Ground-up construction & development loans
Planning a new build or a development? Tell me what you're building and what financing you need. From a single spec home or a row of townhomes to rental communities and commercial buildings, the first step is a short project form. I review each project and work to match it with an appropriate lender. Financing depends on the project and the lender's review.
Building a home you'll live in? Use the home construction application →
What are you building?
All of these are welcome for review, including first-time developers, builders who act as their own general contractor, partly built or stalled projects, and refinances. There's no minimum or maximum project size. Sending a project isn't an approval or a promise of terms.
Where are you in the project?
You don't need to know the lending terms. Pick the closest stage on the form, or Not sure.
- Buying landYou've found a site or you're under contract.
- Developing the siteRoads, utilities, drainage, grading and lots.
- Starting constructionPlans and permits are done or close, and you're ready to build.
- Finishing or refinancingThe project is partly built, stalled, or done and needs a new loan.
- Not sureThat's fine. Tell me what you have and I'll help sort it out.
How I look at the financing path
I start with the location, what the project is for, the stage, the budget and how it ends: selling the homes, renting them, or using the building for your business.
Then I look at the team, relevant experience, the money already in the project and the timeline. The goal is a realistic financing path and a clear list of what a lender will need. A few answers on a website can't be an approval, and I won't pretend they are.
What happens next
- Send the project information you have. Rough numbers and blanks are fine.
- I review it and tell you what's missing and which financing paths look possible.
- When it makes sense to move ahead, you complete the right application and share documents through a secure process.
- Financing is always subject to the lender's review, underwriting and approval.
Tell me about your project
About two minutes. Only the first few questions are required. Send it from any U.S. state.
Add documents securely (optional)
Plans, a budget, a site survey, photos or a project spreadsheet help me review faster. Not needed to review your project.
PDF, JPG, PNG, Excel (XLSX or XLS) or CSV. Up to 25 MB each, 20 files in all.
Each file is checked to make sure it really is the type its name says. Password-protected files and spreadsheets with macros can't be accepted.
Received means the file reached secure storage, not that it's been reviewed.
Trouble uploading? Email the files to marcus@qmortgage.ai with your reference number.
Files go to private storage that only Marcus can open. Don't send Social Security cards, bank statements or tax returns here; those go through the secure application.
Sources and uses, roughly
Optional. Add up the project's costs and where the money comes from. Nothing here is sent anywhere.
Development questions
Can one loan cover the land and the construction?
Sometimes. Some loans cover buying the land and the building later; other projects need separate loans. It depends on how ready the site is, the project and the lender. Tell me which stages you need funded.
Can I apply without finishing a ground-up project before?
Yes, you can send it. Experience requirements differ by lender, and acceptance depends on the whole project. Tell me about your own role and your contractor's track record. Your contractor's history doesn't automatically replace yours.
What's the difference between site work and construction?
Site work prepares the land: utilities, roads, drainage and lots. Construction is the buildings themselves. A lender funding the buildings may want the site work or approvals done first.
How are construction loans paid out?
Usually in stages (draws) as the work is done and checked. Ask about inspections, how fast draws are paid, any money held back, fees and who services the loan before you rely on a draw schedule. The lender, not Marcus, releases the money.
Can I build to rent instead of sell?
Yes. Lenders look at each plan differently. A rental project needs a realistic plan to lease it up and move to longer-term financing. A for-sale project needs a realistic sales timeline. Getting the construction loan doesn't guarantee the next loan.
Does my equity in the land count?
It may, depending on the lender, how the land is valued, any loans on it, and how long you've owned it. Share what you paid, what you think it's worth, and what you still owe. The lender decides how much of it counts.
Let's talk about your loan.
Call, book a time, or send a quick note. Whatever's easiest.
Hours Weekdays 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Central. Weekends 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Central by appointment.
I aim to get back to you within a few working hours, often sooner.
Your message didn't go through. Please call or email Marcus directly: (682) 403-3406 · marcus@qmortgage.ai