Construction financing in Palm Beach County carries a complexity layer that national lenders rarely understand. The Town of Palm Beach Architectural Commission governs virtually every exterior modification on the island — Mizner-era Mediterranean Revival facades, Norman and Moorish architectural elements, setbacks, height limits, and floor-area ratios are all subject to ARB review before a permit is issued. A construction loan that doesn't account for a 3-6 month ARB process will create a maturity crisis before a shovel hits the ground. We build ARB timelines into every island construction loan we structure.
Beyond the island, Palm Beach County's construction market operates on a roughly seasonal rhythm. The optimal construction window runs December through June, before hurricane season peaks from July through November. Experienced builders schedule structural and weather-sensitive work in the winter months and plan completion timelines to avoid peak hurricane season exposure of unfinished projects. Hurricane Andrew (1992), Wilma (2005), and Irma (2017) all created costly construction setbacks for projects caught mid-build. We structure loan terms, draw schedules, and extension provisions with this seasonal reality as a baseline assumption — not an afterthought.
Our construction programs serve the full range of Palm Beach County building activity: custom luxury estates on Palm Beach Island, spec homes for the West Palm Beach and Jupiter markets, multifamily infill projects, and commercial ground-up development. Loan amounts range from $250K to $15M. Draw schedules are milestone-based, released within 48 hours of inspection approval. Terms run 6 to 24 months with extension options for projects that encounter regulatory or weather delays.
For properties in FEMA Zone VE (coastal high-hazard) or AE, we coordinate with engineers and insurance specialists familiar with the specific requirements — elevated foundations, wind resistance standards, and flood insurance mandates that affect construction cost and timeline. These aren't edge cases in Palm Beach County; they're the norm for anything within a mile of the Atlantic or Intracoastal.
Service Applications
Custom home construction on Palm Beach Island is perhaps the highest-complexity application we handle. Between ARB design review, Town of Palm Beach permitting (which runs on its own timeline separate from the county), coastal construction requirements, and the expectations of ultra-high-net-worth clients, these projects demand a lender who has seen the process before. We fund acquisition of titled lots through construction completion for estates ranging from $3M to $30M+ in total project cost.
Spec home construction for the resale market is active throughout Jupiter, Tequesta, North Palm Beach, and northern Boca Raton. Builders working these markets often run two to five concurrent projects and need a construction lender who can manage multiple active draw schedules without bureaucratic friction. Our portfolio construction facilities consolidate multiple projects under a master facility, reducing per-project closing costs and simplifying draw administration.
Multifamily ground-up development in West Palm Beach's growing urban core — Northwood Village, the Clematis Street district, and downtown infill sites — has accelerated with the post-2020 population influx. We fund these projects from entitled site acquisition through CO issuance, with construction draws coordinated around West Palm Beach's municipal inspection schedule.
Major reconstruction projects — where a structure requires complete rebuilding rather than renovation — benefit from construction loan structures rather than rehab financing. Palm Beach Island properties damaged by water intrusion, mold, or deferred maintenance sometimes require teardown and rebuild while preserving ARB-approved architectural elements. We've funded these complex projects and understand the additional ARB coordination required when reconstruction affects a historically designated property.
Common Challenges
Cost overruns are universal in construction but particularly common in coastal Palm Beach County, where wind-rated materials, impact-resistant windows, elevated slab requirements, and specialized roofing systems carry significant premium over inland construction. We require detailed construction budgets with specific line items for coastal compliance items and build 10-15% contingency reserves into our loan structures as a baseline.
Permit delays create timeline risk across all Palm Beach County municipalities, but the Town of Palm Beach is particularly notable. Between initial design submission, ARB hearing, conditional approval, revised submission, and final permit issuance, the timeline for an island project can run 6-12 months before construction commences. We structure loan terms with pre-construction interest reserves so borrowers aren't burning loan term while waiting for permits.
Our Approach
Every construction loan begins with a comprehensive review: project plans and specifications (or preliminary ARB submission for island projects), contractor credentials and licensing, detailed budget with line-item cost validation, and a realistic timeline that accounts for local permitting and seasonal constraints. We issue a term sheet within 48 hours of receiving complete information.
During construction, we manage draws through a milestone-based inspection process with licensed inspectors familiar with Palm Beach County municipal requirements. Each draw request is inspected, approved, and funded within 48 hours of inspection clearance. We proactively monitor project timelines and communicate with borrowers before extension triggers become urgent. For multi-project builders, we coordinate draws across concurrent projects to maximize administrative efficiency.
Construction Loan Programs
Comprehensive construction financing for Palm Beach County's diverse building environment.
- Ground-up residential construction — from $500K cottages to $30M+ island estates
- Commercial and multifamily ground-up development
- Major reconstruction and comprehensive renovation projects
- Spec home and portfolio builder programs
Palm Beach-Specific Expertise
We build loan structures around the realities of South Florida construction.
- Town of Palm Beach ARB timeline incorporated into pre-construction terms
- Hurricane-season-aware draw schedules and extension provisions
- FEMA Zone VE/AE coastal construction requirements factored in
- Coastal construction cost premiums included in budget underwriting
Draw Schedule Process
Milestone-based funding with rapid turnaround to keep projects moving.
- 5-8 draws per typical project based on construction milestones
- Licensed inspectors familiar with local municipal requirements
- Funds released within 48 hours of inspection approval
- Interest charged only on disbursed amounts
Completion Timelines
Flexible terms that accommodate the realities of building in South Florida.
- Terms from 6 to 24 months based on project scope
- Extension options for ARB delays, permit backlog, and weather events
- Pre-construction interest reserves for permit processing periods
- Seamless transition to permanent financing at completion