Understand The Loan Review Process Before You Start
GAP Equity Loans helps qualified property owners prepare and present private property-backed financing requests in Costa Rica. GAP leads the practical due diligence private lenders rely on and organizes the property, title, equity, documentation, loan purpose, repayment plan, and exit strategy into a clear lender-ready file.
Loan requests start at US$50,000. GAP does not require or pull a credit score. Terms range from 6 months to 3 years. Once the complete file is in and GAP due diligence is finished, qualified loans often close in about 10 business days.
A clear file makes the review easier.
Private property-backed financing is usually reviewed based on the property, title, equity, loan amount, use of funds, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
Start with the core property and loan-request details. GAP reviews the property, title, liens, location, marketability, value, loan purpose, repayment plan, and exit strategy, then organizes the practical information needed for a lender-ready file.
Private property-backed financing is organized around Costa Rica real estate, first-position security, the loan purpose, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
Each request is reviewed around the property, title, liens, location, marketability, value, loan purpose, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
How the process works
The steps below show how a typical private property-backed loan request may move from initial review toward lender due diligence and closing.
Initial Review
The process starts with a basic review of the property and loan request. GAP looks at the information needed to understand whether the file may be worth deeper review.
- Property location and type
- Estimated value or recent purchase price
- Requested loan amount
- Use of funds
- Existing liens or mortgages
- Repayment plan or exit strategy
File Organization
If the request appears realistic, the next step is organizing the basic documents and property information.
- Property title or ownership details
- Plano Catastro, meaning the official property survey plan
- Google Maps, Waze, or WhatsApp pin drop
- Property photos
- Corporate documents, if applicable
- Construction or project details, if applicable
Private Lender Review
Once the file is organized, qualified requests may be presented to private lenders for review. GAP prepares lender-ready files and leads the practical due diligence needed to move a qualified request forward.
- Property strength and location
- Title, liens, and legal status
- Loan-to-value
- Use of funds
- Document quality
- Repayment plan and exit strategy
Terms And Structure
If a private lender is interested, the next step is discussing the possible loan amount, term, rate, repayment structure, legal structure, and closing conditions.
GAP works only with first-lien positions. Smaller loans are commonly secured by a registered first-position mortgage on the Costa Rica property. Some transactions may use a trust structure when appropriate, while preserving GAP’s first-lien position.
Terms range from 6 months to 3 years and are shaped by the property, loan size, loan-to-value, title, repayment plan, exit strategy, and lender review.
There is no fixed down-payment requirement. The proposed structure depends on the property, equity, requested amount, purpose, repayment plan, and overall file.
Qualified borrowers of any nationality can be reviewed. Rates and terms are shaped by the property, loan size, loan-to-value, title, repayment plan, exit strategy, and lender review.
Legal Review And Closing
If the lender decides to move forward, the closing attorney or Notary Public prepares the legal documents and handles registration.
Legal fees and closing costs are reviewed as part of the loan structure and include GAP’s fee where applicable. GAP never accepts cash; funds move through the appropriate banking and closing process.
- Loan terms are reviewed
- Security structure is confirmed
- Mortgage, trust, or other structure may be used
- Closing conditions are addressed
- Registration steps may apply depending on the structure
What Can Slow Things Down
The process can slow down when the property file is not ready or when due diligence raises questions.
- Missing documents
- Unpaid taxes or obligations
- Title or registry issues
- Unclear ownership structure
- Existing liens or mortgages
- Permit, water, access, or municipal concerns
- Incomplete construction documentation
- Weak repayment plan or exit strategy
The loan amount must make sense against the property value.
Loan-to-value, often called LTV, compares the requested loan amount with the estimated value of the property used as collateral.
For example, if a property is worth 500,000 US dollars and the loan request is 250,000 US dollars, that is 50 percent loan-to-value.
A realistic loan-to-value helps align the request with the property, title, value, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
The final structure depends on the property, title, documents, liens, location, value, lender review, use of funds, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
What happens if there is already a loan on the property?
An existing mortgage, lien, or private loan does not automatically stop a file from being reviewed. It does need to be understood clearly.
Depending on the lender and legal structure, an existing obligation may need to be paid off, subordinated, refinanced, or handled as part of the closing structure. This must be reviewed carefully before anyone assumes the transaction can move forward.
Important: disclose existing loans, liens, mortgages, legal claims, or unpaid obligations early. Surprises late in the process can delay or stop the review.
Where this fits with your situation
This process is designed for borrowers who own Costa Rica real estate and want to know whether the property may support a private loan request.
It works best when the borrower has a real property, a clear loan purpose, a realistic requested amount, and a practical repayment plan.
A clear, organized request helps GAP prepare the practical information needed for lender review.
A cleaner file is easier to review.
If the property, ownership, location, photos, use of funds, title situation, liens, repayment plan, and exit strategy are clear, the review is easier.
If important information is missing, the process can slow down quickly.
Once the complete file is in and GAP due diligence is finished, qualified loans often close in about 10 business days.
What borrowers should have ready
A complete file is not always required on day one, but clear starting information helps GAP understand whether the request may be worth deeper review.
- Google Maps link, Waze link, or WhatsApp pin drop for the property
- Property title or ownership details
- Plano Catastro, meaning the official property survey plan
- Ten to fifteen good landscape photos of the property
- Estimated value or recent purchase price
- Requested loan amount
- Purpose of the funds
- Existing liens, mortgages, or legal claims
- Repayment plan or exit strategy
- Borrower identification, such as passport, DIMEX, or cédula
- Corporate details if the property is owned by a company
Common questions about how the process works
Does GAP Equity Loans fund the loan directly?
GAP prepares qualified property-backed financing requests through practical due diligence and a clear lender-ready file.
How long does the process take?
GAP organizes the property, title, documents, loan structure, and due diligence needed for lender review, legal work, and closing.
What terms are common?
Many standard private property-backed requests may be structured for 6 months to 3 years, depending on the lender, property, loan purpose, repayment plan, and exit strategy.
Can rates be similar to Costa Rica bank-rate ranges?
Rates and terms are shaped by the property, loan size, loan-to-value, title, repayment plan, exit strategy, and lender review.
Can an existing mortgage be reviewed?
Yes. Existing mortgages, liens, or private loans may be reviewed, but they must be disclosed early. The final structure depends on the property, title, equity, lender review, and legal advice.
Want to see whether your property may support a private loan request?
The best next step is to send your basic details so the file can be reviewed properly. GAP Equity Loans looks at the property, requested amount, use of funds, repayment plan, and overall structure before deciding whether the opportunity may be suitable for private lender review.