Development finance, explained

DFP offers tailored funding solutions across the full development lifecycle: Land Bank Finance to secure sites with or without DA approval; Construction Loans including senior debt, mezzanine debt and zero-presales options; an Equity Line of Credit to release capital from held assets or land; and fast, simple short-term property loans. Residual stock facilities are also available to release equity from completed, unsold stock.

The process is streamlined and strategic. You submit your project details and documentation, DFP assesses feasibility and structures a funding solution, indicative funding terms are issued, and funding is then arranged on final lender approval once the project is settlement-ready. DFP does the heavy lifting and keeps you informed at each step.

DFP assists both new and experienced developers, builders and investors, on sites located in metropolitan and regional areas across Australia. The funding structures DFP formulates suit a wide range of project types and sizes — from boutique developments through to large-scale projects.

Typical ranges are: Land Bank Loans up to $50 million (up to 70% LVR); Construction Loans up to $250 million (up to 90% of Total Development Cost); and Equity Line of Credit up to $10 million (up to 75% LVR). Higher amounts are considered on application, and every facility is structured to the specific project.

It depends on the facility. Land bank finance requires no DA and no presales. For construction loans a DA is generally required, while presales may be reduced or waived depending on how the facility is structured. DFP specialises in zero-presales construction loans, with funding of up to 90% of project cost available for eligible projects.

Rates vary with the lender, loan type and project risk. As a guide: construction loans from 8.99% p.a. with no line fee; land bank finance with capitalised interest options; and equity line of credit from 8% p.a. Mezzanine and equity funding is priced to deal complexity. Full costs are set out transparently in your indicative terms.

DFP has structured more than $5 billion in loans since 2011 and brings a deep lender network with access to capital lines outside the major banks. Finance strategies are tailored to developer needs by a team that understands a project from concept to completion, and the directors are actively involved with every client and transaction.

DFP is a national organisation with offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and works extensively across metropolitan and regional Australia for residential, commercial and industrial asset classes. All locations are considered for finance.

Construction facilities through DFP range up to $250 million and up to 75% LVR, with the right structure depending on your project, location and experience. For zero-presales projects, funding of up to 90% of Total Development Cost is available on facilities up to $40 million. We assess each project on its underlying merits and your objectives, then structure a facility to suit — there is no single set figure, so the best step is a quick conversation about your project.

Not always. Construction finance without presales has become increasingly common, and DFP specialises in zero-presales construction loans. These facilities are approved and advanced in much shorter timeframes than traditional bank finance, letting you start and complete projects sooner, recycle your capital and grow your pipeline faster. Whether presales can be reduced or waived depends on the project structure, which we work through with you before issuing indicative terms.

Senior debt is the first-mortgage facility that funds the core of your build. Mezzanine debt sits behind it as a second mortgage and acts like additional equity in your capital stack — useful when you want to reduce the cash you contribute upfront. DFP can structure either, or both together, and will explain how each option affects your cost of capital and returns before you commit.

Rates and fees vary with the lender, loan type and project risk. As a guide, DFP's zero-presales construction facilities start from 8.99% p.a. with no line fee and no upfront fees to secure an approval. Land bank facilities can include capitalised interest, and mezzanine or equity funding is priced to the complexity of the deal. We set out the full cost structure transparently in your indicative terms.

Yes. DFP has delivered construction finance to property developers on projects ranging from large-scale to boutique, in both metro and regional areas throughout Australia. All locations are considered. Our network of capital partners and bank and non-bank relationships gives your project more flexibility and more options regardless of where it sits.

A residual stock loan lets you release equity tied up in completed but unsold stock at the end of a project. Rather than discounting to clear stock or holding up your capital, you refinance the completed dwellings, free up cash for your next acquisition, and sell the remaining stock in your own time. DFP can arrange residual stock facilities as a standalone solution or as the exit from a construction facility.

Yes. Land bank finance is designed for exactly this situation — no Development Approval is required to secure funding. It lets you hold a site while your DA is being prepared, amended or assessed, or while a rezoning runs its course, so you don't miss the acquisition while the planning side catches up.

