Balboa Coves

Not every lender can handle both the acquisition and the construction in a single relationship. It requires structuring a loan that releases capital in stages: purchase funds at close, then construction draws as the build hits milestones. Getting that structure wrong means either the borrower is starved for capital or the lender is overexposed before the collateral exists.

These borrowers, repeat clients we'd done several deals with, needed exactly that structure for a bayfront lot in Newport Beach's Balboa Coves, a gated community where every home comes with a private dock slip. We funded $1 million up front for the acquisition, then managed $4.25 million in staged construction draws as they built a 4,000-square-foot, three-story home from the ground up.

Managing those draws is where the hands-on work happens. Each disbursement requires verifying that the prior phase is complete, that the work quality meets standards, and that the remaining budget is tracking. We're not just signing checks. We're protecting our collateral in real-time. When you're $5.25 million deep in a project, you want eyes on every draw.

RDM General Contractors built the home, a team we've seen deliver before. Roof deck, bay views, the modern open design that Newport buyers pay a premium for. The project moved on schedule and on budget, which is what happens when you pair experienced borrowers with a builder track record you've already vetted.

The home sold for $9 million. Our structured approach protected our capital at every stage while giving the borrowers the firepower to execute. That's what repeat borrowers are buying when they come back to us: not just money, but a partner who manages the process.