Best Construction Loan Lenders in New York 2026 | We Lend

A New York construction deal can lose money before the first draw goes out. A slow term sheet puts the acquisition at risk. An unclear draw process leaves contractors waiting. A lender who doesn't know borough-level permitting or mixed-use projects can force costly changes after work begins. The right lender tells you early what it will fund, how fast it can close, when draws land, and who can resolve an exception when the project stops fitting a standard box.

We evaluated eight private construction lenders serving New York on September 7, 2026, reviewing public loan programs, stated terms, construction processes, market coverage, and available borrower feedback.

The comparison uses seven weighted factors:

• Construction Loan Scope & Leverage (20%): Loan amounts, LTC or LTV limits, eligible property types, and coverage of acquisition and construction costs.
• New York Market Expertise (18%): Demonstrated experience with New York projects, borrowers, assets, and local conditions.
• Closing Speed & Execution Certainty (17%): Published term-sheet timing, closing expectations, and control over underwriting.
• Rates, Fees & Total Cost of Capital (15%): Public pricing, origination charges, and the potential cost of delays or failed execution.
• Draw Process & Construction Administration (12%): Draw-request procedures, inspections, milestone funding, and access to construction proceeds.
• Sponsor & Project Eligibility (10%): Experience, credit, property, geography, and project-stage requirements.
• Direct Decision-Maker Access (8%): Access to underwriters or principals who can resolve project-specific issues.

Each lender received a Weighted Fit Score out of 10. In the table below, numeric scores show relative performance on directly comparable factors, while text descriptors clarify New York experience, draw administration, and project eligibility. Actual rates and terms depend on the borrower, property, budget, plans, permits, exit strategy, and underwriting.

The Best Construction Loan Lenders in New York of 2026

We Lend, for complex New York projects

We Lend is based in New York and lends across 46 states, with the New York metro as its flagship market. Its current public program table lists new construction loans from 9.99%, 12- to 18-month terms, a $500,000 minimum, up to 90% LTC, a 650 minimum FICO, and typical construction closings of 7 to 14 days. The homepage also states that term sheets are issued within one hour. Construction financing can cover a project from permitting through certificate of occupancy.

The company suits borrowers who value local judgment, direct decision access, and certainty over choosing on rate alone. We Lend publicly reports more than $700 million funded across 1,400-plus loans and a 68% repeat borrower rate. Construction applicants should confirm the draw schedule, inspection timing, and final fees for the specific project.

Location: New York, New York
Price Range: New construction rates from 9.99%; final pricing depends on underwriting
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, bridge, fix and flip, DSCR, rescue and bailout, multifamily, mixed-use, and other investor financing
Year Founded: 2018
Review Score: 4.7/5 on Google, displayed on the company website

Express Capital Financing, for high-LTC New York projects

Express Capital Financing has offices in Brooklyn and New Jersey and publishes a detailed ground-up program for real estate investors and developers. The page lists loan amounts from $250,000 to $10 million, up to 90% LTC, 75% of land purchase or as-is value, 100% of construction costs, 12- to 36-month terms, rates from 9.99%, and points from 2%. It also advertises preliminary approval within 24 hours and closing in 5 to 7 days.

The program offers unlimited draws, no minimum interest, no prepayment penalty, and a mobile self-inspection option. Its breadth and local office make it a strong fit for New York projects, though borrowers should confirm per-draw inspection charges, which entity funds and services the loan, and whether the fastest timeline applies to the proposed property and title conditions.

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Price Range: Rates from 9.99% and points from 2%; other closing and inspection costs may apply
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, fix and flip, bridge, DSCR, commercial mortgages, and investor financing
Year Founded: 2016
Review Score: No consistent third-party score confirmed for this exact company

Malve Capital, for fast construction draws

Malve Capital is a New York-based direct lender offering construction financing for residential, multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial properties. Its ground-up page lists rates from 10%, terms from 3 to 24 months, up to 75% of the property purchase price, and up to 100% of construction costs. The program has no stated minimum FICO and no prepayment penalty. Its FAQ says term sheets are generally issued the same day.

