What Credit Score Do You Need to Finance Site Prep?
The short answer: a FICO score of 680 or higher qualifies you for our primary fixed-rate loan program. But whatever your score, there may be a financing path for your Site Prep project. Here's the full picture.
680 or Higher: Fixed-Rate Loans Up to $100,000
With a 680+ score, you qualify to apply for our best program through Upgrade:
- 9.99% APR fixed on 5-year terms
- 9.99% APR fixed on 7, 10, 12, and 15-year terms
- Up to $100,000 per borrower — no co-applicants, but multiple household members can each apply
- No down payment, no fees, no prepayment penalty, no land ownership requirement
Below 680: You Still Have Paths
1. Building Loan (Thrive Financial — coming soon). If the work is being done on property you own (lot numbers and parcel IDs accepted), credit scores from 550 can qualify for fixed terms of 5 to 20 years, with loans up to $200,000. Rates are based on your credit tier, and the paperless application delivers instant decisions. This program is launching soon.
2. Home equity (if you own your home). Figure Lending offers home equity lines of credit up to $750,000 with a minimum 600 FICO score and funding in as few as 5 to 10 days. Figure qualifies you on your home equity rather than your project. Note that your home secures the loan.
Does Applying Hurt My Credit?
Here's exactly when your credit is — and isn't — touched:
| Step | Credit Impact |
|---|---|
| Eligibility check on sitepreplender.com | None — no credit inquiry at all |
| Applying to see your loan offers | None — soft pull only |
| Accepting an offer & eSigning | Hard inquiry — this is the only step that affects your score |
Tips to Qualify for the Best Rate
- Use total household income — include your spouse's income and the income of anyone living with you
- Pay down credit card balances before applying — utilization is a major scoring factor
- Don't open new credit accounts in the weeks before applying
- Check your credit report for errors at annualcreditreport.com — it's free