Construction Loans Florida
We provide construction loans Florida builders and investors rely on to build from the ground up, from Miami high-rises to Panhandle spec homes. We underwrite to Florida Building Code requirements, wind-load standards, and flood-zone realities, and we release draws fast so your crews stay on schedule. Rates start at 9.5%, and we can close in as few as 10-20 days.
- We finance custom homes, spec builds, multifamily, and commercial projects statewide
- Up to 85% loan-to-cost and up to 75% of completed value
- We build wind mitigation and flood-zone elevation requirements into our underwriting
- Coastal, inland, and master-planned community projects
- LLCs, builders & foreign nationals welcome · all 67 Florida counties
- Tell us about your projectCity or county, land, plans, and total budget.
- Get a same-day term sheetWe size your loan around cost, completed value, and your plan.
- Close and start buildingWe fund your first draw fast, then release draws on schedule.
Construction Loans Florida – Key Facts (2026)
- What it is: Our construction loans Florida program is interest-only, draw-based financing to build a property from the ground up anywhere in the state. We size it around project cost and completed value rather than personal income.
- Why Florida: Sustained population growth, no state income tax, and steady demand for new housing and rental supply keep builders active across both coastal and inland metros.
- Building considerations: Florida Building Code wind-load requirements, High-Velocity Hurricane Zone rules in Miami-Dade and Broward, and flood-zone elevation certificates in coastal and low-lying areas all factor into how we underwrite and how you design.
- Leverage: We lend up to 85% of total project cost and up to 75% of the completed, after-construction value.
- Structure: Interest-only during a 12-24 month construction term, rates from 9.5%, with draws released as inspected work is completed.
- Lender: CambridgeHomeLoan.com is a direct lender, in business since 1998 (NMLS #1826020), and we lend in all 67 Florida counties.
Eligible projects
Projects we finance with construction loans in Florida
From a single custom home in a coastal community to a multi-building development inland, we finance business-purpose construction projects across the state:
Custom Coastal & Single-Family Homes
We fund ground-up builds designed to Florida wind-load and flood-elevation standards, from inland lots to barrier islands.
Spec Home & Master-Planned Communities
We finance multi-home builds in fast-growing communities, individually or as a builder portfolio line.
Multifamily & Build-to-Rent
We back new apartment buildings and build-to-rent townhome communities across Florida’s growth corridors.
Commercial & Mixed-Use
We fund new office, retail, and mixed-use buildings, from urban infill sites to suburban growth corridors.
Construction financing
What are construction loans in Florida?
Construction loans Florida builders use fund the actual building of a property, from site work and foundation through framing, finishes, and certificate of occupancy. We release funds in draws as each stage of construction is completed and inspected, and you pay interest only on the amount you have actually drawn, not on the full committed loan. In Florida, we also account for the Florida Building Code’s wind-load requirements, the tighter High-Velocity Hurricane Zone standards in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and flood-zone elevation requirements for coastal and low-lying sites.
We size each loan two ways: as a percentage of total project cost (land plus hard and soft construction costs), and as a percentage of the property’s estimated value once construction is complete. We lend up to 85% of cost and up to 75% of that after-completion value, with rates from 9.5% on a 12-24 month interest-only term. When the project is finished, you can sell it or refinance into a long-term loan, either as a separate transaction or, with our one-time-close option, automatically as part of the same loan.
| Secured by | The land and the property being built (asset-based). We qualify you on project cost, value, and your plan |
| Loan amount | $150,000-$50,000,000 · custom homes, spec builds, multifamily, and commercial |
| Leverage | Up to 85% loan-to-cost · up to 75% loan-to-value on completed (ARV) value |
| Structure | Interest-only during construction · rates from 9.5% · 12-24 month term · draws released against completed work |
| Florida-specific | We consider wind mitigation reports and flood elevation certificates where applicable; county permitting varies by jurisdiction |
| Coverage | All 67 Florida counties, coastal and inland |
Loan programs
Our construction loans Florida programs
Choose the structure that matches how you plan to build and exit:
Ground-Up Construction
Interest-only financing to build a single project anywhere in Florida, with draws tied to completed work.
Construction-to-Permanent
A single closing that funds construction and then converts to a long-term loan automatically once the project is complete.
Builder Spec & Portfolio Lines
A revolving line for builders running several spec homes across a Florida community or growth corridor.
