APB Wholesale Targets Entrepreneurs with New Construction Loans

ATLANTA, GA – January 13, 2026 – American Pride Bank (APB) is making a significant push to empower entrepreneurs and real estate investors with the nationwide expansion of its One-Time Close Construction Loan programs. Offered through its wholesale mortgage division, APB Wholesale, the new product suite is engineered to dismantle the financial barriers that have long frustrated self-employed and non-traditional borrowers seeking to build or renovate properties.

This strategic expansion comes at a critical time. The U.S. continues to grapple with a housing deficit estimated at 1.5 million units, fueling a surge in new construction. Simultaneously, the nature of work has evolved, with a growing number of Americans operating as entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors. These individuals, despite often having substantial assets and income, frequently find themselves sidelined by conventional lending models that prioritize W-2 income.

Addressing a Growing Market Need

The alternative financing market is experiencing explosive growth as it steps in to fill the void left by traditional banks. Projections show the sector expanding at a compound annual growth rate of over 11%, poised to reach nearly $450 billion globally by 2032. A key driver of this expansion is the rise of Non-Qualified Mortgages (Non-QM), which now constitute a significant and growing share of the total mortgage market volume. These loans provide flexible pathways for borrowers who are creditworthy but cannot meet the rigid documentation requirements of standard QM loans.

APB Wholesale’s expanded program suite directly targets this underserved demographic. By offering financing for both new builds and major renovations, the bank is providing mortgage brokers with a crucial tool to serve a wider client base. The programs are designed for a variety of property types, catering to owner-occupants building their dream home and investors looking to scale their portfolios.

"Traditional construction lending often requires multiple applications, which can crank up closing costs and add the constant stress of rate fluctuations," said Jessica Bluj, President of the Mortgage Division at American Pride Bank.

This multi-step process typically involves securing one loan for the construction phase and then refinancing into a permanent mortgage upon completion, exposing the borrower to additional fees and the risk of rising interest rates. The one-time close model consolidates this into a single transaction, locking in the interest rate upfront and simplifying the entire process from groundbreaking to final conversion.

Innovation Born from Experience

The driving force behind this initiative is a story of personal frustration turned into market innovation. Jessica Bluj, who spearheaded the development of the new loan programs, conceived of the idea while navigating the complex process of building her own custom home. As a consultant at the time, she experienced firsthand the obstacles that non-W-2 earners face.

"I had the assets, but since I didn't have a current W-2, I faced hurdle after hurdle just trying to get the bank to make an accurate assessment of my financial picture," Bluj explained. "I realized that a lot of highly qualified borrowers are probably facing the same barriers simply because they don't tick traditional boxes. I wanted us to be different."

This personal insight became the foundation for a product designed with empathy for the entrepreneurial journey. By creating a solution to her own problem, Bluj has positioned APB Wholesale to connect with a vast market of borrowers who feel misunderstood by the financial system. The bank, founded in 2007 by first-generation Americans and entrepreneurs, sees this initiative as a direct extension of its mission to help people build generational wealth and achieve their version of the American Dream.

Flexible Financing for the Modern Borrower

At the core of APB Wholesale’s offering are alternative documentation (alt-doc) options that assess a borrower's true financial capacity. Instead of relying solely on tax returns, the programs allow for qualification using methods better suited to business owners and investors:

• DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) Loans: This option is ideal for real estate investors, as it allows them to qualify based on the cash flow generated by the investment property itself, rather than their personal income.
• Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement Loans: Self-employed borrowers can use P&L statements, often prepared by an accountant, to demonstrate their business's profitability and their ability to repay the loan.

While APB enters a competitive space with other lenders like GO Mortgage and LendSure offering similar non-QM construction products, its commitment is bolstered by a fully dedicated construction loan department. This team provides hands-on expertise and support for mortgage brokers and their clients throughout the entire loan lifecycle, from initial approval and draw management to the final conversion to a permanent mortgage.

"I am so proud of this product—it has the type of flexible loans and focused service that I wish I had access to when I started my build," Bluj stated. This focus on high-touch service and specialized knowledge aims to differentiate APB in a growing market.

These programs operate within the post-2008 regulatory framework established by the Dodd-Frank Act. While they are classified as Non-QM, they still require lenders to make a good-faith determination of a borrower's ability to repay, ensuring responsible lending practices. By using structured and verifiable alternative documentation, these loans offer a compliant and robust solution for a modern workforce.

By simplifying access to capital, American Pride Bank is not just launching a new product; it is providing a vital tool that can help fuel local economic development, contribute to increasing the nation's housing supply, and empower a new generation of builders and investors.