California’s housing legislation has opened up new pathways for small-scale development, but each option comes with its own trade-offs that are easy to overlook. Whether you’re looking at adding units under SB 9, pursuing a small-lot subdivision through SB 684, or relying on SB 330 to protect your entitlements, the details matter. From owner-occupancy requirements to exit strategy flexibility and timing advantages, understanding how these acts actually play out on the ground is key before you commit to a deal.

Is it better for developers to build condos or townhomes? What are some of the key differences and considerations? If you are working on a scenario, it’s good to review the data and make sure your development aligns with your strategy.

When most people think of a mortgage, they picture the 30-year loan that helps families buy their first home. That’s a conventional mortgage: a consumer product designed for long-term stability. But in the investment world, private mortgages (often called private credit and might be confused with hard money loans) play a very different role.

In real estate lending, we all love to celebrate the wins. The closed deal, the funded draw, the successful exit. But there’s a quieter battle being fought behind the scenes: the fight against fraud.

We talk to builders every day. And one thing we’re hearing more and more is this:

“We want to build for first-time buyers—but the math just doesn’t work.”

It’s a real issue. Starter homes, once the foundation of any healthy housing market, are becoming unicorns—especially in high-cost markets. And while headlines tend to focus on interest rates and affordability for buyers, we’re not talking enough about what’s happening on the builder’s side.

We talk to builders every day. And one thing we’re hearing more and more is this:

“We want to build for first-time buyers—but the math just doesn’t work.”

It’s a real issue. Starter homes, once the foundation of any healthy housing market, are becoming unicorns—especially in high-cost markets. And while headlines tend to focus on interest rates and affordability for buyers, we’re not talking enough about what’s happening on the builder’s side.

This is one of the most common questions I get from borrowers—“Is private credit just another name for hard money?” Short answer: Not quite. Long answer? Let’s break it down.

Time kills all deals. And in real estate, sometimes the difference between winning and losing is just a few days. At Flipside Lending, we get asked this question all the time: “How fast can you close?”