Shirley Mueller’s team handles VA construction loans in Mississippi. One team works with you from pre-approval through move-in.
VA construction loans for Mississippi Veterans
In Mississippi, land is often easier to find than the right existing home. That's why many Veterans here look at building. A VA one-time close construction loan finances your lot, your new home and your permanent mortgage together, with one closing and $0 down on loans up to $1 million for eligible Veterans. It's a good fit for a few acres outside town or a lot in a new subdivision near the coast.
If you're building in Mississippi, Shirley's team can explain how the program works with your land and builder, then take your application and handle closing.
Where Mississippi Veterans are building
On the Gulf Coast, Veterans tied to Keesler Air Force Base and the Naval Construction Battalion Center often build in D'Iberville, Ocean Springs, Long Beach and the communities north of I-10 toward Saucier and Vancleave. In the Pine Belt, Hattiesburg, Petal and Purvis are convenient to Camp Shelby.
In central Mississippi, many families build outside Jackson in Madison, Brandon, Flowood and Clinton. In the north, Columbus and Starkville sit near Columbus Air Force Base. Southaven, Olive Branch and Hernando in DeSoto County have grown along with the Memphis job market. Meridian and the surrounding towns are home to many Veterans connected to NAS Meridian.
Land and site conditions in Mississippi
- Hurricanes and wind. On the coast and in nearby inland counties, hurricane wind and storm surge affect building design, materials and insurance. Your local building department sets the wind design requirements, and your builder plans for them.
- Flood zones. Check the flood zone before you buy a lot, especially near the coast, rivers and the Delta. A lot in a special flood hazard area can need elevated construction and will require flood insurance.
- Clay soils. Parts of central Mississippi have expansive clay soils that swell and shrink with moisture. A soils report helps your builder choose the right foundation and avoid problems later.
- Septic and water. Rural lots often need a septic system, and some need a private well or a connection to a rural water association. Find out what's available and what it costs before you commit.
- Access and timber. Wooded land is common. Budget for clearing, a driveway and bringing in power, and make sure the lot has legal road access.
Already own land? The loan can pay off the lot at closing. See VA construction loans on land you already own. The finished home must also meet VA's minimum property requirements. Keep in mind that working farms aren't eligible, even though rural acreage for a primary home can be.
Builder licensing in Mississippi
The Mississippi State Board of Contractors licenses residential contractors in the state, and you can check a builder's license status through the Board. Ask any builder you're considering for their license information and confirm it with the Board before you sign.
For a VA construction loan, your builder must also be approved by the lender before closing and must work under a fixed-price contract. VA construction loans don't allow owner-builders or do-it-yourself work. Our builder information page explains what a builder needs to provide, and this article covers why you can't serve as your own general contractor.
Building permits come from your city or county. Some rural counties have lighter requirements than the cities, but the lender and VA still need the home built to code and properly inspected.
How the loan works for a Mississippi build
On the Gulf Coast, ask your builder how they schedule work around hurricane season. The VA one-time close construction loan itself is simple: one loan for the lot, construction and permanent mortgage, about 2–3 months to close, and a 12-month construction period after that. No payments are due while the house goes up. The builder pays the interest reserve and construction management fee, which are built into the loan amount (learn about the interest reserve). Once the home is finished, you have a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
VA construction loans start at a 620 minimum credit score, and larger loan amounts may need a higher score. Loans over $1 million, up to a $2 million maximum, need 5% down. If you're thinking about a barndominium or a new manufactured home for a rural lot, both can be eligible, as can modular homes. Single-width manufactured homes qualify only from select manufacturers.
Mississippi homestead exemption for disabled Veterans
According to the Mississippi Department of Revenue, Veterans with a service-connected, total disability and an honorable discharge can have their homestead fully exempted from property taxes. An unremarried surviving spouse may also qualify. You apply in person at the tax assessor's office in the county where the home is located, during the filing period from January 1 to April 1.
The timing rules matter when you build. The state says you must own the home before January 1, have your ownership document filed with the chancery clerk by early January, and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1 of the year you apply. That usually means you file in the first year after you move in. Ask your county assessor how it applies to your completion date. Other states are covered in our property tax exemption by state guide.
Mississippi's state Veteran home loan program
Mississippi also has the Veterans' Home Purchase Board (VHPB), a state agency that makes home loans to eligible Mississippi Veterans. It's a separate state program, not a CrossCountry Mortgage product. According to the VHPB, it can provide permanent financing after a construction loan on a single-family home in Mississippi. If you're considering it, check its eligibility rules directly with the VHPB.
Military installations in Mississippi
Mississippi is home to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Columbus Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Meridian, Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg and the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. If you're still serving, or recently separated, see who qualifies for a VA construction loan.
Get started
To see where you stand, start with the online application. It takes about 10 minutes and only uses a soft credit pull. Her team reviews it and walks you through the next steps. Shirley has specialized in VA home loans for over 20 years, and you can reach her team at 888-788-4977 or shirley.mueller@ccm.com.
Mississippi VA construction loan FAQs
Can Shirley's team help if I'm building in Mississippi?
Yes. Her team can walk you through the program, review your plans and handle the loan from application to closing.
Can I build on the Gulf Coast with a VA construction loan?
Yes, if it's your primary residence. Expect wind design requirements and possibly flood insurance, depending on the lot. Check the flood zone before you buy land.
Can I build a barndominium in Mississippi with a VA loan?
Yes. Barndominiums can be eligible when they're built as a primary residence by an approved builder and meet VA property requirements. Working farms are not eligible.
When can I apply for Mississippi's disabled veteran homestead exemption on a new home?
You must own and live in the home on January 1, then file between January 1 and April 1 with your county tax assessor. Ask the assessor how your completion date affects the first year you can file.
Do I need a down payment in Mississippi?
No down payment is required for eligible Veterans on loans up to $1 million. Loans over $1 million, up to $2 million, need 5% down.