5 Best Land and Lot Loans in Georgia

The Peach State is famous the world over for its great Southern cooking, relaxed atmosphere and wide-ranging natural landscapes. Within the 57,716 square miles of Georgia as documented by the U.S. Census Bureau, you can also find some of the best school systems in the South and some dynamic metro areas. 

Given all that, it’s no surprise that many Americans want to call Georgia home. Many Georgians are taking a different approach to property in the Peach State, however, by turning to land loans. Per the New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States, the value per acre of land in Georgia is $14,242.79, giving Georgians perhaps an easier way to approach homeownership. 

While construction loans in Georgia offer a somewhat similar route, they can lock you into the construction process from “go.” A land loan, instead, allows you to find and purchase a parcel of land that you love, then build in your own time. 

Benefits of getting a land loan in Georgia

Often, when you start looking for a property – especially for the first time – you realize that there’s a difference between the price tags on your wishlist and what you can afford. 

While you could settle for an older home or something that doesn’t have everything you want, you could do things a bit differently by getting a land loan. 

A land loan allows you to purchase vacant property in the city or neighborhood you want to be in for a fraction of the cost of a finished home. Then you can plan and save until you can start building the home you want. 

Since land is much cheaper than buildings, this also means that you can qualify to purchase land long before you can afford to buy the house you want. As you hold onto the lot, it will appreciate just like a home would, which might give you more options when it comes time to finance your construction project. 

5 Best Georgia land loan lenders

Some lenders only offer land loans for residential projects, while other programs can lend to those that are pursuing recreational or agri-business purchases.

1. Georgia United Credit Union

Established in 1958, Georgia United Credit Union serves over 170,000 members through digital and physical branches. Noted for its community give back programs, Georgia United Credit Union provides land and lot loans with up to 80% financing and various loan terms available to qualified borrowers.

We reached out to Georgia United Credit Union to discuss land loan details, which you can read about below:

• Up to 80% financing
• Multiple loan terms available

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

2. CU of Georgia

Credit Union of Georgia, or CU of Georgia, is a member-owned financial institution serving much of Georgia. Among the many loans it offers are land loans, specifically designed to help with the building of a personal home with flexible terms up to 15 years for qualified borrowers.

We reached out to CU of Georgia to discuss land loan details, which you can read about below:

• Terms up to 15 years
• Local processing and underwriters
• Available for land loans purchases even if you’re not ready to build
• Construction financing also available

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

3. AgSouth Farm Credit

AgSouth Farm Credit provides financing options for land, farms, and homes from a home base in Statesboro, Georgia. With more than 100 years of service to the region, it offers a range of solutions for large acreage tracks, construction, land improvements, hunting, and recreational tracks, and timberland.

We reached out to AgSouth Farm Credit to discuss land loan details, which you can read about below:

• Large acreage tracts
• Timberland
• Hunting & recreational tracts
• Farmland
• Land Improvements
• Construction
• Small acreage and residential lots
• Financing up to 20 years (15 years for lot loans)
• Up to 85% financing

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

4. Citizens Bank & Trust

Based in North Alabama, Citizens Bank & Trust provides a number of services for those living in the area and looking to invest in property. Citizens Bank & Trust offers land loans and construction loans to help with the purchase of property as well as the building on property.

We reached out to Citizens Bank & Trust to discuss land loan details, which you can read about below:

• Available for home construction or land
• Available for primary residence or secondary home construction
• Draw system: funds can be disbursed in stages as construction progresses
• May roll into permanent loan, saving on closing costs
• Local decision-making and processing

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

5. First Commerce Credit Union

First Commerce Credit Union is a full-service financial institution founded in 1940 for the employees and families of the Florida Industrial Commission, which later became the Florida Department of Commerce. Today, it is a state-chartered organization serving members in North Florida and South Georgia, including through land loans.

We asked First Commerce Credit Union for more details on their vacant land loan product and here is what they said:

• Any size lot within a recorded subdivision or up to 40 acres outside a subdivision
• Financing up to 90% of appraised value
• Fixed rate options
• Maximum loan amount of $500,000
• Assistance from experienced local loan officers
• First mortgage only

When you’re ready to connect with a loan officer, use our form to quickly match with land and lot loan programs based on your specific circumstances.

Does a Georgia home land loan make sense for you?

If you are struggling to find the right home in Georgia, then a land loan might make sense for you. Especially in coveted neighborhoods where the home prices are rising, purchasing a lot can give you a way in and introduce some flexibility to the process. Not all home loans will work for real estate needs, especially if your lender has strict requirements that you can’t meet, such as around credit scores or down payments.

But, if you need to get into a property quickly that is already built, a home equity loan or mortgage loan might be a better route. If you want to build your own dream home, however, then putting your new home on existing land is the right approach. You can check that zoning will allow you to construct what you want from the piece of land you found on the NMLS and then go from there with the land loan application process. Use a loan calculator to verify land loan rates and other details so you can make the right home buying decision.

There are different types of land loans to consider, as well, including raw land loans, unimproved land loans, and improved land loans, so you can have a range of options available to you. Going with a lot loan is also a great choice if you want a home built to your exact specifications. You can also take your time with construction on a land loan, giving you room to consider design and ensure that your finances are ready for the next step in the process. 

If you know the purchase price of the raw land you want, you might find it hard to get a mortgage loan to buy land in Georgia. Instead, a land loan might be the best path to make your land purchase possible.

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