Single-family construction lending fell in the fourth quarter, according to data released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The decline in the outstanding volume of acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) loans occurred even with two Federal Reserve rate cuts in the fourth quarter. Additionally, NAHB’s AD&C Financing Survey points to continued tightening in credit conditions in the fourth quarter notwithstanding the latest decline in financing rates. Economic uncertainty remains a leading factor behind the persistence of tighter financing conditions for residential construction.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the total level of outstanding AD&C loans fell to $456.3 billion, down 1.5% from the third quarter. The quarterly decline was led by a drop in other real estate development loans, which decreased 1.8% over the quarter to $365.2 billion. Meanwhile, the volume of 1-4 family residential construction and land development loans declined to $91.1 billion in the fourth quarter, down 0.2% from a quarter earlier. Although the volume of 1-4 family residential construction loans fell over the quarter, the outstanding amount was up 1.7% from last year. This marked the second straight quarter showing a year-over-year increase.

It is worth noting that the FDIC data represent only the stock of loans, not changes in the underlying flows, so it is an imperfect data source. Nonetheless, lending remains much reduced compared with years past. The current amount of existing 1-4 family residential AD&C loans now stands 56% lower than the peak level of residential construction lending of $204 billion reached during the first quarter of 2008. Alternative sources of financing, including equity partners, have supplemented this capital market in recent years.

Quality Metrics of Construction Loans

The volume of loans that are 30+ days past due or nonaccrual status fell for the third consecutive quarter, to $985.3 million. As a share of the total 1-4 family residential construction loan volume, this accounts for 1.1%.

Breaking this out further, the level of loans 30-89 days past due was $414.6 million, while the volume in nonaccrual status was $522.1 million. The nonaccrual loan volume fell from $593.4 million in the third quarter and the 30-89 past due volume fell from $418.5 million.

Loans are classified as nonaccrual when one or more of the following conditions apply: the loan is 90 days or more past due on principal or interest (unless it is well-secured and in the process of collection); the bank no longer expects full repayment of principal and interest; or the borrower’s financial condition has significantly deteriorated, warranting cash-basis accounting.

Which Size Banks are Lending?

Of the outstanding $91.1 billion in 1-4 family residential constructions loans, banks between $1 billion and $10 billion in total assets held the largest share at $32.2 billion (35.3%) at the end of 2025. Banks with assets between $10 and $250 held the next largest share at $30.1 billion (33.0%). The smallest banks, those with under $1 billion in assets, held $19.8 billion (21.7%) while the largest banks, with over $250 billion in total assets, had $9.0 billion (9.9%).

The distribution of banks holding 1-4 family residential construction loans is significantly different from the composition of all bank assets. At the end of 2025, the total amount of assets held by FDIC-insured banks was $25.26 trillion. Most of the banking industry’s assets are held by banks with over $250 billion in total assets, at 60.3%. This large bank asset group is comprised of just 16 banks as of the fourth quarter of 2025. Banks with between $10 billion and $250 billion in total assets held 25.3% of the industry’s total assets, as banks with $1 billion to $10 billion held 10.1%. Banks with under $1 billion in total assets had a market share of 4.3%.