"If you financed this locally, you'd be looking at multiple banks for a deal this size," said Gail Lissner, vice president at Appraisal Research Counselors, a Chicago-based consulting firm. "They didn't have to wait for the construction loan, which also sets this project apart. They were able to break ground and get to 35 percent pre-sales before getting the loan. For most developers, it's the other way around. You get to 35 percent pre-sales, and then you break ground."