At ACUMA's Make Your Mark 2025 Annual Conference in Denver, Penny Roach, EVP of Client Growth at Trinity Real Estate Solutions, delivered a compelling message to credit unions: construction lending doesn’t have to be risky when supported by the right tools, processes, and partners. Her presentation, “Mitigating Risk and Leveraging Tech Solutions in Construction Lending,” addressed the national housing shortage and outlined a clear path for credit unions to become confident, proactive players in construction finance.
As the proud sister company of Trinity, NorthWest Construction Control shares this mission of empowering lenders to navigate construction risk with precision and clarity.
The Housing Gap: Urgency Meets Opportunity
Builders must produce 2 million homes annually for the next 7.5 years to meet demand. Zoning restrictions, limited inventory, and affordability constraints have slowed progress, but 2024 marked a turning point: new home construction outpaced household formation for the first time since 2016. Builders are responding with incentives, and lower interest rates are helping, but financing remains the linchpin.
Credit unions must be ready to finance roughly 400,000 homes annually. That’s not just a volume challenge, it’s a risk management imperative.
Risk Isn’t Inevitable—It’s Manageable
Roach emphasized that up to 70% of construction lending risk can be mitigated before a single dollar is disbursed. NorthWest Construction Control and Trinity’s approach starts with thorough builder and project vetting: credit checks, license verification, insurance coverage, and background screening.
It goes deeper. Lenders are supported in reviewing construction budgets, contracts, plans, and draw schedules to ensure every project is viable and well-documented. As Roach stated, “Risk isn’t something you eliminate, it’s something you manage. And with the right process, you can manage it well before the first dollar is disbursed.”
This diligence isn’t just paperwork, it’s protection. Credit unions can rely on it to safeguard their portfolios and their members.
Post-Close Oversight: Where Many Lenders Falter
Once construction begins, the risks shift. Delays, cost overruns, misappropriated funds, and lien issues can derail even the most promising projects. Trinity’s post-close draw management system, supported by NorthWest Construction Control’s inspection and oversight services, is designed to prevent these pitfalls.
From signed draw authorizations and reconciled budgets to lien waivers and permit tracking, their process ensures that every dollar is accounted for and every milestone is verified. It’s not just about catching problems, it’s about preventing them.
Technology That Works for You
Manual processes are no longer viable. Trinity’s tech platform offers API connectivity, secure compliance, and full lifecycle support from pre-close to post-close. Automated inspection ordering, lien waiver tracking, and real-time risk reporting give credit unions the tools they need to stay ahead of issues.
Because Trinity integrates with multiple third-party vendors, credit unions don’t have to overhaul their systems, they simply plug into a smarter way of working.
A Strategic Ally for Credit Unions
NorthWest Construction Control is more than a vendor. We’re strategic allies. With deep expertise in construction lending and a commitment to transparency and innovation, we help credit unions expand their impact in housing finance.
As Penny Roach made clear at ACUMA 2025, the housing crisis is real, but so is the opportunity. With the right tools, the right processes, and the right partner, credit unions can lead the way in building homes, strengthening communities, and managing risk with confidence.