Development Finance

End-to-end funding for property developers - acquisition, build, and exit.

Development finance is project-focused funding for developers delivering small-to-medium residential and commercial projects across Australia. Commercial Property Funding structures the loan around the project itself - covering land acquisition, civil works, construction, and the sell-down or refinance at the end - without the rigid pre-sale targets, full serviceability tests, and construction-start deadlines that traditional bank development lending typically demands.

Overview

  • Loan SizeUp to $10 million
  • Maximum LVRUp to 65% GRV (up to 75% with 2nd mortgage)
  • Land FundingUp to 70% land purchase plus up to 100% project costs
  • Interest RatesFrom 7.5% p.a.
  • Loan TermsUp to 24 months
  • Property SecurityResidential or commercial
  • Pre-salesLow or no pre-sales required
  • Interest StructureCapitalised - no monthly debt servicing required
  • DrawdownsStaged in line with development milestones
  • Takeout FundingAvailable on completed projects
  • LocationAvailable across all Australian states and territories

Development finance is project-focused funding for developers delivering small-to-medium residential, commercial, and industrial projects across Australia. Commercial Property Funding structures the loan around the project itself - covering land acquisition, civil works, construction, and the sell-down or refinance at the end - without the rigid pre-sale targets, full serviceability tests, and construction-start deadlines that traditional bank development lending typically demands.

Development Finance in Australia

Development finance is the funding category that supports property developers from site acquisition through to completion and sell-down. It can cover the purchase of land, the civil works needed to make a site build-ready, the construction itself, and the holding of completed but unsold stock at the back end. Most projects use a mix of these, layered through the project program.

Bank development finance tends to apply rigid criteria - construction starts within fixed windows, pre-sale targets often above 50% of expected revenue, full serviceability reviews, and metrics like Loan-to-Cost and Loan-to-Gross Development Value calibrated for risk-averse credit committees. That works for some projects. For many developers - first projects, no-presale builds, complex sites, or deals where timing matters - those criteria delay or kill the deal.

At CPF, development finance is asset-led and project-led. Assessment focuses on the site, the feasibility, the development approval, and a credible exit strategy. Drawdowns are staged against milestones, interest is capitalised, and there's no requirement to hit a fixed pre-sale percentage before settlement. Loans are Available to company and trust borrowers - including SPVs structured for a single project.

Why Developers Use CPF Development Finance

  • img Up to 65% GRV on construction (up to 75% with second mortgage)
  • img Land funding up to 70% plus 100% of approved project costs
  • img Low or no pre-sale requirements
  • img Capitalised interest - no monthly debt servicing during the term
  • img Staged drawdowns aligned with project milestones
  • img Takeout funding available when the project completes
  • img Asset-led assessment - no full serviceability test
  • img No brokerage clawbacks - broker commissions stay paid

!!!!!!Development Finance Pathways!!!!!

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!!!!Land Acquisition!!!!!

Securing the site quickly - auction, urgent settlement, or holding through DA approvals. Refinances cleanly to construction or subdivision when ready.

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!!!!Land Subdivision!!!!!

Civil works and titles - turning one site into multiple sellable lots. Up to 70% of land value plus 100% of project costs.

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!!!!!Construction!!!!

Staged drawdown funding for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Up to 65% GRV (75% with second mortgage). Low or no pre-sales required.

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!!!!Residual Stock!!!!

Refinance completed but unsold stock at the end of the project - release equity for the next site or hold through sell-down without lender pressure.

Have a Development That Needs Funding?

Submit your project for assessment or speak with our team about end-to-end development finance for your next deal.

Types of Developments We Fund

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Townhouse and duplex projects
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Multi-unit residential developments
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Spec homes and small-scale residential builds
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Land subdivisions - two-lot through to staged
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Build-on-back and splitter-block developments
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Commercial and mixed-use projects
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Multi-purpose developments
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DA-approved sites awaiting construction funding
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Refinances of maturing development facilities

frequently asked questions

Development finance is project-focused funding for property developers - covering site acquisition, civil works, construction, and the holding of completed stock at the end of a project. It's structured around development milestones rather than borrower income, and repaid through the sale of finished stock or a refinance to a longer-term facility.

Bank development finance typically requires fixed pre-sale targets, full serviceability reviews, and rigid construction deadlines. CPF assesses the site, the feasibility, and the exit strategy - rather than rolling income tests - and funds projects with low or no pre-sales. Settlement is measured in weeks, not months.

No fixed pre-sale percentage is required. Construction, subdivision, and spec home facilities can be funded with low or no pre-sales, depending on the project, location, and end-product mix. This is one of the main reasons developers choose CPF over bank funding.

Up to $10 million for development projects. Construction is structured up to 65% of Gross Realisation Value (75% with a second mortgage), and land facilities cover up to 70% of land value plus up to 100% of project costs. The exact structure depends on the stage and shape of the deal.

Gross Realisation Value (GRV) is the total expected sale value of the completed project. Construction lenders typically express their maximum lend as a percentage of GRV - at CPF, that's up to 65% as a first mortgage, or up to 75% where a second-mortgage component is included.

Yes. CPF supports first-time developers where the project stacks up - DA in place, sound feasibility, credible builder, and a clear exit strategy. Smaller projects like duplexes, two-lot subdivisions, and single spec homes are common first-developer scenarios.

Drawdowns are staged in line with development milestones - slab, frame, lock-up, fixing, completion - confirmed through progress claims and quantity surveyor inspections. The structure aligns the loan with the actual delivery program.

A no-cost, no-obligation Letter of Offer can be issued within 48 hours of a complete submission. Settlement typically follows within seven days of executed loan documents.

Yes. Development finance is available to company and trust borrowers - including special-purpose vehicles structured for a single project.

The loan is repaid through the agreed exit - typically the staged sale of completed stock, a refinance to a longer-term facility, or progression to a CPF residual stock loan if the project completes with unsold stock. Takeout funding is available on completed projects.