5.0 from 33 Reviews
What Is Development Finance?
Development finance is a specialist type of lending designed to help property developers, investors, and builders fund property development projects from the ground up. Whether you are looking to complete a small subdivision, build a boutique apartment block, or take on a larger mixed-use development, accessing the right development loan is one of the most important decisions you will make. At Balcombe Financial, we help clients based in Bayside, Victoria and across Australia access loan options from banks and lenders across Australia that are suited to their specific project needs.
Unlike a standard home loan, property development finance is structured around the stages of your project. Lenders assess your development feasibility, project cashflow, development costs, and your exit strategy before approving funding. This means the documentation requirements are more involved, and the lending criteria can vary significantly from one lender to the next. That is where Balcombe Financial adds real value, helping you understand what lenders are looking for and presenting your project in the strongest possible way.
Types of Development Finance We Can Help With
There is no single product that suits every developer. The right structure depends on your project size, your equity position, your development timeline, and whether you have presales in place. Balcombe Financial works with a broad panel of lenders to help you explore options including land acquisition finance, subdivision finance, construction lending, mezzanine finance, and JV finance arrangements. For developers who need to bridge a funding gap, second mortgage options may also be worth exploring alongside a first mortgage facility.
Land development finance is often the starting point for many projects. Whether you are purchasing a site or already hold land and want to unlock development equity, understanding your development LVR (loan to value ratio) is critical. Lenders will look at the as-if-complete value of your project, your development deposit, and your ability to service the debt throughout the build. Development rates can vary depending on whether you choose a variable interest rate or fixed interest rate structure, and the loan amount you are seeking will influence which lenders are best placed to help.
For projects that require additional capital beyond what a senior lender will provide, mezzanine finance can fill the gap between your first mortgage and the total project costs. This type of developer finance carries a higher development interest rate than senior debt, but it can allow you to fund a project that would otherwise fall short on equity. JV finance, where a funding partner co-invests in the project in exchange for a share of the profit, is another avenue some developers explore when equity is limited.
What Lenders Look At
When assessing a development loan application, lenders focus heavily on project feasibility and project documentation. They want to see a clear development feasibility study, realistic project cashflow projections, a breakdown of development costs, and evidence of DA approval or at least a development application lodged with council. Council approval, also known as development approval, is a key milestone that many lenders require before they will commit to full funding.
Your business financials will also be reviewed, particularly if you are an experienced developer with a track record. For those newer to property development, lenders will place greater emphasis on the quality of your builder, your project documentation, and the strength of the development itself. Presale finance, where a lender requires a certain number of presales to end buyers before releasing funds, is common in the apartment and townhouse space and can directly affect your development loan amount.
At Balcombe Financial, we take the time to understand your full situation before approaching lenders. We look at your development borrowing capacity, your existing assets, your development equity, and the overall structure of your project. This helps us identify which lenders are most likely to support your development project finance needs and at what development rates.
Why Work With Balcombe Financial?
Property development success depends on more than just finding a lender. It depends on having the right funding structure in place from the start, one that accounts for potential cost overruns, a realistic development timeline, and a clear development exit strategy. Balcombe Financial brings a practical, grounded approach to development funding, helping clients across Bayside and Australia realise their vision without unnecessary complexity.
We work with a wide panel of lenders, including banks and non-bank lenders who specialise in project funding. This means we can help you compare development rates, loan structures, and lender requirements across multiple options rather than being limited to a single institution. If you are also exploring construction loans or investment loans as part of your broader property strategy, we can help you look at how these products might work alongside your development finance facility.
For developers who are self-employed or whose income structure is more complex, we can also explore low doc loans or self-employed loans that may complement your development borrowing. And if you are at the early stages of building your property portfolio, understanding vacant land loans may be a useful first step before moving into full development finance territory.
Balcombe Financial is committed to helping you fund property development in a way that is clear, considered, and suited to where you are right now. We respect that your time is valuable and that development projects come with real financial pressure. Our role is to remove the complexity, connect you with the right lenders, and help you complete your development with confidence.
Step 1: Initial Conversation
We start with a relaxed, no-obligation chat to understand your situation, your goals, and what you're looking to achieve. No paperwork, no pressure.
Step 2: Fact Find & Assessment
We take a closer look at your finances, including income, expenses, assets and liabilities, so we can understand your borrowing position and tailor our approach accordingly.
Step 3: Loan Strategy & Lender Selection
Drawing on our panel of over 40 lenders, we identify the most suitable options for your circumstances and present you with clear, comparable recommendations.
Step 4: Application Preparation
Once you're happy with the direction, we prepare and package your application thoroughly, making sure everything is in order before anything is submitted to a lender.
Step 5: Lodgement & Approval
We lodge your application and manage the process with the lender from start to finish, keeping you updated along the way so you're never left wondering what's happening.
Step 6: Formal Approval & Signing
Once your loan is formally approved, we walk you through the loan documents so you understand exactly what you're signing and what comes next.
Step 7: Settlement & Beyond
We stay with you through to settlement and beyond. Whether you have questions down the track or your circumstances change, we're always here to help.
Balcombe Financial has been absolutely helpful throughout the process of my construction loan. Amazingly proffesional and responsive. Michael is full of knowledge and knows his proffesion very well. Would highly recommend Balcombe Financial. Thank you Michael.
