Can I Buy Land With a VA Loan? Yes, But You Need This One Type of Approval

Thinking about buying land to build your own home?

If you're hoping to use your VA loan to do it, the answer is: yes, but only under specific conditions.

Let’s walk through when a VA loan can be used to buy land and why most lenders say no (even though it’s possible).

You Can’t Use a VA Loan to Buy Just Land

The VA won’t back a loan for raw land with no construction plan. So if you're looking at an empty lot and thinking, “Maybe I’ll build someday,” that’s a no. The VA loan requires the property to be:

• A primary residence
• Safe, sound, and sanitary
• Move-in ready (unless you’re doing a VA construction loan)

But You Can Use a VA Loan to Buy Land If You’re Building a Home Right Away

That’s where the VA One-Time Close Construction Loan comes in. With this type of loan, you can:

• Finance the land purchase
• Finance the construction of the home
• Roll it all into one single loan with one closing

It’s VA-approved, $0 down if you qualify, and avoids the hassle of doing a land loan + a separate construction loan + a refinance. The catch?

Not many lenders offer this.

Lucky for you I do and I can walk you through the process if you're serious about building.

Can You Buy a Lot With a Manufactured or Modular Home Package?

Yes—if:

• The land and the home are part of the same purchase contract
• The home will be permanently affixed to a foundation
• You’ll be living there as your primary residence

In these cases, the VA treats it as a full property and not raw land.

Bottom Line

The VA loan isn’t designed for land speculation. But if you’re ready to build and live on the land, it can absolutely work. That includes:

• Buying land + building with a VA One-Time Close
• Buying a land/home package with a manufactured or modular
• Purchasing in rural or high-land-value areas like outside Hanford or Lemoore

Want to build instead of buy? Let’s talk about how to structure it right from the start so you don’t get stuck mid-process.