The borrower faced several financing challenges that made the transaction difficult to place through traditional lending channels. The project operated under a strict 45-day land acquisition deadline, limiting the borrower’s ability to pursue slower-moving conventional lenders and increasing pressure to secure financing quickly. In addition, the borrower sought higher-than-average leverage in order to preserve liquidity during construction and maintain additional working capital flexibility throughout the development process. Many lenders were hesitant to provide 78% LTC financing due to tightening credit standards, increased retail construction exposure, and concerns surrounding current market conditions. The ground-up nature of the project also introduced additional risks commonly associated with retail construction financing, including leasing uncertainty, stabilization timelines, construction cost exposure, and interest reserve requirements. These combined factors significantly reduced the pool of lenders willing to aggressively structure the transaction, making lender relationships, financing expertise, and expedited execution critical to successfully closing the loan within the required timeframe.