Nearly everyone who has wanted to buy or build a home has been told that they need to obtain a "pre-qualification" or a "pre-approval" before making an offer on a property. The problem is that these terms are used interchangeably. This is a big mistake, and understanding the difference could save you a lot of time and money.

It is hard to find construction financing when you want to build your own home as an owner-builder. When looking for the loan that is right for your scenario, make sure you see the big picture and look for the right features in your loan. Otherwise, suffer the consequences.

You've probably already heard the term owner-builder if you've been involved in residential construction in any way. But, there is a lot of misinformation out there about owner-builders. Before deciding if it's right for you, step back a moment and get a firm grasp of what an owner-builder really does.