Real Estate Development

Real Estate development projects can be key drivers of community growth and revitalization. In many cases, women and minority run projects and those in low-wealth areas face additional challenges in securing funds.  Self-Help brings together a variety of financial tools and loan programs to enable projects that might not otherwise happen, thereby enriching communities, preserving natural resources and spurring economic development.

Who We Serve

Self-Help offers construction, permanent and bridge loans for real estate projects and to real estate developers consistent with its mission. In particular, Self-Help is interested in real estate projects that help revitalize low-income areas, promote sustainability or create affordable housing.

Additionally, Self-Help can make financing available to small, first-time, nonprofit, women or minority-owned enterprises engaged in commercial or mixed-use real estate projects, no matter the location.

What We Offer

Self-Help provides financing for a wide range of development projects including:

• commercial and mixed-use in downtowns or low-income communities

• preservation of natural or historic resources

• sustainable / green developments

• affordable housing

Any real estate project with at least a 20% commercial component (office space or retail, for example) that is located in a low-income census tract (generally defined as an area whose median income is less than 80% of the larger metro area or state median income or with a poverty rate over 20%) may qualify for a Self-Help New Markets Tax Credit loan on favorable terms.

Businesses seeking to acquire and/or improve real property in which the business will occupy at least 50% of the completed space may qualify for either an SBA 504 guaranteed loan or a New Markets Tax Credit loan.


To discuss commercial real estate projects, contact:

Steve Saltzman
919.956.4620 or 800.476.7428

 To discuss a project in Washington, D.C., contact:

Catherine Godschalk
202.349.1866 or 800.881.6261

To apply for a commercial real estate loan, please download the following forms, fill them out, and send to one of the contacts above:

Commercial Real Estate Loan Application
Commercial Real Estate Application Checklist

If you are interested in leasing commercial space from Self-Help, please visit the Commercial Properties section of our site.