Top 20 Commercial Real Estate Construction Lenders
Commercial Real Estate Debt Placement

Top 20 Commercial Real Estate Construction Lenders

Most sponsors do not fail because of deal quality. They fail because the capital stack is mismatched to lender appetite and closing timelines.

This page gives you a lender map built for execution, then shows how Financely runs a faster route from lender shortlist to signed term sheet and closing file.

If you are buying, developing, or recapitalizing income-producing property, lender fit matters more than generic outreach. Construction lenders screen structure first: basis, contingency, sponsor strength, lease-up risk, and clear takeout logic. If your package misses one of those, you can lose weeks in credit committee loops.

Financely operates as an execution desk for transaction-led sponsors. We run lender mapping, narrative correction, debt sizing, and gap stack support through a single process. If you want the mechanics before engagement, see how our process works and what our platform handles in live mandates.

How to read this list: this is an execution-focused list of nationally active and multi-region active capital providers used by sponsors in construction and transitional property financings. It is not legal advice, not a solicitation, and not a promise of approval.

Top 20 Lenders To Screen For Construction Files

Lender Typical Fit Where They Commonly Add Value
Newmark Large balance and institutional sponsorships Capital markets execution and wide lender access for major transactions
CBRE Institutional and mid-large sponsor mandates Broad origination platform and deep agency channel
Walker & Dunlop Multifamily-heavy mandates with scale High-volume execution and agency concentration
Berkadia Agency-driven multifamily and bridge-to-perm paths Consistent agency presence with strong lender relationships
Northmarq Middle market and specialty property segments Mortgage banking reach and lender coverage across markets
Merchants Capital Affordable and multifamily projects Direct lending profile with strong multifamily focus
Arbor Realty Trust Residential and multifamily sponsors Focused multifamily debt platform
Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. Broker-led, client-specific debt placement Advisory-led loan placement across lender channels
M&T Realty Capital Corp. Direct lender + mortgage banker requirements Balance-sheet and secondary market pathways
Dwight Capital Healthcare and multifamily-heavy structures Agency and specialty execution for sponsor-specific cases
Wells Fargo Institutional and sponsor-driven development pipelines Construction, repositioning, mini-perm, interim, and permanent structures
JPMorgan Chase Scaled sponsors and multi-market portfolios Construction loans, term loans, agency lending, and syndication pathways
Bank OZK Large, structured construction projects Known focus on large real estate construction lending
PNC Real Estate Project financing with clear stabilization plans Construction loans designed for transition to stabilized outcomes
Truist Developers, builders, and private investors Construction, bridge, acquisition, and corporate real estate facilities
KeyBank Real Estate Capital Commercial and multifamily sponsors Broad commercial mortgage and multifamily finance channels
Regions Bank Builder and income-property pipelines Homebuilder and real estate banking capabilities in core regions
First Citizens Bank Acquisition, refinance, and development borrowers Construction and existing property finance in one lender relationship
TD Bank Local to national developers and owners Commercial real estate credit and banking coverage across property types
Huntington Bank Middle market and regional-to-national sponsors Construction loans, bridge, term financing, and syndications

Why Good Deals Still Miss Closing Deadlines

1) Lender Mismatch

Sponsors send files to lenders that are outside policy fit on leverage, asset class, geography, or recourse. The first rejection usually comes late, after weeks of document traffic.

2) Weak Capital Stack Logic

Senior debt request is too high for basis risk and lease-up profile. Credit committee then asks for a revised stack, and timeline collapses.

3) Underwriting Memo Gaps

The file explains the asset but not the lender decision logic. No tight narrative on downside protection, exit route, or covenant headroom.

4) Process Drift

Teams keep changing assumptions midstream. A debt request without document discipline creates avoidable re-underwriting and fresh committee cycles.

How Financely Runs The Closing Track

We do not run broad, passive outreach. We run targeted lender sequencing tied to your exact file and timeline. The objective is simple: move from data room to executable term sheet with fewer resets.

Step 1: File Triage

Borrower profile, asset economics, sponsor track record, required proceeds, and closing date are normalized into one underwriting pack.

Step 2: Lender Fit Mapping

We map your file to lender appetite by leverage band, property type, market, and structural terms.

Step 3: Term Sheet Route

We sequence outreach in waves, not blasts, to preserve sponsor optics and keep negotiation leverage.

Step 4: Closing Control

We coordinate diligence lists, condition precedent tracking, and lender responses to keep closing on schedule.

Important: lender appetite changes by quarter, asset subclass, and sponsor quality. No page can replace live underwriting and direct lender dialogue on your specific deal.

Need To Close A Commercial Real Estate Deal Fast?

Open a closing file with Financely and route your transaction through a lender-focused execution process.

FAQ

Is this a strict ranking by national market share?

No. It is an execution list for sponsors pursuing construction and transition financings, combining highly visible finance firms and bank platforms active in this lane.

Can first-time independent sponsors qualify for construction debt?

Yes, in some cases. The path depends on liquidity, guarantor strength, basis discipline, contingency reserves, and exit visibility.

Do you only place senior debt?

No. We can structure senior plus gap support where the economics and risk controls are acceptable to capital providers.

How fast can a file move to active lender review?

Once the data room is complete and underwriting assumptions are locked, files can move quickly. Missing diligence items usually cause the delay.

Do you provide guarantees of approval?

No. Decisions are made by lenders and committees. We provide structured execution, lender targeting, and process control to raise close probability.

What should be ready before opening a closing file?

Purchase or development documents, sponsor financials, asset-level underwriting, sources and uses, timeline, and a clean ownership and guarantor picture.

Disclaimer: Financely is an advisory and placement platform. Nothing on this page is lending advice, legal advice, tax advice, or a commitment to fund. All transactions are subject to underwriting, compliance review, lender approvals, and final documentation.