Land Acquisition + Construction
One loan to acquire a raw or improved Florida lot and fund the construction that follows, closed as a single transaction.
Why build in Florida
Why builders and developers choose Florida
- Sustained population growthFlorida keeps adding residents faster than most states, which keeps demand for new housing strong statewide.
- No state income taxIt draws residents and out-of-state investors alike, and it supports steady demand for new construction.
- Diverse market typesFrom dense urban infill in Miami and Tampa to master-planned suburbs and coastal vacation markets, Florida gives builders many paths to profit.
- Financing that understands FloridaWe account for wind-load and flood-zone requirements from the start, so you avoid surprises at appraisal.
Market impact
How construction loans Florida builders use strengthen the real estate market
Every new home, apartment, and commercial building in Florida starts with capital. When we fund ground-up projects quickly and fairly, the benefits reach well beyond the job site:
More Housing Supply
Construction loans put new homes and rentals on the market, which eases the shortage that pushes prices and rents up in growing Florida metros.
Local Jobs & Spending
Each funded project employs trades, suppliers, and designers, and keeps construction dollars circulating in the local economy.
Revitalized Neighborhoods
Infill builds, teardown-and-rebuild projects, and mixed-use redevelopment replace aging or vacant property with modern, code-compliant buildings.
Resilient Construction
We help builders finance projects designed to current wind and flood standards, so new buildings are better prepared for Florida’s storm season.
Free tool
Construction loan & draw budget calculator
Use this tool to estimate your total project cost, loan amount, and required equity. We then estimate your average monthly interest-only payment during construction, assuming the outstanding balance averages about half of the total loan as draws are released over the build. Enter your numbers below. Results are illustrative only; final terms depend on your plans, budget, and underwriting.
Your project
Illustrative only; not a commitment to lend. Assumes an average outstanding balance of roughly 50% of the loan amount over the construction term, and excludes permits, impact fees, insurance, reserves, and closing costs. The interest rate is an example input, not a quote.
How we compare
CambridgeHomeLoan vs. Florida community banks
Florida community banks and credit unions can offer solid construction terms if you already bank with them, but their process often depends on an existing relationship and a lengthy internal approval. Here is how our builder-focused program typically differs. Where we lead, it is highlighted.
| Feature | CambridgeHomeLoan | Florida Community Banks (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifies on | Project cost, value & plan | Borrower relationship plus the project |
| Documentation | Streamlined, no exhaustive financials | Full financials, often a banking relationship |
| Time to close | As fast as 10-20 days | Often 45-90+ days |
| Draw turnaround | Typically 3-5 days | Often 1-2 weeks or longer |
| Coastal & flood-zone projects | Underwritten as routine business | Often restricted or scrutinized |
| Exit / refinance | In-house one-time-close option | Usually a separate permanent loan |
| Model | Direct lender since 1998 | Bank or credit-union backed |
Community-bank column is a generic composite of commonly seen terms as of 2026, subject to change, and does not describe any specific lender. For general comparison only.
Local markets
Construction loans Florida by city: how we help each market grow
Construction conditions vary a lot within Florida. A Miami mid-rise, a Cape Coral canal-front spec home, and a Tallahassee rental duplex are three different underwriting conversations. Below is how we use construction loans to support the real estate market in twelve of the state’s most active building cities.
Miami
Miami is land-constrained and globally connected, so new supply tends to go vertical: high-rise condos, luxury townhomes, and custom estates, all built to strict Miami-Dade High-Velocity Hurricane Zone standards. Strong international buyer demand supports both pre-sold condo development and high-end spec construction.
How we help: Miami developers need capital that keeps pace with permitting and pre-sales. We fund ground-up condo, townhome, and estate projects and release draws as inspected work is completed. We also price impact-rated product and HVHZ requirements into the budget up front, which adds new, code-compliant housing to a tight market without stalling your schedule.
Turn your Miami land into profit: Land is Miami’s scarcest asset, so an older low-rise or an underused lot is often worth more as a new condo, townhome row, or custom estate. A construction loan lets you keep your land and equity working and capture the gap between your land cost and the finished value, instead of selling the lot at today’s price and leaving that upside to someone else.
Orlando
Rapid population growth is driving master-planned single-family communities and build-to-rent portfolios across Central Florida. Proximity to the theme-park corridor also supports short-term-rental-oriented new construction.
