@Stuart Udis it zoned for either residential, commercial or mixed used so i want to put/build for commercial or mixed use. Operate my own business there. Its not huge but its in a great location.
Attorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7mo
I would recommend speaking with a local architect and local civil engineer. Very rare for one zoning classification to allow residential, mixed-use and commercial. Mixed-use and commercial seems more plausible. Make sure your desired build can be permitted. From there, most lenders will want at minimum a zoning permit but in many instances a building permit in place.
Title Representative · Irvine, CA · Member since 2017 · 874 posts · 519 votes
7mo
@Isabella Rocco I would do what I could to get seller financing to get paid off at construction loan, since seller probably would not want to be subordinate to a construction loan. The terms of a HELOC may not allow proceeds to be used for land, but maybe it is allowed. Developing land is super risky, so just make sure you are checking everything that needs to be checked with the right consultants.
Real Estate Consultant · Denver, CO · Member since 2026 · 38 posts · 8 votes
7mo
@Isabella Rocco One thing I’d add, especially for a first land deal, is to separate whether the land should be owned from how it’s financed.
Land loans are harder largely because lenders are underwriting uncertainty — approvals, timing, exit, etc. New investors often focus on finding the right loan product before they’ve fully pressure-tested those risks.
A HELOC can work in some cases, but it effectively shifts all of that risk back onto you personally. Before worrying about the financing, make sure you're clear on what actually drives value on the site (entitlements, use, timing) and whether those assumptions are solid. Financing tends to get easier once that's clear.