your scenario, make sure you see the big picture and look for the right features in your loan. Otherwise, suffer the consequences.
  • What is an Owner-Builder, Really?
    You've probably already heard the term owner-builder if you've been involved in residential construction in any way. But, there is a lot of misinformation out there about owner-builders. Before deciding if it's right for you, step back a moment and get a firm grasp of what an owner-builder really does.

Powered by Article Dashboard