Draw administration is the clearest operational strength. Borrowers can request funds through the portal, by email, or by phone; Malve says an inspector is sent and the report should return within 24 hours before a draw is issued. Independent review coverage remains thin, so borrowers should request recent New York construction references and confirm inspection, draw, legal, and extension fees.

Location: Port Washington, New York
Price Range: Ground-up rates from 10%; final terms and fees vary by project
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, bridge, fix and flip, DSCR, acquisition, refinance, and development loans
Year Founded: Not publicly listed
Review Score: No borrower reviews listed on HardMoneyHome at the time of review

Accolend, for transparent ground-up terms

Accolend is a Paramus, New Jersey direct lender with documented ground-up projects in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Long Island, and other New York markets. Its current construction page lists rates from 8% with points or 9.99% with no points, loan amounts from $300,000 to $8 million, terms up to 24 months, and closings in 7 to 15 business days. The program offers up to 65% of purchase cost, up to 100% of construction cost, and up to 65% of completed value.

The lender uses in-house underwriting and a dedicated draw manager, with inspections required before approved draws are funded. Construction experience and a 650 minimum FICO are required. Accolend does not finance soft costs, requires personal guarantees, and does not permit second liens, so sponsors need enough cash for uncovered costs and contingencies.

Location: Paramus, New Jersey
Price Range: Rates from 8% with points or 9.99% with no points; closing fees vary by deal
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, fix and flip, bridge, rental, multifamily, and mixed-use loans
Year Founded: 2016
Review Score: 5-star Yotpo reviews displayed on the company website; public aggregators show additional Google-syndicated feedback

American Heritage Lending, for high advertised LTC

American Heritage Lending is a national direct lender with a New York investor-lending page and a dedicated construction program. Its live page lists up to 95% LTC, up to 100% of the construction budget, rates from 8.25%, loan amounts up to $3 million, 12- to 18-month interest-only terms, and closings in two to three weeks. Virtual draw inspections are advertised within 24 hours, with no prepayment penalty and zero-point or deferred-point options available.

The program accepts first-time builders when the project is well scoped and an experienced general contractor is involved. The trade-off is local depth and scale: the company is headquartered in California, and the $3 million cap excludes many larger NYC developments. Borrowers should confirm how much of the 95% LTC can apply to land, hard costs, soft costs, and reserves.

Location: Irvine, California; lends in New York
Price Range: Construction rates from 8.25%; zero-point and deferred-point options advertised
Services Offered: New construction, fix and flip, bridge, DSCR, rental, and non-QM investor loans
Year Founded: 2004
Review Score: Recent borrower reviews are displayed on the construction program page; no construction-only aggregate is stated

YouLand, for fast digital execution

YouLand is a technology-enabled direct lender operating in New York as part of a 42-state footprint. Its live ground-up page lists loans from $100,000 to $25 million, up to 80% LTC, a 660 credit score, fixed-rate interest-only terms of 12 to 24 months, and rates from 11.5% with 1.5 points in a published scenario. The company advertises same-day closings for selected transactions and offers Dutch funding or milestone-based disbursements.

The New York program is limited to single-family residences and townhomes; YouLand states that it does not finance multifamily properties in New York or New Jersey, commercial properties, rural properties, or junior liens. Its page also gives conflicting entity guidance, listing legal entities under program qualifications while an FAQ says an entity is not required. Borrowers should resolve that point and confirm draw procedures before applying.

Location: Menlo Park, California; lends in New York
Price Range: Published scenario from 11.5% with 1.5 points; origination, underwriting, and document fees may apply
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, bridge, fix and flip, DSCR, jumbo, multifamily outside restricted markets, and selected land loans
Year Founded: 2017
Review Score: Trustpilot profile available; no construction-specific aggregate confirmed

Oak Leaf Financial, for boutique Northeast service

Oak Leaf Financial is a privately owned hard money lender in Moorestown, New Jersey that serves New York and other Northeast states. Its site describes customized bridge and construction lending, streamlined underwriting, and one-on-one borrower service. Third-party lender profiles list loan amounts from $50,000 to $2 million, terms of one to two years, and a maximum LTV around 60%.