How we help: We finance builders running several homes at once through spec and portfolio lines, and we back build-to-rent townhome communities that add much-needed rental inventory. With our one-time-close option, a stabilized rental can convert to long-term financing without a second closing, so builders can reinvest sooner and keep new supply coming.
Turn your Orlando land into profit: Acreage on the growth edge of Central Florida usually earns more as finished homes or a rental community than as raw land. We fund the lot and the vertical build together, so you can phase lots into sold homes, or hold build-to-rent units, let the rents carry the property, and refinance into long-term financing when you are ready.
Tampa
Tampa is our home market, and we see its growth up close. Urban infill spec homes, waterfront redevelopment, and mixed-use projects are reshaping the metro, and strong appreciation has made teardown-and-rebuild construction increasingly common in established neighborhoods.
How we help: We fund infill and teardown-and-rebuild projects that replace aging structures with modern, code-compliant homes, and we finance mixed-use buildings that bring housing and retail to underused sites. Because we know the local market, we can size loans around realistic completed values and move quickly when a good lot hits.
Turn your Tampa land into profit: An older bungalow on a Tampa lot can be worth far more as new construction, and infill lots near downtown and the water often hold their value in the land alone. We fund the teardown and rebuild so you can turn that land equity into a new spec home or duplex, then sell at completed value or refinance and keep it as a rental.
Jacksonville
Florida’s largest city by land area offers comparatively affordable lots, which supports single-family subdivisions, multifamily development, and industrial construction tied to the Port of Jacksonville and its logistics economy.
How we help: Affordable land lets builders deliver more attainable housing, and our construction loans make those projects pencil. We finance subdivision-scale spec builds, new apartment communities, and logistics-related commercial construction, creating jobs and housing in step with the city’s port-driven growth.
Turn your Jacksonville land into profit: Affordable lots mean a low cost basis, and a low basis leaves room for margin. We fund subdivision-scale builds, so land you bought at a good price can become a row of finished homes or a small apartment building that appraises well above what you put in.
Fort Lauderdale
Canal-front and waterfront luxury construction is a defining niche, alongside condo redevelopment tied to the marine and yachting industry that anchors the local economy. Sites are complex, with seawalls, elevation, and HVHZ standards in play.
How we help: Waterfront projects carry higher costs and tighter engineering requirements, and many traditional lenders shy away from them. We underwrite flood-zone elevation and wind-load requirements as routine business, funding the custom homes and redevelopment that renew aging waterfront property and support the local marine economy.
Turn your Fort Lauderdale land into profit: Waterfront and canal-front land is rare and valuable, but expensive to build on. We finance the build from seawall to roofline, so a dated waterfront lot can become a new luxury home whose completed value reflects the premium buyers pay for water access.
St. Petersburg
A revitalized downtown is fueling mixed-use and multifamily infill, while surrounding neighborhoods see steady demand for new and rebuilt single-family homes near the water.
How we help: We fund the infill projects that make a walkable downtown possible, from mid-size multifamily buildings to mixed-use properties with ground-floor retail. We also finance single-family rebuilds that bring older neighborhoods up to current wind and flood standards, keeping the city’s growth sustainable and its housing stock resilient.
Turn your St. Petersburg land into profit: Lots close to downtown and the water are increasingly valued as redevelopment sites. We fund the build so an older single-family parcel can become a townhome pair, a small multifamily building, or a mixed-use property that earns more than the structure it replaces.
Naples
Naples is one of Florida’s strongest luxury markets, with high-end custom homes in gated communities and coastal estate rebuilds built to rigorous wind and flood standards.
How we help: Large custom builds need substantial, flexible capital and draws that match a long, detailed construction schedule. We provide larger loan amounts structured around cost and completed value, helping builders and owner-developers deliver high-quality estates and rebuilds that sustain Naples’ skilled trades and protect neighborhood values.
Turn your Naples land into profit: If you already own a premium Naples lot, that land equity can count toward your required investment, which lowers the cash you need to bring to closing. We fund the custom build so a lot you have held can become a finished estate, valued for the rare combination of location and brand-new construction.
Sarasota
A cultural coastal city with demand spanning barrier-island custom homes on Siesta Key and Longboat Key to mid-market single-family construction on the mainland and in nearby growth areas.
