Construction Loan
Learn about construction loans in Canadian real estate — how they work, who uses them, and their role in development financing.
July 11, 2025
What is a Construction Loan?
A construction loan is a short-term, interim financing option used to fund the building or major renovation of a property, with funds disbursed in stages as work progresses.
Why Construction Loans Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate development, construction loans provide liquidity during the build phase and are typically replaced with permanent financing at completion.
Key features:
- Interest-only payments during construction
- Draw schedule tied to inspection milestones
- Higher risk, higher interest rates
Understanding construction loans helps builders, developers, and lenders manage financing risk and cash flow.
Example of a Construction Loan in Action
The developer secured a construction loan to fund the phased build of a 20-unit townhouse project, with draws released after inspections.
Key Takeaways
- Funds new construction or major renovation
- Short-term, interest-only during build
- Replaced by permanent loan at completion
- Disbursed in stages tied to progress
- Involves higher risk and lender oversight
Related Terms
- Permanent Financing
- Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)
- Refinance
- Mortgage
- Draw Schedule


Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 






15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
