The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) and NFU Scotland have been calling for increased incentives in a grant scheme available to crofters.
Ms McLeod said the Scottish government was prepared to look at offering loans.
Fiona Mandeville, of SCF, said such assistance could help young crofters to get on to the housing ladder.
She said: "We do see the loan element as key to the success of this scheme.
"This scheme really needs to be aimed at young crofters who maybe find it hard to get a mortgage, or to get a start on the housing ladder.
"I think it is important to look at the croft house grant scheme as another element of social housing."
Ms McLeod said the government would hold further consultation on the Crofter Housing Grant Scheme while on a visit to Inverness.
Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has welcomed the move.
Donald Crichton, vice chairman of the comhairle's sustainable development committee, said: "Over the last year we have made a strong case to the minister and civil servants for increasing and strengthening the grant as one of the best mechanisms for sustaining our crofting communities.
"This further consultation demonstrates that the minster has been listening and taking on board our views and we are encouraged by the proposals that are emerging."

1 April 2017 Last updated at 12:33 BST
The tiny pad was appraised by manuscripts specialist Matthew Haley during an episode filmed at Caversham Park in Berkshire.
The programme will air on Sunday at 20:00 BST on BBC One.

The man, 41, was helped from the Audi TT which had been driven at speed into Carr Mill reservoir in St Helens on Monday evening, Merseyside Police said.
Five officers were filmed rescuing him from the slowly sinking vehicle.
The man was found to be uninjured when taken to hospital. He was detained on suspicion of a number of offences.
These included the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, burglary, dangerous driving and failing to stop, police said.
Officers started tracking the suspected stolen Audi in Liverpool at about 20:20 GMT.
When police attempted to stop the car, the driver sped off, leading to a police pursuit up the M62.
Officers deployed a stop-stick before the Audi continued to be driven at speed and finally into the reservoir.
The officers who went into the water were also checked over as a precaution and have all been released.
Ch Supt Jon Ward said: "The officers involved in this pursuit and rescue acted with exceptional bravery, tenacity and professionalism to rescue the man on a bitterly cold, wet and miserable evening.
"Without a second thought given to their own safety and the conditions, they entered the freezing water and dragged him through the rear of the car just before it became completely submerged."

18 January 2016 Last updated at 20:09 GMT
Ben Frost, 27, barricaded himself into his girlfriend's flat in Princetown on Dartmoor on 18 January.
He was arrested two hours after breaking through the roof, Plymouth magistrates heard.
Unemployed Frost of no fixed address admitted two charges of causing criminal damage and two of threatening behaviour.

A Vauxhall Astra and a Peugeot 206 were involved in the crash on Blackburn Road in Sheffield at 01:00 GMT.
Joshua Fothergill, 19, of Rotherham was in the Astra and died at the scene as did Liam Parkin, also 19, of Sheffield who was in the Peugeot.
A 20-year-old man, held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop, has been bailed.
Three other men who were travelling in the Peugeot were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
They were a 24-year-old and an 18-year-old from Rotherham, and a 21-year-old man about whom no other details were released by police.
Crofting Minister Aileen McLeod has said the government is willing to look at the potential of reintroducing loans for building croft houses.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A 17th Century notebook analysing the work of William Shakespeare has been described as "extraordinary" by an Antiques Roadshow expert.
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Helicopter footage of officers wading into icy waters to rescue a man who had driven a suspected stolen car into a reservoir has been released by police.
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A man who sparked a drug-fuelled roof-top siege after breaking up with his partner has been given a suspended prison sentence.
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Two teenagers who died when two cars collided in the early hours of Saturday have been named by police.