Finance the Florida land, construction, and permanent mortgage together
Build a Home in Florida With a VA One-Time Close Loan
With a Florida VA one-time-close construction loan, we can finance a lot approved for the planned primary residence, the home construction, and the permanent mortgage in one closing before work begins. You can use land you already own or purchase the lot as part of the same approved build. VA financing cannot be used to buy vacant land for a home you plan to build later.
Some current PBT construction options can consider credit scores as low as 580. Before giving you a loan amount, we review the income, monthly debts, VA entitlement, total project cost, and finished-home appraisal. The builder, plans, budget, permits, insurance, and title are also reviewed before closing.
- One closing for a Florida build
- Current Florida contractor and lien guidance
- Florida construction terms available now
- PBT Bancorp NMLS #257781
Speak with a VA loan specialist about your loan options.
Send your name, email, and phone. A VA loan specialist will call you back and point you in the right direction. No credit pull.
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Can Florida land and the new home be financed together?
We review the land and proposed home together because both become part of the property securing the permanent VA mortgage.
Land already owned
We document the current title, appraised land value, and any payoff. The land value PBT accepts can reduce the new loan or cash due, but it is not counted again as a construction cost.
Lot purchased with the build
The lot purchase can be included in the same closing when the builder, plans, contract, permits, and construction financing are approved together.
Vacant land for later
A VA loan cannot finance vacant Florida land by itself for a future project. The lot and residence must be part of the same approved construction transaction.
Application first, then the project review
Apply first so we can confirm the mortgage before the Florida project review
Florida projects can consume time and money quickly once plans, wind coverage, flood coverage, and the Notice of Commencement enter the picture. The online application lets us pull your COE and decide whether your income, monthly debts, available funds, and expected payment work before the detailed property review begins.
What will we review for your Florida VA construction loan?
We start with your application and the land. Then we review the builder, plans, budget, appraisal, title, insurance, and permits before approving the loan.
- A home you plan to occupy as your primary residence
- Enough available VA entitlement for the proposed loan
- Credit score of 580 or higher under our current program
- Income and monthly debts that support the new payment
- Project costs and completed-home appraisal that support the loan amount
- A construction schedule of no more than 11 months plus the modification period
- An independent licensed contractor instead of an owner-builder arrangement
- A complete contract, plans, budget, permits, title, appraisal, and insurance
How do we review a Florida contractor?
VA Circular 26-25-1 removed the VA Builder ID requirement, but we still review the contractor, license, experience, contract, insurance, and proposed project.
Florida contractor license
We match the contractor and business through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, including the license type and current status.
Our contractor review
The planned Florida build is reviewed through the contractor’s experience, financial capacity, insurance, project history, contract, and proposed draw schedule.
Independent general contractor
Our current program requires an independent general contractor, so you cannot act as your own builder.
Which costs do we include in the Florida construction budget?
We build the budget around the complete project rather than using only the contractor’s base price.
Land and existing payoff
The budget starts with the approved lot price or current land payoff. We show owned-land equity separately from construction costs.
Hard and soft construction costs
The construction budget includes labor, materials, permits, and professional design or engineering. It also needs site work, utilities, impact fees, and draw-management costs.
Required contingency
We set aside 5% of construction costs for unexpected work. If it is not needed, that money reduces your loan balance instead of being paid out in cash.
Construction interest and insurance
Estimated construction interest and required builder’s risk coverage also belong in the approved construction budget.
VA funding fee and cash items
The VA funding fee or confirmed exemption completes the loan-cost side of the budget, along with any charge that cannot be financed and must be paid separately.
How do Florida permits, wind, flood, and insurance affect the loan?
The plans, permits, appraisal, and insurance must all describe the same completed home and location.
Current statewide code
The 8th Edition 2023 Florida Building Code took effect December 31, 2023. Local amendments and the building department requirements for the property also apply.
Permits and inspections
Local building departments control permit issuance and required inspections, and the draw schedule should follow the approved plans and verifiable construction milestones.
Wind and flood design
Coastal wind exposure, flood elevation, drainage, foundation, roof attachment, and opening-protection requirements can change the design, budget, appraisal, and schedule.
Different policies cover construction and the completed home
Builder’s risk protects the work during construction under its terms. It does not replace required permanent homeowners, wind, or flood coverage.
Move from an estimate to a loan review
Ready for us to review your Florida financing and build together?
Complete the application first, and we will match your VA eligibility and finances with the land, contractor, plans, budget, insurance, and finished-home value. If the starting point works, we will explain exactly what we still need from you and the builder.
Which Florida home types can we consider?
Eligible Florida property types can include several different home designs. Approval still depends on the plans, title, foundation, appraisal, insurance, and permanent-mortgage requirements.
