Land position review
We review ownership, basis, existing liens, acreage, entitlements, utilities, development status and requested proceeds.
Land & development financing · Nationwide
Land and development loans. Capital for acquisition, entitlement and horizontal execution.
MDN Capital Consulting structures land and development financing for qualified acquisitions, entitled sites, horizontal improvements and transitional business plans where the value lies in both the real estate and the sponsor's path to the next milestone.
Financing overview
Land financing requires a clear story from basis to exit.
Land is underwritten differently from stabilized income-producing real estate. The lender will focus on basis, current value, zoning and entitlement status, utilities and infrastructure, development budget, sponsor equity, marketability and the realistic path to repayment.
MDN Capital works with sponsors to frame those factors clearly and pursue capital sources that understand land and development risk. The structure may support an acquisition, refinance, payoff, horizontal development program, interest reserve or other project-specific need.
For broader program parameters, review our commercial loan criteria, or submit a deal for transaction-specific feedback.
Transaction considerations
What lenders typically evaluate.
Every transaction is underwritten individually. The factors below help frame how a request may be structured and positioned.
Site profileRaw, entitled or partially improved land
The more advanced the entitlement and infrastructure position, the more clearly the lender can evaluate the business plan.
Use of proceedsAcquisition, refinance, payoff, development or project costs
Uses must be supported by a coherent sources-and-uses schedule.
EntitlementsZoning, approvals and development rights
Documentation of approvals, density, permitted uses and remaining conditions is important.
InfrastructureUtilities, roads and horizontal improvements
The scope, cost and timing of required improvements should be documented.
Sponsor equityLand basis and additional capital invested
Lenders evaluate sponsor basis, cash invested and remaining capital requirements.
Exit strategyLand sale, lot takedown, vertical construction or refinance
A credible monetization or takeout plan is central to land underwriting.
Illustrative criteria only. Financing availability, leverage, pricing, reserves, recourse, third-party reports and closing requirements are subject to lender underwriting and approval.
Property & transaction coverage
Financing across qualified commercial real estate.
MDN Capital evaluates opportunities across multiple property types and business plans, with the financing strategy tailored to the collateral, sponsor and exit.
View Past Closings✓Residential development land
✓Commercial pad sites
✓Mixed-use land
✓Industrial land
✓Entitled communities
✓Horizontal development
✓Land portfolios
✓Special-purpose sites
Our process
From initial review to financing execution.
A clear underwriting package and disciplined process help lenders evaluate the opportunity efficiently.
Value & execution analysis
We assess the current collateral story together with remaining improvements, marketability and the planned exit.
Capital-source targeting
We focus on lenders and investors whose mandates include land, development or special-situation real estate.
Diligence coordination
We help organize surveys, appraisals, approvals, budgets, title information and other materials needed for underwriting.
Why MDN Capital
Experienced guidance for complex capital needs.
Land-specific underwriting
We understand that land lending depends heavily on basis, entitlement progress, infrastructure and the quality of the exit.
Private-credit access
Land requests often require lenders comfortable with asset-based and transitional risk rather than conventional cash-flow underwriting.
Structured alternatives
Where appropriate, we can evaluate debt alongside preferred equity or joint venture capital for qualified projects.
Frequently asked questions
Questions borrowers commonly ask.
Answers are general in nature. Transaction-specific terms depend on lender underwriting and the facts of the request.
Can land loans be made on non-income-producing property?
Potentially. Land financing is commonly based on collateral value, basis, entitlement status, development progress, sponsorship and a credible exit rather than in-place property cash flow.
What makes entitled land more financeable?
Approvals can reduce development uncertainty by clarifying permitted use, density and the path to construction or sale. Lenders will still evaluate remaining conditions, infrastructure requirements and market risk.
Can loan proceeds be used for horizontal development?
Yes, depending on the project and lender. Roads, utilities and other horizontal improvements may be financed when the budget, approvals, draw structure and exit support the request.
Can an existing land loan be refinanced?
Potentially. A refinance is evaluated around the current payoff, collateral value, lien position, development status, sponsor equity and the plan for repaying the new loan.
Is JV equity an alternative to a land loan?
For qualified projects, joint venture or preferred equity may be considered when debt alone does not provide the appropriate capital structure.
Related financing
Explore complementary capital solutions.
Different stages of a transaction may call for different financing structures. These related resources can help frame the next step.
Commercial Construction Loans
Move from land and horizontal execution into vertical development financing.
Commercial Bridge Loans
Bridge financing for payoffs, acquisitions and transitional land situations.
Loan Criteria
Review the broader transaction parameters evaluated by MDN Capital.
Have a financing opportunity?
Let’s discuss your next project.
Send us a concise deal summary and supporting materials. We’ll review the opportunity and help identify the next step.