VA construction loan calculator for Texas
Buying acreage outside Dripping Springs, or building on the lot you already own in the Hill Country? See the full loan before you sign a builder contract.
✓ Soft credit pull only. Applying won’t affect your credit score.
- My team reviews your application as soon as it comes in.
- If you qualify, you get a pre-approval letter and a full itemized estimate.
- If you’re not there yet, you get a clear plan to get ready.
A VA one-time-close construction loan covers the lot, the build and your permanent mortgage in a single closing. An interest reserve covers the interest during construction, so you don’t make construction payments out of pocket. When the home is finished, the loan converts to a regular VA mortgage.
Enter the builder’s contract price, your lot situation and the appraised value when complete. The calculator builds the loan line by line and estimates your monthly payment after the build.
VA construction loan calculator
No payments during the build. Your payment starts once the home is finished.
Your monthly payment after the build
The interest reserve pays the interest during the build, so you make no construction payments out of pocket. Everything needed to finish the home must be included in your builder’s fixed-price contract. Any contingency that isn’t used is applied to your principal when the loan converts after the build, which can lower the payment shown. Property tax is figured on the completed value. Estimate only; your builder’s contract, the appraisal and your Loan Estimate set the real numbers. Questions about any line? Book a call with Shirley’s team.
For illustration only. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and general assumptions, and may not reflect your situation. This is not a Loan Estimate, pre-approval, rate quote or commitment to lend. Any rate shown is an example, not a current rate or an offer. Your actual eligibility, loan amount, rate, payment and costs depend on your credit, income, property, appraisal and underwriting, and can change without notice. Not all applicants qualify. CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029. Equal Housing Opportunity. Full disclaimer.
Building in Texas
- Lot equity counts. If you own your lot free and clear, its value works in your favor. If you still owe on it, the payoff can be rolled into the construction loan.
- Taxes are figured on the finished home. Texas appraisal districts tax the completed value, and rural land outside city limits often has a lower combined rate than a suburb with a MUD. Use the county’s rate for your address.
- Your builder has to be approved by the lender. That review happens before the loan closes, so if you already have a builder in mind, have them reach out early.
VA construction loans require a minimum 620 credit score, unlike my VA purchase and refinance loans, which have no minimum. Construction lending is available in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. For the full program, see VA construction loans in Texas and the step-by-step construction loan journey; for the step-by-step process, read how a VA construction loan works in Texas.
Questions Texas veterans ask
Do I need a down payment to build with a VA loan in Texas?
Usually not. Loans up to $1,000,000 can be $0 down. Above that, 5% down is required, and the calculator shows the amount.
What if the home appraises for less than the loan?
The loan is limited by the appraised value of the finished home, so the appraisal has to support the lot plus the build. If it comes in short, the difference has to be made up by renegotiating with the builder or covering it in cash.
Can I build a barndominium in Texas with a VA loan?
It depends on the design and how it appraises. The home has to meet VA’s minimum property requirements and appraise as a residence. Talk with my team before you commit to plans.
Talk it through with my team
A calculator gets you close. A real review gets you the answer. Applying takes about 15 minutes and is a soft credit pull only.
More Texas VA calculators
Questions? Send a quick note
My team will reach out, usually the same business day. No cost or obligation.