Squirrel and Master Builders have launched a partnership designed to remove a longstanding financing hurdle for residential construction companies. The new 100% Turnkey Funding product, unveiled at Constructive 2026, allows eligible builders to cover the complete cost of pre-sold projects without putting up their own capital. The arrangement preserves cash that builders would otherwise have tied up until a property settles, freeing them to pursue the next opportunity.
The Capital Constraint Problem
Access to financing has consistently ranked among the building sector’s most pressing concerns. Research from Master Builders shows it has appeared among the top three industry pressures for four years running, with 78 percent of respondents flagging it as an issue in 2026. Even when a home has a committed buyer, builders traditionally must fund both land acquisition and construction costs out of pocket until settlement occurs. That requirement can lock up working capital for months, limiting a company’s ability to secure additional sites or start new projects.
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma said the partnership grew from direct feedback from member businesses. “A builder can have sound projects and customers ready to go, but if their capital is tied up until those homes settle, they may not have the capacity to act on the next opportunity,” Sharma said. The arrangement brings together capable builders, the Master Build Completion Guarantee, and a funding structure that accounts for those protections.
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How the Funding Works
Under the model, Squirrel covers 100 percent of land costs and 100 percent of construction expenses minus a 20 percent implied builder margin. Depending on the builder’s actual margin, this can result in the entire project being financed without any capital contribution from the construction company itself. The buyer’s experience remains unchanged. Purchasers sign an unconditional Sale and Purchase Agreement, pay their deposit, and settle when construction finishes. The Master Build Completion Guarantee forms part of the product structure.
John Bolton, founder and group head of property finance at Squirrel, said the product addresses what the company heard repeatedly from builders. “They’ve got good projects, they’ve got buyers, and they’ve got the appetite to keep building, but access to capital puts the brakes on,” Bolton said. “We built 100% Turnkey Funding to help change that.”
Squirrel arranges approximately $4 billion in home loans annually and funds more than $1 billion in construction lending each year. The company has financed more than 1,600 development projects to date. Squirrel’s position across both builder and buyer financing gave it visibility into the gap this product aims to fill.
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The arrangement represents a meaningful shift from conventional turnkey financing, where builders often have substantial funds locked in completed homes that have already sold. Rather than waiting for settlement proceeds to free up capital, construction companies can in theory move directly into their next project.
Availability and Eligibility
100% Turnkey Funding is available to eligible Master Builders starting October 5, 2026. The product targets pre-sold turnkey projects with a genuine buyer, an unconditional Sale and Purchase Agreement, and a deposit already paid. Builders and individual projects must meet Squirrel’s standard lending criteria, and the product is not designed for every builder or development. Interested companies should confirm eligibility requirements directly with Squirrel or Master Builders before proceeding.
