Construction & Development Finance
Fund the build — from the slab to settlement.
Ground-up construction and property development, residential to commercial. We compare development finance with access to a panel of 60+ lenders and structure drawdowns around your build program and cash flow.
What is construction & development finance?
Development finance is its own discipline — lenders assess the project, not just the borrower, and how the facility is structured against your build program matters as much as the rate.
It funds the building or developing of property, from a dual-occ or a handful of townhouses to commercial and mixed-use projects. Because the money pays for work as it happens, the facility is drawn down in stages rather than handed over at once — and approval hinges on feasibility, presales or lease covenants, builder credentials and a clear exit. We package your project for the lenders whose appetite actually fits it, instead of a scattergun of applications that collect knock-backs.
What we finance
- Residential development — dual-occ, townhouses, small-to-medium unit projects.
- Commercial & industrial — owner-occupied builds and commercial development.
- Mixed-use — combined residential and commercial projects.
- Owner-builder & construction — progress-drawn funding for the build itself.
How construction finance works
Rather than one lump sum, the facility is released in stages against your build program — and you typically pay interest only on the funds drawn so far, keeping holding costs down while work is underway.
| Stage | What it funds |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Land / initial commitment |
| Slab | Site works and foundation |
| Frame | Structural frame |
| Lock-up | Walls, roof, windows, doors |
| Fit-out | Internal fit-out and services |
| Completion | Final works and handover |
We structure drawdowns so they line up with your builder's payment schedule — no funding gaps mid-build.
Feasibility & what drives pricing
Development lending is priced on risk and project quality. What moves it:
- Project type & scale — residential, commercial or mixed-use, and the number of dwellings.
- Leverage — against total development cost or gross realisation.
- Presales or lease covenants — de-risking the exit for the lender.
- Experience & builder — your track record and a credible, well-contracted builder.
- Exit strategy — sale or refinance to a term facility on completion.
Any figures on this page are indicative only and do not constitute a formal finance offer or approval.
What lenders assess
A development lender is funding a project's completion, so they want feasibility that stacks up, a sensible leverage position, a credible builder and contract, and a clear exit. Present those well and the deal moves; present them poorly and it stalls. We frame the feasibility, program and exit the way each lender wants to see it before anything is lodged.
Get a feasibility read
An honest early read on the numbers, in under 90 seconds.
Common questions
What is construction and development finance?
It's funding for building or developing property — from a dual-occ or townhouse project to commercial and mixed-use developments. Rather than one lump sum, the facility is drawn down in stages against your build program, and lenders assess the project's feasibility, not just the borrower.
How does a progress-drawn facility work?
Funds are released in stages that line up with your builder's payment schedule — typically deposit, slab, frame, lock-up, fit-out and completion. You generally pay interest only on the funds drawn, which keeps holding costs down while the build is underway.
Do I need presales or tenants?
It depends on the project and lender. Some residential development lenders require a level of presales; others fund on feasibility and equity. Commercial projects often hinge on lease covenants or an exit strategy. We match your project to lenders whose appetite fits.
How much of the project can be funded?
Development leverage is usually expressed against total development cost or gross realisation and varies widely by project type, experience and lender. We give you a realistic read on feasibility and likely leverage before you commit.
Does the builder matter?
Yes. Builder credentials, a fixed-price or well-structured contract, and a credible program all strengthen the application. Lenders are funding the project's completion, so anything that de-risks the build helps.
What rate will I pay?
Development pricing depends on the project type, leverage, presales or lease position, your experience and the lender. It's set per deal, so the eligibility check is the accurate way to see an indicative range. Any figure here is indicative only and not a formal offer.
Finance tool
Development finance repayment calculator
A rough guide to interest on drawn funds during a build. Adjust the amount, term and example rate — then get a real feasibility read from the eligibility check.
Development finance repayment calculator
Example rate only — not a DeMarque Finance quote. Your actual rate and eligibility come from the eligibility check.
DeMarque Group Pty Ltd trading as DeMarque Finance. Results are indicative only and do not constitute a formal finance offer or approval. DeMarque Finance is authorised Credit Representative 522568 under Australian Credit Licence 384704. Phone 1300 108 751.
Go deeper
Construction & development guides
High-value development finance
The full picture for larger projects.
Prepare a strong development application
Practical tips to lift your approval chances.
Fixed-price vs cost-plus contracts
How your build contract shapes the finance.
What lenders look for
The factors that decide commercial and development deals.
Commercial property finance basics
The standard-finance cousin of development lending.
Owner-occupied vs investment
How end-use changes the assessment.
Your move
See what your business qualifies for.
A personalised indicative outcome in under 90 seconds. No credit check to start, no obligation.
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