Bad Lender Data Kills Deals

You've been there. A fantastic deal lands on your desk. You put together your deal package, you reach out to who you think is the right lender contact, and…bounce. The email address is no longer in service. Or, you get a response (four days later) telling you they stopped doing those deals months ago.

Time? Wasted. Momentum? Probably lost.

I've spent a good amount of time watching how deals get done (and don't get done) in various parts of commercial real estate finance. Here's what I've learned about why traditional lender information fails us — and what modern solutions look like.

The Real Cost of Bad Data

Bad lender data isn't just annoying — it's costing you deals. When you're working with outdated information, you're:

• Wasting time on outreach that will never go anywhere
• Missing ideal lenders who would love your deal
• Finding out about credit box changes only after it's too late
• Struggling to break into new markets

But the biggest cost is opportunity. While you're chasing down current contact information or discovering a lender's new geographic preferences, your competitors are getting their deals quoted. That's why we built Janover Pro with 7,264 verified lender relationships (as of February 5, 2025) — so you never have to miss an opportunity because of outdated or bad information.

What Modern Solutions Look Like

The good news is, technology has caught up with our needs. Modern solutions have completely changed how we can access and use lender information. Here's what to look for:

Regular Verification

Static lists don't cut it anymore. Look for solutions where lender information is regularly verified and updated. The best platforms have dedicated teams checking and updating credit boxes and contact information constantly — not just quarterly or annually. At Janover Pro, our team regularly reviews and verifies lender information, while lenders can also update their credit boxes in real-time.

Geographic Precision

State-level lending criteria is too broad. You need county-level precision. If you're working on a deal in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois, you shouldn't waste time with lenders who say they do Illinois — but really mean just the Chicago area. On Janover Pro, you can see each lender's exact geographic footprint on a map and filter your searches by specific counties.

Real-Time Updates

Credit boxes change. People move roles (and companies). Interest rates shift. Your lender information needs to keep up. Look for platforms where lenders can update their own information in real time, complemented by regular verification from the platform side. We ensure this at Janover Pro by combining our verification team's work with direct lender access to update their profiles.

Impact on Your Business

When you solve the data problem, everything else gets easier:

• Deals move faster because you're reaching the right people first
• You can confidently explore new markets knowing you have accurate lender information
• Your hit rate improves because you're matching today's deals with today's credit boxes
• You build stronger relationships because you're not wasting lenders' time with mismatched deals

With tools like Janover Pro's lender search and filtering capabilities, you can turn these improvements into real competitive advantages.

Moving Forward

The days of maintaining static lender lists or relying on outdated contact databases are over. The market moves too fast, and deals are too valuable to lose because of bad data.

Look for solutions that offer:

• Continuous verification processes
• Granular geographic filtering
• Real-time credit box updates
• Direct lender engagement capabilities

Your time is better spent structuring deals and building relationships, not chasing down current lender information. Modern solutions exist to handle that part for you. Use them.