I’d rather have a little breathing room than scramble at the end.
Totally agree—12 months feels more like wishful thinking than reality. I’ve watched projects grind to a halt over something as silly as a missing light fixture. Honestly, I think lenders are just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen a few builds wrap up in under a year—though it’s definitely the exception, not the rule. Maybe it depends on how custom the home is? Some of the high-end finishes and imported fixtures can drag things out way past anyone’s estimate. Do you think lenders are being unrealistic, or are they just trying to keep people motivated to finish faster? Sometimes I wonder if longer loan terms would just encourage more delays...
Sometimes I wonder if longer loan terms would just encourage more delays...
- In my experience, the timeline really hinges on how much you’re customizing and how many trades you’re coordinating.
- Lenders probably want to avoid “project drift,” but sometimes their timelines don’t match real-world supply chain issues.
- I’ve seen delays just from waiting on a single specialty window order.
- Curious if anyone’s actually had a lender grant an extension without a ton of hassle? That seems like a big variable.
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
Curious if anyone’s actually had a lender grant an extension without a ton of hassle? That seems like a big variable.
I’ve wondered the same. Ours was 12 months and I thought that sounded generous—until we hit a three-month delay on cabinets. The lender did extend, but it took more paperwork than getting the loan in the first place. Is 18 months more common now, or is that just wishful thinking? The timelines never seem to match reality, especially with all the random backorders.
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
- Ran into this exact issue last year—our loan was set at 12 months, which felt tight from the start.
- Framing delays and a window order gone wrong pushed us right up to the wire.
- Extension was possible but honestly, it was a paperwork headache. Not sure why lenders act like it’s a huge deal.
- I’m seeing more 15-18 month loans lately, but it still depends on the lender. Some are stuck on old timelines that just don’t fit with current supply chain chaos.
- Wish there was more flexibility built in upfront... nobody finishes on time anymore, right?