James O'Haire
We were extremely happy with the service and outcomes provided by Michael Flinos and Balcombe Financial. Michael gave us confidence early in the process as he worked with us to understand the complexity of our portfolio of loans. Michael then found solutions that best suited our needs, provided considerable savings and improved our flexibility. We are thrilled with the refinancing outcomes Michael enabled us to achieve and are we pleased to have Balcombe Financial as one of our trusted advisors. In addition to the excellent outcomes Michael was great to work with and helped us maintain momentum when the other challenges of life distracted us. In our next project with Balcombe Financial Michael is assisting us with a new project and our overall financing strategy. Very professional, client focussed, easy to work with and highly recommended.
Andrew O'Brien
Michael was fantastic to deal with and got my complicated financials sorted out and finance approved without any fuss. Would highly recommend.
Terry Wheeler
I have known Michael Flinos for more than a decade. Michael is a true Professional who is an authentic, subject matter expert in his domain and has great knowledge in the Financial services space and is extremely thorough and diligent. In all my dealings with Michael, I have been impressed with his knowledge, his ability to research products which are fit for purpose and his can do nature. He has a friendly and polite demeanor and is always prepared to go the extra nine yards to get the job done. I would not hesitate to recommend Michael's services to anyone who is looking for a commercially compelling solution to their requirements.
Bill Keramidas
The timeframe for a home loan application can vary depending on the lender, the complexity of your situation, and how quickly supporting documents are provided. In general, once a formal application is submitted, lenders may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to assess and provide a decision. At Balcombe Financial, we work to keep the process moving as efficiently as possible by preparing your application thoroughly from the start and staying in regular contact with the lender on your behalf. We will keep you updated throughout the process so you always know where things stand and what to expect next.
Absolutely. Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and it can feel overwhelming when you are not sure where to start. At Balcombe Financial, we work with first home buyers regularly and understand the questions and concerns that come with the process. We take the time to explain how home loans work, what to expect at each stage, and what government grants or schemes you may be eligible to explore. We do not make assumptions about what you already know, and we are always happy to answer questions no matter how basic they may seem. Our aim is to make sure you feel prepared and supported.
A mortgage broker acts as the link between you and a range of lenders, including banks, credit unions, and non-bank lenders. Rather than you having to approach each lender individually, a mortgage broker does the legwork on your behalf. At Balcombe Financial, we take the time to understand your personal situation, your goals, and your financial position before researching loan options that may suit your needs. We handle the paperwork, communicate with lenders, and guide you through each step of the process. Our role is to make the home loan process more manageable and to help you feel informed and confident at every stage.
While the exact documents required can vary depending on your situation and the lender, there are some common items that most applications will require. These typically include proof of identity such as a passport or driver's licence, recent payslips or tax returns to confirm your income, bank statements showing your savings and expenses, and details of any existing debts or liabilities. If you are self-employed, you may need to provide additional documentation such as business financial statements or tax assessments. At Balcombe Financial, we will walk you through exactly what is needed for your specific application so you can gather everything in an organised way and avoid unnecessary delays.
Balcombe Financial assists clients with a broad range of lending needs. This includes home loans for owner-occupiers, investment property loans, refinancing existing loans, construction loans, and loans for self-employed individuals. We also assist with commercial lending for business owners. Whether you are purchasing your first home, looking to grow a property portfolio, or exploring options for your business, we can help you understand what may be available to you. Every client's situation is different, so we always start with a conversation to understand your specific needs before exploring what options might be worth considering.
When you go directly to a bank, you only see the products that particular bank offers. At Balcombe Financial, we work with a wide range of lenders, which means we can present you with a broader selection of loan options to compare. We take the time to understand your circumstances and help you weigh up your choices in a way that makes sense for your situation. Beyond that, we handle much of the communication and administration involved in applying for a loan, which can save you a significant amount of time and effort. Our goal is to make sure you feel supported and well-informed throughout the entire process.
Not at all. While Balcombe Financial is based in Bayside, Victoria, we work with clients right across Australia. Thanks to phone, email, and video calls, we are able to provide the same level of personalised service to clients regardless of where they are located. Whether you are in regional Victoria, interstate, or anywhere else in the country, we are well-equipped to assist you with your lending needs. We believe that access to quality mortgage broking support should not be limited by geography, and we are committed to making ourselves available and accessible to clients no matter where they call home.
Refinancing means replacing your existing home loan with a new one, either with your current lender or a different one. People refinance for a variety of reasons, such as looking for a loan with different features, consolidating debt, or accessing equity in their property for renovations or other purposes. Whether refinancing makes sense for your situation depends on a number of factors, including your current loan terms, any fees involved in switching, and your financial goals. At Balcombe Financial, we can help you review your current loan and compare it against other options so you can make an informed decision. We will always be upfront about the costs and considerations involved.
A fixed rate home loan locks in your repayment amount for a set period, which means your repayments stay the same regardless of any changes in the broader lending environment during that time. This can make budgeting more predictable. A variable rate loan, on the other hand, can change over time in line with lender decisions, which means your repayments may go up or down. Some loans also offer a split option, where part of your loan is fixed and part is variable. Each option has its own advantages and trade-offs depending on your circumstances and priorities. At Balcombe Financial, we can help you understand the differences and think through which structure may suit your needs.
In most cases, our mortgage broking service comes at no direct cost to you as the client. Balcombe Financial is typically paid a commission by the lender once your loan settles. We are required by law to be transparent about how we are paid, and we will always disclose this information to you clearly before you proceed. This means you can access our knowledge, support, and lender connections without paying out of pocket for the service. If there are any situations where a fee may apply, we will always discuss this with you upfront so there are no surprises along the way.
If you are looking to fund a property development project and want to understand your options, Balcombe Financial is here to help. Book an appointment with our team today and let us help you find the right development finance solution for your project.
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