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The Daily Insight

How do you calculate interest on a construction loan?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Apr 02, 2026

Interest on a construction loan is a very simple formula that anyone can calculate. If your current interest rate is 7.75% you simply take the balance that has been drawn or borrowed. You then multiply this balance by . 0775.

How is construction interest paid?

In many cases, construction loans are also set up as interest-only loans. This means interest is only paid on the money borrowed instead of paying down any part of the principle loan balance. Interest is also only paid on the amount that has been paid out already.

How do you calculate the interest you are paying?

Divide your interest rate by the number of payments you’ll make that year. If you have a 6 percent interest rate and you make monthly payments, you would divide 0.06 by 12 to get 0.005. Multiply that number by your remaining loan balance to find out how much you’ll pay in interest that month.

Are construction loans interest only?

A construction mortgage is a loan used to pay for building a new home, after which time the loan may convert into a standard mortgage. During construction, most loans of these type are interest-only and will disburse money incrementally to the borrower as building progresses.

How do you treat interest in construction?

Typically, interest paid on a loan is immediately expensed and is tax deductible but that isn’t always the case. For example, construction interest expense that is incurred during the period up until the time the asset begins to produce revenue is capitalized by adding it to the cost basis of the asset.

What is construction interest?

Construction interest expense is an interest that accumulates on a construction loan used to construct a building or other long-lived business asset. Typically, interest paid on a loan is immediately expensed and is tax deductible but that isn’t always the case.

How interest cost are treated when a building is constructed?

Construction interest that is incurred on the construction of a structure intended for rental or business use is not deductible at the time that it is paid. This type of interest is added to the cost basis of the asset instead. For this reason, it is also known as capitalized interest.

How does an interest only construction loan work?

During construction, interest-only payments are commonly made on the balance of the money you’ve drawn. The loan is designed to pay the contractors and subcontractors in regular installments based on how much of the work has been completed at each stage of construction.

Are construction loan interest rates higher?

The builder or home buyer takes out a construction loan to cover the costs of the project before obtaining long-term funding. Because they are considered relatively risky, construction loans usually have higher interest rates than traditional mortgage loans.

How is the interest on a construction project calculated?

In determining the amount of interest to be capitalized, multiply the applicable borrowing rate by the amount of borrowed money spent on the project. The applicable borrowing rate is calculated one of two ways: If you acquire debt specifically for the project, use the interest rate explicit in the loan agreement.

How to calculate Io on a home construction loan?

Select if the transaction is a purchase or refinance, the price of the property, the cost of construction, the duration of the project, the estimated home value when the project is complete, and the estimated interest rate on the loan. The calculator will then show graphical & numerical representations of IO and amortizing payments.

Do you keep interest on a construction contract?

In this case, the client will generally keep any interest paid on the account. NB: On construction management contracts, a separate certificate of practical completion must be issued for each trade contract and so there are a number of defects liability periods.

When do you deduct interest on a construction property?

But you may not deduct the interest you pay during the construction period. Instead, this cost must be added to the basis of your property and depreciated over 27.5 years (the depreciation period for residential rental property ). (I.R.C. § 263A (f) (1).) The construction period for real property begins when physical construction starts.