Loans for Property Developers
AAPL Member · Direct Lender Since 2016 · NMLS #1979189
Development runs on staged capital and a clear path from dirt to finished, sold-or-leased asset — and banks are notoriously slow, conservative, and rigid about exactly the projects developers take on. Loans for property developers are structured around the build: they fund land and construction in phases, flex to the realities of a project, and move at the speed a developer needs to control a site and keep crews working. Tidal Loans has financed builders and developers as a direct lender since 2016, underwriting the project and the team rather than a pile of personal tax returns.
Whether you’re putting up a single spec home, an infill subdivision, or a small multifamily building, the financing follows the same logic: fund the cost, control the risk against the finished value, and disburse as the project earns it.
Ground-Up Construction, Funded by Draw
The core development product is the ground-up construction loan. We fund up to 90% of total project cost, capped at 75% of after-completion value, and disburse through a draw schedule tied to milestones — foundation, framing, mechanicals, finish work. You request a draw as each stage completes, an inspector verifies it, and we wire the funds, so crews never wait on money. Interest is charged only on funds drawn (non-Dutch), keeping your carry low in the early months. This is the financing built for spec homes, infill and teardown development, and build-to-rent.
Land, Bridge, and the Gaps Between
Development rarely happens in a single clean transaction, so the supporting products matter. We can fund a portion of land acquisition as part of the construction loan, so the same financing that builds the structure helps you control the lot. A bridge loan covers the gaps — carrying a finished project through lease-up before a permanent refinance, or letting you control a second site before the first one sells. And for developers who renovate existing structures rather than build new, a fix and flip loan funds purchase and rehab on the same asset-based terms.
Multifamily and Build-to-Rent
Many developers build to hold, not just to sell. For build-to-rent and small apartment projects, the multifamily loan and DSCR loan provide the permanent financing: you build with a construction loan, then refinance into long-term debt underwritten on the property’s income once it’s complete and leased. We map that exit at the start, so the construction loan and its takeout are planned as one structure rather than two separate scrambles.
Underwriting the Project and the Team
What we evaluate is the deal, not your W-2: the plans, a realistic phased budget, permits, the land, and — critically — your experience and your general contractor. Execution risk is the biggest variable in any build, so a proven developer or a strong, proven GC behind a newer sponsor carries real weight. There’s no minimum credit score; the project, the budget, and the team drive the decision. The result is a lender that can say yes to the ground-up and value-add projects banks shy away from.
Developer Financing at a Glance
Developer Financing at a Glance
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily ground-up construction loans, which fund land and building in phases through a draw schedule. Developers also use bridge loans to carry projects between stages, fix and flip loans for renovation projects, and DSCR or multifamily loans as the permanent takeout on build-to-rent deals.
Up to 90% of total cost (LTC) on a qualifying construction project, capped at 75% of the after-completion value (ARV). Whichever limit is tighter sets your loan; you cover the remainder with land equity or cash.
Yes. We can fund a portion of the land cost as part of the construction loan, so the same financing that builds the structure also helps you control the lot, rather than forcing you to buy the land separately first.
Experience helps and earns the best terms, since execution risk drives a build. But first-time developers can qualify, especially with a strong, proven general contractor and a clean project package. The team and the plan matter more than a personal credit score.
Through your exit, mapped at the start: a sale on completion, or a refinance into permanent financing — a DSCR or multifamily loan — for a build-to-rent hold. A bridge loan can carry the project through lease-up if permanent financing needs the property stabilized first.
Ready to fund your development?
Tell us the plans, the budget, and the lot. We underwrite the project and the team, run our own draws, and map your takeout at the start.