Construction Loan Handbook
A practical guide for organizing your homesite, builder, plans, construction budget, and financing path before you begin a custom home project.
August 2026 edition · PDF handbook
Keep the planning path in one place.
Download the handbook before your planning review, then use it with the Construction Cost Breakdown and Description of Materials forms.
Download PDFBring the moving pieces of your project into focus.
The Homesite
Organize the early questions around the land, site conditions, access, utilities, and project readiness.
The Builder and Plans
Bring together the builder, specifications, contract structure, allowances, and decision points that shape the project.
The Complete Budget
Use the handbook alongside your cost breakdown to capture site work, permits, materials, contingency, and other project costs.
The Construction Path
Understand the sequence of planning, appraisal, closing, construction draws, and the transition to permanent financing.
Continue with your construction plan.
Use the broader Construction Planning Center to pair the handbook with your budget, materials, and project readiness work.
Explore Construction PlanningPlanning a barndominium instead?
The separate Barndominium Build Guide is tailored to the appraisal, design, materials, and builder questions unique to that project type.
Explore Barndominium FinancingWant to review your project together?
A planning review brings together the lot, builder, plans, budget, and financing questions before you commit.
Start a Planning Review