Ground-Up & Vertical Construction Loans | 90% LTC | Ledger
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Ground-Up Construction Loans

Draw-based financing for residential new builds. Leverage your lot position with a construction escrow designed around your budget to take a project from start to completion.

Business-purpose financing for licensed builders and developers. Not available for primary or personal residences.

Build From the Ground Up

Our ground-up construction financing provides leverage to your finished lot position coupled with a construction escrow designed around your budget to take a project from start to completion. Whether you're building a single-family spec home, a townhome community, or larger tract development, we structure financing that matches your build timeline and budget.

As a combination loan, we provide a day-one advance of capital based on the current value of the lot followed by requested draws against a submitted construction budget. Our draw process is fast, transparent, and predictable through our Asset Management portal.

Our underwriting focuses on the project itself and the experience of the builder behind it. Building your first spec home? See our first-time builder program. Building for resale? See our spec home construction loans.

Loan Range

$150,000 to $5,000,000 per loan. Multi-loan structures available up to $10MM ($20MM case by case).

Term

15-18 months with extension options

Closing Speed

As fast as 21 days

Draw Schedule

As fast as 48 hours

Geographic Coverage

42 states plus Washington, D.C. Top markets: NC, SC, VA, OH, FL, TX.

What We Finance

What Sets Us Apart

  • Competitive leverage on finished lots and vertical construction costs
  • Fast, predictable draw process with dedicated project oversight
  • No junk fees or hidden costs at closing
  • Institutional-grade terms available to local builders
  • Repeat borrower programs for builders scaling their pipeline

Apply Now

Tell us about your project and we'll be in touch within one business day. Business-purpose loans only, not for primary or personal residences.

Application Received

Thank you — our team will be in touch within one business day.

Ground-Up Construction Loan Summary: Ledger Trade & Capital funds ground-up construction loans from $150K to $5M (multi-loan structures up to $10M+). Up to 90% loan-to-cost and 75% LTARV. Rates from 8.875%. Terms of 15 to 18 months with extension options. Close in as fast as 21 days. Draws funded in as fast as 48 hours. Minimum 680 credit score and 5 completed projects in the last 3 years. Business-purpose only, not available for primary residences. Available in 42 states plus Washington, D.C.

How Construction Loans Work

A construction loan (also called a builder loan or new construction loan) is short-term financing that covers the cost of building a new home or developing a residential property. Unlike a traditional mortgage, construction loan funds are disbursed in stages as construction progresses.

Draw-based funding

Construction loans don't fund all at once. Your total loan is held in escrow and released in draws as you complete each phase of the build: foundation, framing, mechanical, finish. This protects the lender and keeps your project funded on schedule.

LTC and LTARV explained

Loan-to-Cost (LTC) measures how much of your total project cost is covered by the loan. Loan-to-After-Repair-Value (LTARV) measures the loan against the finished property value. We lend up to 90% LTC and 75% LTARV, meaning experienced builders can finance up to 90% of total project cost.

Timeline and terms

Construction loan terms are typically 15 to 18 months, with extension options if needed. You pay interest only on the amount drawn, not the full loan amount. Once the build is complete, you sell the property or refinance into a permanent loan (DSCR or conventional).

Who qualifies

Licensed builders, experienced developers, and real estate investors building spec homes, custom homes, or build-to-rent properties. We evaluate the borrower, the project plan, and the local market. First-time builders can qualify by partnering with an experienced third-party GC, a program most private construction lenders don't offer.

How Ledger is different: We are a direct private construction lender, not a broker. Our capital comes from institutional sources, which means faster decisions, flexible draw schedules, and no middleman markup. We fund ground-up construction loans, builder loans, spec homes, new builds, and build-to-rent projects across 40+ states. There is no prepayment penalty, and limited recourse construction loans are available for qualified borrowers.

What You Need to Qualify for a Construction Loan

Construction loans, builder loans, spec home loans, and new construction financing share the same core requirements.

Eligible

  • 680+ credit score (700+ unlocks 90% LTC)
  • Single-family new construction
  • Duplex, triplex, fourplex and townhome builds
  • Teardowns, infill and scattered-site projects
  • Spec homes and build-to-rent
  • Loans from $150K to $5M (residential only)
  • Entity borrowers (LLC, Corp)
  • First-time builders considered

Not Eligible

  • Owner-occupied primary residence
  • Commercial, mixed-use, or hospitality
  • Apartments or projects over $5M
  • Raw land with no build plan
  • Mobile or manufactured homes
  • Credit score below 680
  • No exit strategy or budget
Program Details

Ground-Up Construction Loan Parameters

Max LTC
Up to 90%
Max LTARV
Up to 75%
Recourse
Non-Recourse Available
Our construction loans are designed for builders with experience completing residential projects. You should have a clear scope of work, an itemized budget, and a realistic timeline. Whether you're building your 5th home or your 50th, we structure terms that make sense for where you are in your business.
No. These are business-purpose loans for builders and developers constructing homes for resale or rental. We do not finance primary or personal residences, or any home the borrower intends to occupy. Borrowers close in an LLC, LP, or corporation.
New construction loans are available up to 90% of loan-to-cost (LTC) and 75% of the loan-to-after-repair-value (LTARV). Learn the difference between LTC, LTV, and LTARV. Leverage depends on borrower experience, credit score, and the overall project profile. Funds are released through a draw schedule tied to construction milestones.
The minimum credit score for new construction loan programs is 680. We evaluate the full picture including the project, the builder's track record, and the market when making lending decisions.
Construction loan borrowers should have completed at least 5 residential construction or renovation projects within the last 3 years. Builders with deeper experience may qualify for improved leverage and pricing. Building your first spec home? See our first-time builder construction loan program.
Yes, limited recourse options are available on new construction loans for qualifying borrowers and projects. Standard carve-outs apply. Our team can walk you through the limited recourse structuring process.
Construction loans close in as fast as 21 days from completed application. We self-fund, so there's no waiting on third-party approvals or committee decisions. Repeat borrowers with clean builder loan files often close even faster.
Submit construction loan draw requests through our online Asset Management portal. We process draws in as fast as 48 hours. The draw schedule is set at closing based on your construction budget, so there are no surprises mid-project.
Yes. Ledger Trade & Capital is a national construction lender. We fund construction loans and builder loans across 42 states plus DC for single-family, townhome, and multi-unit residential projects.
Construction loan rates depend on borrower experience, credit score, leverage, and project type. Experienced builders with strong credit and lower leverage typically receive the best builder loan pricing. Try our construction loan calculator to estimate your rate.

Construction Lending Coverage

Ground-up construction financing available in 40+ states. See state-specific builder programs and market details.

Texas Florida North Carolina Tennessee Colorado Georgia Arizona Pennsylvania Virginia Ohio New Jersey Alabama View All 40+ States →

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See current construction loan rates from 8.875%