Curious—has anyone actually had a lender penalize them for finishing early? I’ve heard rumors but never seen it firsthand...
I’ve heard those rumors too, but honestly, I’ve never seen anyone get dinged for wrapping up ahead of schedule. If anything, lenders seem relieved when things don’t drag on forever. That said, I’m with you all on the “padding the schedule” thing—permits alone can eat up months, and then you’ve got weather, supply chain, and all the usual chaos. Anyone who thinks 12 months is realistic these days must have a magic wand or something...
I’ve always wondered about the “normal” timeline, too. I keep seeing 12 to 18 months thrown around, but in reality, with delays and inspections, it feels like 18 is the bare minimum. Has anyone actually managed to keep things under budget and on time lately? Or is that just wishful thinking...
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
I used to think the 12-18 month timeline was just a formality, but after going through my own build last year, I’m convinced it’s more like a best-case scenario. Ours was supposed to be a 13-month project, and it ended up taking just shy of 20 months. Here’s how it played out for us, in case it helps anyone else manage expectations.
First, the initial few months were eaten up by permits and getting utility approvals. I thought that part would be quick, but it dragged on forever. After that, framing went pretty fast, but then we hit delays with window deliveries—apparently supply chain issues are still a thing. Inspections took longer than I expected too; we had to reschedule twice because the inspector was out sick. Little stuff like that adds up.
Budget-wise, we started out strong, but midway through, prices on some materials jumped. We had a contingency fund, but it vanished quicker than I’d hoped. The only thing that kept us from going way over was being really hands-on—double-checking invoices, picking finishes ourselves, and sometimes just saying “no” to upgrades.
What helped most was keeping a detailed calendar and checklist. Every week, I’d go over what was supposed to happen versus what actually got done. That way, when something slipped, we could ask the builder about it right away instead of letting weeks go by.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is to plan for at least 18 months and pad your budget by 10-15% if you can. Even then, expect a few surprises. I wouldn’t call it wishful thinking to hope for an on-time, under-budget build, but I’d say it’s pretty rare these days unless you get really lucky or have a super straightforward project.
Hope this helps someone feel less alone in the chaos... It’s a wild ride, but totally worth it once you finally get those keys.
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
You nailed it—12-18 months is more of a guideline than a rule lately. I’ve seen even “simple” builds stretch past 18 months, especially with permit delays and supply hiccups. Most lenders I work with are now offering 18-24 month construction loans as standard, just to give everyone some breathing room. It’s smart to push for that extra time upfront rather than scrambling for an extension later. And yeah, those checklists and weekly reviews make a huge difference—keeps everyone honest and on track.
WHAT’S A “NORMAL” LENGTH FOR CONSTRUCTION LOANS THESE DAYS?
Honestly, I’m starting to think “normal” is just a myth at this point. I remember when 12 months was supposed to be plenty, but lately it feels like you blink and you’re already needing an extension. My last project was supposed to be a quick 10-month build—ended up taking almost 20 thanks to some wild permit drama and a tile shipment that got stuck in customs for weeks.
I get why lenders are bumping it up to 18-24 months now. Makes sense with all the moving parts (and let’s be real, nothing ever goes exactly as planned). I do wonder if we’ll ever swing back to shorter timelines, or if this is just the new normal… Either way, those weekly check-ins are clutch. Without them, things can spiral fast—especially when you’ve got five different trades blaming each other for delays.
