Use the calculator to organize land, construction costs, closing estimates, loan proceeds, equity context, and the remaining cash requirement.
Build the uses first
Enter the land acquisition or payoff, site work, soft costs, builder contract, contingency, owner-selected work, additional hard costs, and a closing-cost estimate. Keep the completed appraised value separate from project cost; they answer different questions.
If a number is not known, leave it at zero only if the summary clearly remains incomplete. A better approach is to enter a documented allowance and add the quote or decision needed to the project list.
Then identify the sources
Sources may include the requested loan, deposits already paid, gifts or approved outside funds, and the borrower’s new cash. Gross lot equity is displayed as context because the lender determines how much equity is recognized and how it affects the final structure.
The calculator does not turn equity into cash. If the lot is owned, the cash-use side may include only the payoff rather than the full lot value. That is why the project-basis and cash-requirement views must remain separate.
Use ratios as questions
Planning loan-to-cost compares the proposed loan with the project cost basis. Planning loan-to-value compares the loan with the lower of entered project basis or completed value. These ratios help frame a conversation; they do not establish approval, pricing, or the lender’s final calculation.
Save the worksheet as a discussion draft. The lender, title company, appraiser, builder, and other professionals will replace assumptions with transaction-specific figures.