How we help: We finance both ends of the market: complex barrier-island builds that require careful elevation and wind planning, and mainland spec homes that bring more mid-priced housing online. That range helps Sarasota add housing for residents at different price points while preserving the character that draws people there.
Turn your Sarasota land into profit: A Sarasota lot, whether on the mainland or a barrier island, can be worth substantially more with a new home built to modern elevation and wind standards. We fund the build so you can turn land equity into a finished home to sell, or a rental to hold.
West Palm Beach
Continued relocation of financial-sector firms has fueled luxury condo towers and custom estate construction, and strong appreciation supports spec-home development across Palm Beach County.
How we help: New residents and businesses need new places to live and work. We fund condo and estate projects as well as spec homes, giving developers a fast, direct alternative to slow bank approvals, so new housing can follow job growth rather than lag behind it.
Turn your West Palm Beach land into profit: Lots near downtown and the waterfront are being redeveloped as demand grows from relocating professionals and businesses. We fund the build so land you own can become a completed condo, townhome, or estate worth significantly more than the dirt it started as.
Fort Myers
Fort Myers is an active rebuilding and growth market, with new subdivisions, build-to-rent single-family communities, and coastal construction rebuilt to current wind and elevation codes.
How we help: When a community needs to rebuild or expand, speed and certainty matter. We finance new subdivisions, build-to-rent projects, and elevated coastal rebuilds, and we release draws promptly so builders can return homes to the market sooner and keep local crews working.
Turn your Fort Myers land into profit: Lots in recovering and expanding neighborhoods can become elevated, code-compliant homes that command a premium over older housing stock. We fund land and build together, so inexpensive lots can become finished homes to sell, or build-to-rent properties to hold.
Tallahassee
An inland state-capital market with steadier demand and generally lower insurance costs than coastal Florida, plus consistent student and rental housing demand near Florida State University and FAMU.
How we help: Tallahassee’s stable demand is ideal for small and mid-size investors building duplexes, small multifamily, and student-oriented rentals. We fund those projects with streamlined documentation and offer a one-time-close option that converts to long-term financing, helping local builders add rental housing that keeps pace with university and government employment.
Turn your Tallahassee land into profit: A modest lot near campus can become a duplex or small multifamily building that produces rent every month. We fund the build with a one-time-close option, so land you own turns into an income-producing property you can keep, with the construction loan converting to long-term financing.
Cape Coral
One of the fastest-growing cities in the state, known for canal-front lots and a high volume of spec-home construction serving both year-round residents and vacation-home buyers.
How we help: Spec builders in Cape Coral often work on several lots at once, which is where our builder portfolio lines and land-plus-construction loans fit. We fund the lot and the build together and release draws on schedule, keeping new homes flowing into one of Florida’s busiest residential markets.
Turn your Cape Coral land into profit: A vacant lot earns nothing, and Cape Coral has plenty of them. We fund land-plus-construction so a vacant canal or interior lot becomes a finished spec home that sells or rents, with your profit coming from the gap between lot cost plus build cost and the completed value.
We serve all of Florida. If your city is not listed here, call us or submit an application and we will take a look at your project.
How it works
Get your construction loan in Florida in three steps
Submit your plans
Tell us the city or county, land, plans and specs, total budget, and whether you will sell or hold when it is done.
Get a same-day term sheet
We review project cost, completed value, and your experience, with streamlined documentation, and send you clear terms.
Close and start drawing
We close, fund your first draw, and release future draws quickly as each stage of construction is inspected and approved.
Requirements
Construction loans Florida requirements
| Down payment / equity | As little as 15-20% of total project cost, depending on experience and the project |
| Credit | 640+ FICO typical; we look at the deal first and consider exceptions |
| Income docs | Streamlined. We lean on assets and the project; personal income is not the primary driver |
| Loan amount | $150,000-$50,000,000 · custom homes, spec builds, multifamily, and commercial |
| Plans, permits & codes | Approved plans and county permits (or in-process), Florida Building Code compliance, wind mitigation and flood elevation documentation where applicable |
| Vesting | Individual, LLC, or builder entity · foreign nationals eligible |
| Exit | Sale upon completion, or refinance to a long-term loan (one-time-close or two-time-close) |
Answers
Construction loans Florida FAQ
What are construction loans in Florida?