Land bank facilities are available up to 70% LVR, with loan amounts up to $50 million and higher amounts considered on application. The amount that suits your site depends on its value, location and your plans for it. DFP assesses each site individually and structures the facility around your timing and your next steps.

No serviceability is required for land bank finance. Because the facility is structured around the site and your development strategy rather than your personal income, it suits developers and investors who would not fit a traditional bank serviceability test. Interest can often be capitalised so there are no monthly repayments to service while you hold the site.

Yes. Land bank finance allows cash-out and working capital, so if you already hold a site you can refinance it, release equity, and use those funds to prepare for construction or to secure your next acquisition. This is one of the most common ways developers use land bank finance to keep their pipeline moving.

Land bank finance is intended to give you time — time to get construction-ready, to obtain or amend a DA, to complete a rezoning, or simply to wait for the right market conditions before starting your project. Facility terms are structured to match your expected timeline through to the construction phase, and DFP can then transition you into a construction facility when you are ready.

Land bank finance suits you when you need to secure a site before you are ready to build: your development approval is not yet in place or needs amending, your site is being rezoned, or it is simply not the right moment to commence. It separates site acquisition from construction funding so you can act decisively on a good site without being forced to start before you are ready.

An equity line of credit lets you put the equity in your existing assets to work. Developers use it to acquire additional capital to complete a project, to bring a project to market sooner, to consolidate debt into a single loan with better terms, and to fund land settlements and construction for their next project. It is a flexible way to improve cash flow without selling down assets.

Equity line of credit facilities are available up to 75% LVR and up to $10 million, with interest rates starting from 8% p.a. The amount you can release depends on the value of the assets you are borrowing against and how the facility fits your broader strategy. DFP structures the facility to leverage your equity to the most efficient level for your goals.

No. DFP's equity line of credit is offered as No-Doc and Low-Doc finance only, so it suits developers and investors who cannot easily satisfy a full-doc bank assessment. The facility is structured around your assets and your project objectives rather than extensive income verification, which also means faster approvals and settlements.

You can release equity from unsold stock, your home, investment properties or other assets. This flexibility means you are not limited to a single property — DFP looks across your portfolio to find the most efficient way to unlock capital for your next move while keeping your overall structure sensible.

Equity line of credit facilities are built for simple, fast and flexible approvals and settlements. Because they are No-Doc and Low-Doc and structured around your assets, they avoid much of the delay of a traditional bank process. DFP will give you a clear timeframe once we understand the assets involved and the outcome you are after.

Drawing on equity can actually lower portfolio risk when it is used to increase diversification and liquidity. Rather than having capital locked into a single completed project or asset, an equity line of credit frees funds you can deploy across more than one project — spreading your exposure and giving you cash on hand to respond to opportunities or challenges.

DFP's fast, simple property loan is built for self-employed property investors who need finance quickly and cannot easily get a fast approval from a bank. If you are acquiring an investment property, refinancing an existing loan, or wanting to release cash equity from your property investments, this tailor-made short-term solution is designed for you. In short — we lend to you when the banks can't.

The process is designed to be fast: after an initial conversation you can receive an indicative approval, subject to valuation, within 1 to 2 business days. From there, unconditional approval and settlement follow, with cash typically available within around 2 weeks. This speed can be the difference between securing a property at auction and missing out.

Short-term property loans through DFP are available from $1 million to $5 million, with attractive LVRs of up to 75%. The exact amount depends on the property and your circumstances. Because the loan is tailor-made, DFP structures it around your specific deadline and the outcome you need rather than a fixed product template.

Terms are flexible and tailored, available for up to 25 years. Whether you need genuinely short-term bridging while you arrange longer finance, or a longer runway, DFP structures the term around your plans for the property so the facility fits the project rather than forcing the project to fit the facility.

Yes. As well as acquiring a property, the fast property loan can refinance an existing property loan and unlock equity from your current investments. Releasing that equity gives you the financial means to fund your next move — a deposit, a settlement, or working capital — without waiting on a slow bank refinance.

DFP keeps paperwork to a minimum. After you get in touch and have a short conversation about your circumstances, the experienced team does the heavy lifting on the application for you — no lengthy forms or endless document requests. You will be guided on the specific items needed for your situation, which are kept as light as the loan type allows.