If anyone would seem a good credit
risk, it would be Dan Martin, a
custom builder in Bedford, N.H.,
who sold over $4 million in
homes in 1989 while keeping
debts down. This year has been as
lucrative.
Despite the good track record,
Martin said he felt like a deadbeat
looking for a used car loan recently
when he shopped for a construction
loan to build a custom
home for a fully financed client.
In fact, he had to go to six banks
to get the loan.
"Our regular bank had gone
belly-up, so we had to establish
ourselves anew. It was as if we
were just starting business—they
wanted all the personal financials,
every building plan, spec, and permit
—just