Construction loans Florida builders use fund the building of a property from the ground up (site work, foundation, framing, and finishes) through to a certificate of occupancy, anywhere in the state. We release funds in draws as each stage is completed and inspected, and you pay interest only on the amount actually drawn.
We lend up to 85% of total project cost and up to 75% of the completed, after-construction value, with rates from 9.5% on a 12-24 month interest-only term. These are business-purpose loans for custom homes, spec builds, and ground-up multifamily or commercial projects, available from $150,000 to $50,000,000 in all 67 Florida counties.
Do you finance construction in flood zones or hurricane-prone coastal areas?
Yes. Coastal and flood-zone construction is routine business for us, not an exception. We factor in flood-zone designation, base flood elevation, and any required elevation certificate as part of underwriting, and we account for Florida Building Code wind-load requirements and the stricter High-Velocity Hurricane Zone standards that apply in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Your architect, engineer, or contractor will typically already be designing to these standards. We simply need the relevant plans, permits, and any wind mitigation or flood documentation as part of your file.
How do construction draws work?
Instead of receiving the full loan amount at closing, you receive an initial draw to begin work, then request additional draws as each phase (foundation, framing, mechanicals, finishes, and so on) is completed. We typically inspect the completed work before releasing the next draw, with turnaround of about 3-5 days.
Because interest only accrues on funds that have actually been drawn, your carrying cost stays lower early in the project and rises as more of the loan is disbursed.
What is the difference between loan-to-cost and loan-to-value on a construction loan?
Loan-to-cost (LTC) compares the loan amount to your total project cost: the land plus hard construction costs and soft costs like permits and design. Loan-to-value (LTV) compares the loan amount to the property’s estimated value once construction is complete, often called the after-completion value.
We size your loan using both measures and lend against whichever is more conservative: up to 85% of cost, and up to 75% of completed value.
What is the difference between a one-time-close and a two-time-close construction loan?
A one-time-close construction loan combines the construction financing and the long-term loan that follows into a single closing, converting automatically once the project is complete. A two-time-close structure treats construction and permanent financing as two separate loans, closed at different times, which gives you more flexibility if you are not yet sure whether you will sell or hold the finished property.
We offer both, and we can help you decide which fits your Florida project and exit plan.
Do I need to already own the land to get a construction loan?
No. Our land acquisition plus construction program can fund both the lot purchase and the vertical construction in a single loan, closed as one transaction, whether the lot is inland, on a canal, or on a barrier island. If you already own the land, that equity can typically count toward your required investment in the project.
How do construction loans help Florida’s real estate market?
Construction loans put capital behind new housing and commercial space, which adds supply in growing markets, creates jobs for trades and suppliers, and replaces aging or vacant property with modern, code-compliant buildings. By funding projects quickly and underwriting Florida’s wind and flood requirements from the start, we help builders deliver more resilient homes and rentals in cities from Miami to Tallahassee.
What happens when construction is finished?
Once the project reaches completion and receives its certificate of occupancy, you can sell the finished property and repay the construction loan from the proceeds, or refinance into a long-term loan and hold it as a rental or for your own use. With a one-time-close loan, that conversion to permanent financing happens automatically as part of the same loan.
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© 2026 CambridgeHomeLoan.com · NMLS #1826020 · 4830 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609 · (800) 826-5077 · Equal Housing Lender. Construction loans are business-purpose loans for the construction of non-owner-occupied or investment property and are not available for primary residences except where a construction-to-permanent product specifically permits it. Rates, points, loan-to-cost, loan-to-value, terms, draw schedules, and closing timelines are illustrative, subject to change without notice, and subject to borrower, project, and deal qualification and underwriting approval. “Rates from 9.5%,” “up to 85% loan-to-cost,” and other maximums reflect the strongest profiles and are not a quote or commitment to lend. Completed values are estimates confirmed by an appraisal or valuation. Calculator results are illustrative and exclude permits, impact fees, insurance, reserves, and closing costs. City descriptions are general market observations for illustration only and are not property-specific advice or a guarantee of profit; results depend on land and construction costs, completed value, and market conditions. Comparison figures are generic market composites for illustration only and are not the terms of, or an endorsement of or by, any specific lender. Borrowers are responsible for confirming applicable Florida Building Code, wind mitigation, flood zone, and local permitting requirements with licensed professionals. This page is informational and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.