Development and construction finance

Finance for your project, with equity and presales worked out first.

From a first duplex to a multi-stage project. We check your project budget (the feasibility) the way a lender will, tell you the equity and presales lenders expect, and line up bank or non-bank funding to suit your timeline.

Discuss a developmentCall 0488 990 204

Talk to us before you buy the site. That is the most useful step. An enquiry is not an application.

Two people reviewing plans beside a light-industrial building site

Your first project

A duplex, a townhouse pair, a small subdivision.

  • Lenders weigh your team as much as your numbers: an experienced builder on a fixed-price contract, a surveyor, a town planner.
  • A feasibility that a lender can read: land, construction, consultants, interest, contingency, selling costs and the end values.
  • Enough equity to cover the balance after the lender's share: the land, cash, or a presale contract the lender accepts.
  • If you plan to keep one of the dwellings, some lenders treat the build as a home construction loan. That can be cheaper. We tell you if you qualify.

Experienced developer

Land bank, construction, residual stock and the gaps between.

  • Land acquisition and land bank facilities while approvals are obtained.
  • Construction facilities with staged drawdowns certified by a quantity surveyor.
  • Residual stock loans to release equity from completed, unsold units.
  • Mezzanine or preferred equity behind the senior lender when the equity gap is real and the margin supports the price.
  • Bank or non-bank: banks offer lower cost, higher presale hurdles and longer assessment; non-banks offer higher cost, fewer presales and a lighter process.

How much you need to put in

What lenders usually fund, and what you bring.

Typical bands for development finance
ItemWhat to expectWhat decides it
Main loan (senior debt), as a share of total costAbout 65 to 75 percent of total development costLender type, project size, your track record
Main loan, as a share of end valueAbout 65 to 75 percent of end value; lenders lend to the lower of cost and valueValuation of the completed project
Presales, bankAbout 70 to 100 percent of the debt covered by qualifying presalesProject type, location, lender
Presales, non-bankFewer, sometimes none, at a higher rate and feeLender appetite and the equity you bring
Broker feeOften applies on development and private facilities, in addition to or instead of lender commissionFacility type, size and the work involved; Chorus tells you the arrangement in writing before you proceed
Time to first drawdownTypically 6 to 12 weeks with a bank; often less with a non-bankValuation, QS report, legal documents

During construction, interest is usually added to the loan rather than paid monthly, so put it in your budget. First-time budgets most often leave out GST (ask your accountant about the margin scheme), selling costs, and a contingency of around ten percent of the build cost.

South East Queensland

What the local market means for your project.

Lenders check demand suburb by suburb and by dwelling type, and that sets the presales and valuation they want. Your budget, your team and your equity decide the outcome, project by project.

A business owner and adviser reviewing documents at a workshop table

How it works

What we do for you, in four steps.

The same four steps for every business enquiry. We look at what repayments the business can afford, not only what a lender will approve.

  1. 01

    Understand your business

    Tell us what the finance is for, how much, when, who will borrow and how the business earns. We ask for documents only once we know which lenders fit.

  2. 02

    Compare your options

    We compare suitable lenders on total cost, structure and conditions, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Waiting, or staying with your bank, can be the right answer.

  3. 03

    Set the terms

    The loan term, any lump sum at the end, the security, presales, progress payments and review dates are set to fit how the business earns and pays, not the lender's standard template.

  4. 04

    Settle and follow through

    We prepare the application, handle lender questions and valuations, and stay with you through settlement.

Discuss a development

General information only. Any finance is subject to lender assessment and approval.

Questions people ask

Questions before you enquire

How much equity do I need for a development?

Senior lenders typically fund about 65 to 75 percent of total development cost, or a similar share of the projected end value, whichever is lower. The balance is your equity: land, cash, or approved presales. Non-bank lenders may go further at a higher price.

Do I need presales?

Banks usually want presales covering about 70 to 100 percent of the debt on residential projects. Some non-bank lenders accept fewer, or none, for a higher rate and fee. The right mix depends on the project, the market and your timeline.

What is the difference between LTC and LVR?

Loan to cost (LTC) is the loan as a share of total project cost including land, construction, consultants and interest. Loan to value (LVR) is the loan as a share of the end value. Lenders test both and lend to the lower result.

How do construction drawdowns work?

Funds are released in stages as work is completed, usually checked by a quantity surveyor (QS). Interest is added to the loan during construction. The builder's contract, the build schedule and the QS report set the timing.

I have never developed before. Can I get finance?

Sometimes, for a small first project such as a duplex or a townhouse pair, with a strong feasibility, an experienced builder and enough equity. Lenders weigh your team as much as the numbers. Talk to us before you buy the site. That is the most useful step.

Are there broker fees on development finance?

Development and private facilities often carry a broker fee, in addition to or instead of lender commission. The amount depends on the facility type, its size and the work involved. Chorus tells you the arrangement in writing before you proceed.

How long does development finance take?

Typically 6 to 12 weeks to first drawdown with a bank once we have all the documents, and often less with a non-bank lender. Valuation, QS review and legal documents drive the timeline.

Figures on this page were checked on 8 September 2026 against: Moneysmart business finance, RBA cash rate target. Bands are typical market ranges and are not offers. Your lender, security and financials decide the actual terms.

All questions

When you are ready

Have a site or a feasibility?

Send the site details, your feasibility summary and your builder's details with your enquiry. We will tell you the equity and presale bands that apply and which lender type fits the timeline.

Discuss a developmentCall 0488 990 204
Discuss a developmentCall