Shirley Mueller’s team handles VA construction loans in North Dakota. One team works with you from pre-approval through move-in.
North Dakota has open land and a short building season, and many Veterans here want a lot with room for a shop or a big garage. Custom homes go up around Fargo and West Fargo, Bismarck and Mandan, Grand Forks, Minot, and the western towns of Williston and Dickinson. A VA one-time close construction loan helps eligible Veterans and service members finance the lot, the construction and the permanent mortgage with a single closing.
If you're building in North Dakota, my team answers your questions about the VA program and handles the loan from application to closing.
How the VA one-time close loan works here
The program works the same here as in other states: the loan pays for the lot (or pays off land you own), funds construction in draws, and becomes a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage when the house is done. With full entitlement it's $0 down on loans up to $1 million, and you make no payments during the 12-month construction period because the builder pays the interest reserve and construction management fee, which are built into the loan amount. VA construction loans start at a 620 minimum credit score, and larger loan amounts may need a higher score. Learn more on our VA one-time close construction loans page.
Eligible homes include site-built homes, barndominiums, modular homes and new multi-width manufactured homes. A home on a few acres outside town works well, but a working farm or ranch isn't eligible for a VA construction loan.
Where Veterans build in North Dakota
- Minot and Ward County: Burlington, Surrey and the rural areas around Minot Air Force Base.
- Grand Forks: the city and surrounding towns like Thompson and Emerado, near Grand Forks Air Force Base.
- Fargo–West Fargo: the state's largest metro, with Horace, Casselton and Harwood drawing new construction.
- Bismarck–Mandan: the capital region, with Lincoln and rural lots along the Missouri River.
- Western North Dakota: Williston, Watford City and Dickinson, where energy-industry jobs keep demand for housing steady.
Building for the climate and the ground
North Dakota's winters drive a lot of construction decisions. Footings must go below a deep frost line, and builders pay close attention to insulation, air sealing and heating systems. The Red River Valley around Fargo and Grand Forks has clay soils that can shift with moisture, and parts of the valley carry spring flood risk, so ask about flood zones, soil reports and foundation design before you choose a lot. Out in the country, plan for well and septic approvals through your county or local health district, and budget for driveways and utility runs.
The 12-month construction period gives your builder room to work around the season, and you still make no payments while the home is being built. The finished home must meet VA minimum property requirements.
North Dakota contractor licensing
According to the North Dakota Secretary of State, anyone doing a construction job that costs more than $4,000 must hold a North Dakota contractor license, issued in classes based on the contract amount per job. The threshold is in state law at N.D.C.C. 43-07-02. A new home is well above that amount, so make sure your builder holds a current license in the right class; you can learn more on the Secretary of State contractor licensing page.
For a VA construction loan, the builder also has to be approved by the lender before closing and work under a fixed-price contract. My team's VA construction loans don't allow owner-builders or DIY work. Building permits come from your city or county, so ask your builder how long plan review takes where you're building. Our builder information page explains the approval process.
Military installations in North Dakota
- Minot Air Force Base north of Minot
- Grand Forks Air Force Base west of Grand Forks
If you're stationed at Minot or Grand Forks and might be reassigned, talk with the loan officer about timing before you start; the home has to be your primary residence when it's finished. Check your VA construction loan eligibility.
North Dakota property tax credit for disabled Veterans
North Dakota offers a property tax credit for disabled Veterans. According to the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more qualify, along with Veterans rated 100% through an extra-schedular rating or individual unemployability. The Veteran must have been discharged under honorable conditions or be retired. The credit is scaled to your disability rating and applied to a set portion of your home's taxable value, and the home must be owned and occupied as your homestead. Unremarried surviving spouses may also qualify. First-time applicants file with the county auditor, including a DD-214 and a VA certificate of disability. See the state's disabled Veterans property tax credit guideline and our property tax exemption by state page.
A disability rating can also matter for the loan itself: Veterans who receive VA disability compensation are exempt from the VA funding fee.
Getting started in North Dakota
To start, fill out the online application (about 10 minutes, soft credit pull), and my team will review it and walk you through the next steps. The usual timeline is about 2–3 months to close, followed by the 12-month construction period. If you already own land, read about a VA construction loan on land you already own, and review VA construction loan closing costs.
North Dakota VA construction loan FAQs
Who handles VA construction loans in North Dakota?
My team handles it, starting with your first questions and continuing through closing.
Does my North Dakota builder need a state license?
Yes. North Dakota requires a contractor license for any job over $4,000, which covers building a new home. The builder must also be approved by the lender before closing.
Can I build a home with a large shop on acreage in North Dakota?
Often, yes. The property must be your primary residence and can't be a working farm or ranch, and the appraisal looks at the home and site as a whole.
Can construction continue through a North Dakota winter?
Often, yes. Framing and interior work can keep going in cold weather, while excavation and concrete are easier in warmer months. The 12-month construction period allows for that, and you have no payments during the build.
Do I qualify for North Dakota's disabled Veteran tax credit?
You may if you have a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more and own and live in the home as your homestead. File with your county auditor.