Skip to content
×
Pro Members Get
Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
ANNUAL Save 16%
$32.50 /mo
$390 billed annualy
MONTHLY
$39 /mo
billed monthly
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime

Let's keep in touch

Subscribe to our newsletter for timely insights and actionable tips on your real estate journey.

By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions
×
Try Pro Features for Free
Start your 7 day free trial. Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties.

Posted 5 days ago

The Dilemma: Traditional Bank or Private Financing

For builders and developers, time isn’t just money—it’s everything. A delayed project timeline means escalating costs, missed market opportunities, and frustrated clients. Surprisingly, one of the biggest culprits for these delays is often the very thing meant to fuel the project: traditional bank financing.

The conventional bank loan, with its lengthy approval processes and rigid requirements, is a notorious timeline killer. The journey typically involves mountains of paperwork, endless committee reviews, and often, a need for near-perfect credit and substantial pre-sales. Weeks, or even months, can pass between application and funding. During this critical period, your project is stalled, your purchase option on the land may be expiring, and your construction crew is on hold. Even after breaking ground, banks often disburse funds in slow, incremental draws, requiring frequent inspections and approvals that can bring work to a grinding halt.

This stop-and-go funding model is fundamentally at odds with the fast-paced, fluid nature of construction. A weather delay is bad enough; a funding delay imposed by your financial partner is simply unacceptable.

What to Do Instead: Embrace Modern Financing Solutions

The good news is that the financial landscape has evolved. Builders no longer need to be held hostage by slow-moving institutions. Here are two powerful alternatives:

  1. Private & Hard Money Lenders: These lenders specialize in speed and flexibility. They focus primarily on the asset's value and your project's potential, not just your credit score. Approvals are dramatically faster—often in days, not months—allowing you to seize opportunities and start work immediately. While interest rates may be higher, the speed and certainty they provide protect your overall profitability by keeping your project on schedule.
  2. Specialized Construction Loans: Some non-bank lenders offer construction loans specifically designed for builders. These products feature more streamlined draw processes and underwriters who actually understand construction, eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

By shifting away from traditional banks, you regain control of your timeline. You can secure land quickly, break ground faster, and maintain momentum through to completion. In the building game, speed is a competitive advantage. It’s time to finance like it.

Lets Talk! 



Comments