Building a new horse barn isn't cheap. A paper from the California State Board of Equalization published in January 2010 estimated that a gable roof barn with a standard breezeway cost $9,900 for the first two stalls and then a further $8,400 for additional pairs. If you're in the market for a new barn, there will be a number of ways you may be able to get your hands on the funding you need.
Loans and Grants
You may be able to qualify for a grant or guaranteed loan to help you fund your new horse barn. Rural cooperative development grants and business and industry guaranteed loans from the Department of Agriculture are awarded to businesses to help them boost employment and improve the economic conditions in rural areas. Depending on your circumstances, you might also qualify for a beginning farmer and rancher development program grant from the USDA. You should also contact your state department of agriculture to find out if it offers ways to help you get the funding you need. You can find a list of state departments of agriculture with links to their websites on the main USDA website.
Credit Check
Order up-to-date copies of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus before seeking funding for your horse barn. Go through all of your reports thoroughly to make sure they are free of errors. If you find a problem, contact the credit bureau concerned . Incorrect entries on your credit report could undermine your attempt to secure the credit you need to build your barn.
Finance
Contact companies that build barns and find out if they offer finance options. Get as many quotes as you can to help you determine which companies offer the most attractive terms. Don't go with the company that offers finance at the lowest rate without checking the quality of its work first. If you can't find a builder that merits your confidence and is willing to offer financing on favorable terms, you may decide to look for the money you need elsewhere. If you find a company that offers financing at a reasonable cost, make an application for credit. If you have a less-than-perfect credit profile, pay down existing debt before applying.
Bank Loan
Ask your bank if it will lend you the money you need to build your horse barn if you can't find a favorable deal from a barn builder. Use a price comparison service to compare the rate your bank offers you to that offered by other lenders. Alternatively, get a price from a social lending website. Their offers, like those of banks, will be based on your credit profile. You might also consider taking out a second mortgage on your property to pay for your barn.
References
Writer Bio
Michael Roennevig has been a journalist since 2003. He has written on politics, the arts, travel and society for publications such as "The Big Issue" and "Which?" Roennevig holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the Surrey Institute and a postgraduate diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists at City College, Brighton.