One of the main problems we’ve encountered in our work is the general lack of familiarity and understanding of basic construction loan terms. To be honest, we understand why the uninitiated could get confused when faced with a broad body of cryptic terms such as retainage or holdback provisions.
To cut through the noise, we’ve put together a list of most common terms in construction loan management, ordered alphabetically for your convenience.
Before we get into the thick of things, let’s begin by defining our field of work – construction loans.
What is a construction loan? A construction loan (AKA building loan, development plan, construction mortgage) is a short-term loan, most commonly concluded in three years or under, intended to finance the construction of developments, both residential and commercial. This type of loan is designed to cover the total cost of building construction and often the land development itself. There are many types of construction loans, but the most common ones are land development loans (intended for the purchase of land and lot development for further construction or sale), commercial real estate construction loans and residential construction loans.
Now that we know the necessary context lets get into the details. Here’s a list of key terms in construction loan management, accompanied by brief explanations.
3rd Party Inspection Report: a review of the progress of construction work conducted to ensure the project is progressing per the construction plan and within the defined budget and timeline. Check out this blog post for what to review within a third-party inspection report.
Budget: AKA scope of work, AKA schedule of values – typically a spreadsheet detailing the progress of individual elements within the project and their accompanying costs
Cash Equity Over Time Report: breakdown of equity contributions and requirements per loan over a specified period, to ensure compliance with loan equity requirements
Certificate of Occupancy: a document certifying a completed construction project’s compliance with all relevant codes and regulations, and proclaiming it suitable for occupancy
Change order: a document that defines any modifications to the original plans, stating the nature of the change, its cost, and any changes to the previous time frame, and serving as a supplement to the original contract
Construction loan machine learning: a software technology developed to automatize many of the steps involved construction loan draw management. The use of algorithms and intelligent process automation within construction loan machine learning expedites document reconciliation, the identification of errors and recommended courses of action to disburse draw payments quickly.
Construction-to-Permanent Mortgage: (AKA CP loan) – a type of loan that converts a construction loan into a permanent mortgage upon the completion of the construction project
Draw: a single installment in the process of disbursement of construction loan funds
Draw disbursement: the process of advancing the approved funds, which can be done by several methods, such as ACH transfer, check by mail, or off-system payments.
Draw request: an aggregation of documents (invoices, receipts, change orders, lien releases, budgets) necessary for the planning of the installments in the disbursement of loaned funds
Draw Processing Report: a detailed overview of all activities related to construction draws over a specific period, including approval dates, processing duration, fund withdrawal dates, etc.
Draw request: an aggregation of documents (invoices, receipts, change orders, lien releases, budgets) necessary for the planning of the installments in the disbursement of loaned funds
Holdback provisions: a portion of the loan held back by the lender via an escrow account intended for specific projects, usually home improvements.
Interest reserves: a specific segment of borrowed funds intended for the payment of loan interest to the lender
Interest Reserves Report: breakdown of interest activity, including the used and remaining amount of funds in the reserves account and their relations to the overall loan funds
Invoices and receipts: documents indicating the costs for the services of contractors and suppliers
Lien release: AKA mechanic’s lien – an agreement meant to ensure that the contractor is paid in full and on time
Lien Releases Report: tracks the status of conditional and unconditional lien releases by every individual invoice resulting from the project over a specified timeframe
Liquidated damages: an agreement that defines the amount of compensation paid to an injured party in case of a breach of contract
Loan origination: the full scope of procedures in the process of obtaining a loan, from loan application to the final disbursement of funds
Loan Payments by Division Report: breakdown of all draw requests sorted by project and type of cost over a specified period, intended to prevent any fraudulent activity
Portfolio Overview Report: an overview of portfolio status that contains data such as pending draws, outstanding loans, total loan commitments, etc.
Practical completion: AKA substantial completion – formal completion of all works defined by the contract and certified by the contract administrator
Project Level Report: breakdown of crucial project elements gathered for decision making, timeline maintenance, and risk mitigation
Retainage: a percentage of funds withheld by the lender with each draw as a precaution against various risks to the funded project
Retainage Report: an overview of the retainage status and withheld funds for every line item
Stored materials: construction materials occasionally included in the draw request relating to the period of purchase and delivery
About Contract Simply
Contract Simply provides process automation software to mitigate risk in construction loans. By reading documents, coordinating approvals, and tracking payments, our software creates efficiencies and identifies opportunities to limit exposure for construction lenders and borrowers. Built in Austin, Contract Simply’s award-winning software cuts days from the construction back-office operations while ensuring compliance and reduced liability for everyone involved. Get started with a live demo today or check out our overview video.