Oak Leaf may suit borrowers who prefer a small team and a direct conversation about an unusual property or collateral package. Its current site provides limited detail on construction pricing, draw timing, and New York project history, so it fits less well for borrowers who need to compare firm terms before making contact.

Location: Moorestown, New Jersey
Price Range: Current construction pricing is not publicly listed
Services Offered: Construction, bridge, acquisition, expansion, commercial real estate, and other asset-backed loans
Year Founded: Not publicly listed on the current company site
Review Score: Not publicly listed for this exact firm

Capital Group Properties, for broad property types

Capital Group Properties lists short-term private capital for ground-up construction, speculative construction, acquisitions, renovations, and land across residential and commercial properties. Its public term table covers New York and lists loan sizes from $25,000 to $10 million, 6- to 18-month terms, rates from 12% to 14%, up to 75% LTV, and origination fees from 2% to 4%.

Its broad property coverage may fit smaller or unusual projects that fall outside standardized residential programs. The main concerns are higher published pricing, no detailed draw workflow, limited borrower-review evidence, and geographic language elsewhere on the site that emphasizes Massachusetts and Florida. A New York borrower should confirm current eligibility in writing before relying on the published table.

Location: Southborough, Massachusetts; New York appears in the published lending table
Price Range: 12% to 14% interest; 2% to 4% origination
Services Offered: Ground-up construction, speculative construction, bridge, acquisition, renovation, land, equipment, and joint-venture financing
Year Founded: Not publicly listed
Review Score: No reliable borrower-review aggregate found for the private-lending arm

Subranking Categories

We also broke down the top companies into three subcategories based on specialty.

Best for complex NYC project structures

• We Lend: Local judgment, direct decisions, and difficult New York files.
• Express Capital Financing: Strong public terms, a Brooklyn office, and broad residential and mixed-use eligibility.
• Malve Capital: Local draw administration and flexible credit requirements.
• Accolend: Experienced residential and mixed-use developers with defined plans and budgets.
• Oak Leaf Financial: A boutique option for borrowers who prefer a direct, customized discussion.

Best for construction draw visibility

• Malve Capital: Portal, phone, or email requests with a stated 24-hour inspection-report target.
• American Heritage Lending: Virtual inspections advertised within 24 hours.
• Express Capital Financing: Unlimited draws and a mobile self-inspection option.
• Accolend: Dedicated draw manager and inspection-based release process.
• YouLand: Dutch funding or milestone disbursements, with app-based servicing tools available.

Best for published loan economics

• Express Capital Financing: Publishes rate, points, LTC, land coverage, construction coverage, loan size, and term.
• American Heritage Lending: Publishes its starting rate, maximum LTC, construction coverage, term, and closing window.
• Accolend: Separates pricing with points from its no-points option and publishes leverage caps.
• We Lend: Shows construction rate, minimum amount, term, LTC, FICO, and typical closing time in one table.
• Capital Group Properties: Publishes a complete rate, fee, loan-size, term, and LTV range, though its pricing is higher.

What to Verify Before Choosing a New York Construction Lender

A quoted rate doesn't show the full cost or operational risk of a construction loan. Before signing a term sheet, ask each lender to provide these items in writing:

• The exact LTC, LTV, and completed-value limits used to size the loan
• Whether land, hard costs, soft costs, permits, interest reserves, and contingency funds are eligible
• The initial equity required before the first construction draw
• Draw-request deadlines, inspection timing, wire timing, and per-draw fees
• Whether interest is charged on committed funds or only on funds already drawn
• Extension fees, default-rate triggers, minimum interest, and prepayment terms
• Required sponsor experience, liquidity, FICO, plans, permits, and contractor credentials
• The person or committee with final authority over exceptions and disputed draws
• The expected closing date after appraisal, title, legal review, and complete documentation

For an experienced developer handling a complex New York project, the strongest fit is usually the lender who can explain the draw process, name the decision-maker, and give a realistic closing timeline before collecting major nonrefundable fees.

Have a construction deal? Apply now! 

The site currently states that term sheets are issued within one hour; its construction program lists a typical closing time of 7 to 14 days.