Site-built home
The contract, plans, specifications, budget, contractor, code, permits, and appraisal must describe a complete primary residence.
Modular construction
Modular construction requires a review of the manufacturer, set contractor, foundation, transportation, site work, state and local approvals, title, and comparable sales.
Manufactured home
Before a manufactured home is ordered, we check the new unit, permanent foundation, title, affixture, appraisal, dealer, installer, and closing requirements.
Barndominium or unique design
A barndominium or another unique design may be considered when the appraisal has acceptable comparable sales and the plans meet the program and building-code requirements.
What has to be ready before the Florida construction closing?
Before closing, the land must be owned or under contract. The contractor, plans, specifications, fixed-price contract, permits, appraisal, title, and 5% contingency all need to be complete. The final review covers the draw schedule, lien procedures, insurance, funding fee, cash needed at closing, and completion deadline.
If the price or schedule changes after closing, we review the change before the work is completed. The loan amount may not increase, and a longer construction period may require updated financial or property documents and another approval.
Current sources for the VA loan, builder, building code, and liens
Where do we check current Florida construction requirements?
These sources show the loan requirements, contractor licensing, construction code, and lien rules we use when reviewing a Florida builder and project budget.
VA home loan
VA home-buying guide
The VA guide covers entitlement, occupancy, appraisal, funding fee, and purchase-loan requirements.
Open the VA guide
VA builder rule
Circular 26-25-1
This VA circular removed the VA Builder ID requirement.
Open the circular
Florida contractor
Construction license information
To verify Florida contractor licensing and business information, we use the state database.
Check contractor licensing
Florida code
Florida Building Code
We confirm the current statewide building code, effective dates, and technical resources.
Open building code
Florida liens
Chapter 713 construction liens
Florida’s Notice of Commencement, lien notices, lien rights, and construction-payment rules are checked before the draw process begins.
Read Chapter 713
Construction guide
VA one-time-close guide
The national guide explains the current program terms, eligible costs, draw process, and payment timing.
Open the national guide
Builder review
VA builder review guide
Builder guidance explains how we review the contractor, contract, insurance, schedule, and draws.
Open the builder guide
Budget review
VA construction budget worksheet
Use the budget worksheet to list the land, construction costs, contingency, interest, insurance, and cash needed.
Open the budget worksheet
Florida purchase
VA home loans in Florida
Buying an existing Florida home is covered in the state purchase guide.
Open the state guide
Funding fee
VA funding fee chart
Current purchase and construction funding-fee rates and exemptions are listed in the fee chart.
Open the fee chart
Florida VA construction loan questions
Can I buy Florida land and build with one VA loan?
The lot can be acquired with the approved build in one construction-to-permanent transaction. A VA loan cannot finance vacant land alone for a project that will happen later.
Can owned Florida land count toward the construction project?
Land you already own can be included after we verify the title, current payoff, site, planned home, and appraised value. Its equity is a financing credit, not a duplicate construction cost.
What sets the maximum loan amount for a Florida land-and-build project?
The loan amount comes from the verified income, monthly debts, VA entitlement, project budget, and finished-home appraisal. It also has to leave room for site work, permits, insurance, and the other costs required to finish the home.
Does a Florida contractor still need a VA Builder ID?
VA Circular 26-25-1 removed the Builder ID requirement, but the contractor still needs appropriate Florida licensing. We must also approve the contractor, contract, insurance, and specific project before closing.
What does a Florida Notice of Commencement do?
It identifies the construction project and participants in the public record. We must record it before disbursing construction funds to the contractor, and each draw still needs inspections, invoices, and lien releases.
Are regular mortgage payments billed during construction?
Estimated construction interest is included in the approved project budget, so regular principal-and-interest payments do not begin during the build. Scheduled permanent payments start after the home is completed and the loan is modified.
Does builder’s risk replace Florida wind or flood insurance?
No, builder’s risk covers the work during construction according to its terms. It does not replace the permanent homeowners, wind, or flood protection required for the completed property.
Can Florida modular, manufactured, or barndominium projects qualify?
Barndominiums and other nontraditional homes may qualify when the plans, foundation, title, contractor, building code, appraisal, and comparable sales meet the program requirements. That review is completed before the buyer pays a large deposit or commits to the build.
Ready to start a Florida VA construction loan?
Flood zones, wind coverage, and site work can make an otherwise affordable Florida build too expensive. Use the secure application before anyone assembles the complete project package. PBT will pull the COE and review income, monthly debts, cash available, and credit to estimate the maximum mortgage and payment. We can then decide whether the contractor, plans, permits, insurance, budget, and appraised completed value are worth pursuing.
Last reviewed August 6, 2026.