Title: What’s a “Normal” Length for Construction Loans These Days?
Had a similar run-in last year—lender wouldn’t budge on the next draw until I sent proof the sod was down, even though we were still waiting on the solar inspection. It’s like, sure, the grass looks nice, but I’d rather have working power before worrying about landscaping. Sometimes I wonder if they just want pretty photos for their files. Priorities get a little upside down in this process...
Sometimes I wonder if they just want pretty photos for their files. Priorities get a little upside down in this process...
That made me laugh—been there. I had a lender who wanted a finished driveway before releasing the last draw, even though the interior still looked like a construction zone. Guess a smooth driveway makes for better curb appeal in their paperwork? I get that they need to check boxes, but sometimes it feels like the checklist was written by someone who’s never actually built anything.
sometimes it feels like the checklist was written by someone who’s never actually built anything.
That hits home. I’ve seen lenders insist on landscaping before the roof’s even finished—like, priorities, right? I get why they want those “pretty photos,” but it can make scheduling a nightmare. Honestly, I wish there was more flexibility in those checklists. Real construction just doesn’t move in neat little boxes.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually didn’t mind the checklist as much as I expected. It was rigid, sure, but it kept everyone accountable. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather have too many boxes than not enough... even if some of them are out of order.
Yeah, I’m with you on the checklist thing—honestly, I’d rather have a few extra hoops than risk missing something major. In my experience, those checklists get annoying when they’re out of order or redundant, but it’s still better than chasing down missing docs at the eleventh hour. It’s not perfect, but it keeps the bank happy and avoids those awkward calls about “missing paperwork” right before a draw.
As for the length of construction loans, most lenders I’ve dealt with stick to 12-18 months. Sometimes you can push for 24 if you’ve got a bigger or more complex project, but they’ll want to see a solid timeline and maybe even some penalties if you go over. Had one deal where the checklist was so long it felt like they were prepping for NASA launch... but at least we didn’t miss anything critical. I’ll take too much structure over chaos any day.
