Serving TN · VA · NC · SC · GA · KY

Conventional construction loans

Strong credit and a down payment should make building simpler, not harder.

One loan and one closing for your land, build, and mortgage

Land you own can count toward your down payment

Clear answers before you apply, and a team that stays through your final draw

or call (423) 406-1567 · 20 minutes · we'll cover your land and the right loan structure · no application required

Strong creditAnd a down payment in hand
Land can countToward your down payment
One-time closeLand, construction, and permanent, all in one loan
Six statesTN · VA · NC · SC · GA · KY

Why strong credit isn't the whole story

Good credit is a great start. It doesn't skip the steps.

Strong credit and a solid down payment put you in a good position. But your land, site work, plans, appraisal, and draws still have to line up.

With a two-time close, you close to build, then re-qualify and close again when the home is finished. That's two sets of closing costs, and hoping nothing has changed.

The difference is structuring it right from the start: one loan, one closing, and a team that stays with you until you move in.

Your guide

One team, start to finish

  • Tim Arrowood
  • Cindy Faulkner
  • Kevin Cooper
  • Rhonda Hendrix
  • Amy Lay

Conventional construction has more moving parts than a regular purchase. Our five-person team handles all of it, from your first call to your final draw.

  • 260+ five-star reviews
  • Since 2023 closing one-time close loans
  • Our team stays with you through every draw

Call (423) 406-1567 and we'll take it from there.

The NewBuild System

Your conventional construction loan, step by step

Every NewBuild loan follows the same six steps, from your first call to Move-In Day. It starts with a free consultation, and no house plans are needed.

  1. Build Plan Consultation

  2. Pre-Approval

  3. Plan and Contract Review

  4. Loan Closing

  5. Construction

  6. Move-In Day

Is this for you?

Who this loan is, and isn't, a fit for

We'll tell you straight. This is general information, not an eligibility determination for your specific situation.

Often a strong fit if you
  • Have strong credit and a down payment. Cash saved, land you own, or a combination of both.
  • Would rather not carry FHA mortgage insurance. We'll compare the full cost of each option on your first call.
  • Are planning a custom or site-built home. Conventional is often a fit for custom builds.
  • Have a licensed builder or dealer, or want help finding one. We can share builders and dealers we've worked with before.
What can slow things down, and how we help
  • Need to close quickly? We'll give you a realistic timeline on your first call so you can plan around it.
  • Splitting land or need a new survey? We help you spot what's needed early, so it doesn't surprise you later.
  • Builder new to construction loans? We walk them through it before closing.

Real builds

What this looks like in practice

Conventional one-time-close loans we've closed. Names have been changed to protect client privacy; the situations and numbers are real.

Manufactured · Johnson City, TN

Owning her land outright gave her a head start on a smaller loan.

Between land she owned free and clear and some extra cash, Lydia put about 50% down on a roughly $234,000 manufactured home project.

Read their story

Lydia came to us through a referral from a realtor friend, ready to place a new manufactured home on land she already owned free and clear. She chose her home through Preferred Choice Homes of Johnson City, and with strong qualifications, a conventional one-time-close loan was a natural fit. Her land's value went toward the down payment, and she chose to add some of her own cash on top of it, bringing her total down payment to about half the project's value. That left her with a relatively small loan amount and a payment she felt good about.

Lydia M. · Conventional one-time-close construction borrower, Johnson City, TN · Builder: Preferred Choice Homes of Johnson City (opens in a new tab)

Manufactured · Dungannon, VA

A winter survey slowed things down, but his inherited land still made the down payment.

Ty used land he inherited as his down payment and financed a roughly $316,000 manufactured home with one conventional loan.

Read their story

Ty came to us through a referral and chose to work with us because of our communication and pricing. He had inherited land in Dungannon, Virginia, and wanted to place a new manufactured home on it through Clayton Homes of Kingsport. Because the land needed to be split, a new survey was required, and between some early delays and a survey that took about three months to complete over the winter, the process stretched to roughly nine months from our first conversation to closing. Ty stayed patient, his inherited land served as his down payment, and he's now living in his new home.

Ty N. · Conventional one-time-close construction borrower, Dungannon, VA · Builder: Clayton Homes of Kingsport (opens in a new tab)

Names have been changed to protect client privacy. Loan amounts and details are real but reflect each borrower's individual credit, income, and underwriting circumstances; results aren't typical or guaranteed for every applicant.

More from clients and partners

260+ five-star reviews

Excellent people to work with. They are caring and very professional, and willing to help out to make a dream come true.

Darrell B. · One-time close construction borrower

As a first time home buyer, I really valued him taking the time to talk me through all my options and explain things.

Sarah B. · First-time buyer

Reviews are from clients of the Arrowood Team at Preferred Rate, the team behind NewBuild. Individual results vary.

Another option

When a two-time close makes sense

Most clients choose one-time close, but a conventional two-time close is sometimes the better fit. We'll look at both with you.

Keeping your current home while you build

If you'd rather not sell your home first and rent for a year while you build, a two-time close can let you stay put. Depending on your finances, you may plan to sell your current home before your permanent loan, or you may not need to.

Larger or longer projects

A two-time close can work well for bigger builds. It requires at least 10% down, and a larger down payment can support a larger project.

Built for about a year

Our two-time construction loan is designed for builds that finish within about 12 months, and it can be extended if needed.

The trade-off: when construction is finished, you'll qualify again for your permanent loan, sometimes called the takeout loan. It can be conventional, FHA, or VA. If your income, credit, or interest rates change during the build, that second approval isn't guaranteed, which is why most clients prefer one-time close. Some clients with strong finances simply pay off the construction loan in full when the home is finished.

When your build is finished, we can provide that permanent loan too. See refinancing after you build.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose conventional if I have good credit?

Not automatically. If you're a veteran, VA may still be the better option, and FHA can sometimes allow more room in your budget. We'll compare your options on the first call and tell you which one fits best.

Can my land count toward my down payment?

Often, yes. Land you own free and clear, inherited, or with equity can count toward your down payment, and you can add cash on top if you'd like a smaller loan. We'll look at your numbers before you commit to anything.

Do I have to pay mortgage insurance on a conventional loan?

It depends on your down payment. Conventional mortgage insurance works differently from FHA's, and we'll walk through the full cost of each option on your first call so you can compare.

Does conventional work for manufactured or modular homes?

It can. The home has to meet the program's requirements and be financed together with the land as real property. We'll confirm what applies to your build on the first call.

Not sure conventional is the right fit? VA construction or FHA construction may be a better match, or start with a free consultation (opens in a new tab) and we'll help you find the right program.

Your land. Your build. Let's talk it through.

A free consultation is 20 minutes. We cover your land, your eligibility, and the right loan structure. No application required.

Tennessee · Virginia · North Carolina · South Carolina · Georgia · Kentucky

Schedule a Free Consultation (opens in a new tab)

20 minutes · no application · no commitment

NewBuild is led by the Arrowood Team at Preferred Rate. 260+ five-star Google reviews.

Prefer to reach out directly?

(423) 406-1567 · newbuild@preferredrate.com