Education
How Long Do Construction Loans Take?
Most Sacramento construction loans we place close in approximately 30 days from a complete application. The timeline depends on documentation completeness, project complexity, and lender fit.
Typical Closing Timeline
1. Prequalification
1–3 daysReview project summary, financials, GC, and permit status. Identify likely loan structure and lender fit.
2. Lender Submission
1–2 daysFull package submission to the matched lender with budget, plans, appraisal order, and entity docs.
3. Appraisal & Feasibility
10–14 daysLender orders the as-is and completion-value appraisal plus a feasibility/budget review.
4. Underwriting
7–10 daysCredit review, liquidity verification, GC review, title work, and final loan structuring.
5. Closing & Funding
2–5 daysLoan docs, signing, recording, and initial draw if any work is already complete.
What Speeds Things Up
- Complete, stamped engineering and architectural plans
- A line-item construction budget supported by GC bids
- Permits in hand or with a clear, near-term issuance timeline
- Verified liquidity (statements, not screenshots) and clean entity docs
- Experienced, licensed, and insured general contractor
What Causes Delays
- Plans still in revision or missing engineering details
- Budget gaps between hard costs and contractor bids
- Slow appraisals in thin comp markets (some rural Northern California submarkets)
- Permit holds or unresolved entitlement issues
- Borrower entity documentation not finalized
Related: requirements checklist, draw schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a Sacramento construction loan close?+
With clean documentation, an experienced GC, and permits in hand or near issuance, many of our Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom transactions close in roughly 30 days from complete application.
What's the biggest source of delay?+
Missing or inconsistent items: incomplete plans, an unfinished construction budget, unclear permit timeline, or thin documentation of liquidity. We pre-review packages to flag these before lender submission.
Do permits have to be issued before closing?+
Not always. Many lenders will close with permits in process if the entitlement path is clear and the timeline is credible. Some prefer permits in hand — we match accordingly.
How long are construction loan terms?+
Most construction loans we place run 12–24 months, with the term sized to the project's construction schedule plus a buffer for lease-up, sale, or refinance.
On a Deadline?
Tell us your target close date and we'll work backwards from it with the right lender from our network.
Start Your Prequalification