Construction finance

Funding that draws down as you build.

Construction finance releases money in stages as the build hits each milestone. We place it with lenders who verify and pay draws quickly, so the site keeps moving.

Loan size

To $30M

Settlement

In days

LVR

To ~80% TDC

Term

12–24 months

Indicative only. As brokers we place your deal with the right private lender; final terms are set by that lender.

Sized to the build, drawn as you go.

Construction finance pays for the physical build. Unlike a normal mortgage that hands over the full amount at settlement, the money is released in stages, called progress draws, as the build reaches set milestones: slab, frame, lock-up, fixing, and practical completion. A quantity surveyor inspects the work and signs off each claim before funds are released.

Two numbers set the loan size. GRV is the gross realisation value, what the finished property is worth. TDC is the total development cost, land plus build plus fees and interest. Lenders lend to a percentage of each and take the lower figure, commonly up to about 70% of GRV or 80% of TDC. Because you borrow against the finished value, you can get further than the current value of a bare site would allow.

We arrange facilities for single dwellings, small multi-unit projects, and commercial builds up to $30 million. Interest is charged only on what has been drawn, so early-stage holding costs stay low. For larger or multi-stage projects, our development finance is the better fit.

What it looks like

  • Progress draws aligned to your build program
  • Independent quantity surveyor sign-off on each draw
  • Loan sized against gross realisation value and total development cost
  • Interest charged only on funds drawn
  • Terms of 12 to 24 months
  • Land and construction together, or construction alone

Who this is for.

Residential builds

Fund a new home or dual occupancy from slab to completion, with draws released quickly so the builder stays on site and on program.

Commercial construction

Build offices, retail, or warehouse space with a facility set to the project timeline rather than a bank's internal queue.

Knockdown rebuilds

Fund demolition, construction, and holding costs on an existing site under one facility, drawn stage by stage.

Construction is where speed matters most. A bank can take weeks to sign off a draw; the private lenders we use verify and pay in days, which is often the difference between staying on site and the job stalling. Send me the plans and the build contract and I'll tell you quickly who can fund it and on what terms.
Rory McGrath
Rory McGrath

Founder and Managing Director, Aurelius Private

Common questions.

Your builder submits a claim when a stage is finished. A quantity surveyor inspects the work and certifies the claim, then the lender releases that draw, usually within 2 to 3 business days. You only pay interest on what has been drawn so far.
Not necessarily. A facility can cover both the land purchase and the build. The land portion is drawn at settlement and the construction draws follow as the build progresses.
GRV is gross realisation value, what the finished property will sell for. TDC is total development cost: land, build, professional fees, and interest. Lenders lend to a percentage of each and take the lower number. Borrowing against the finished value is why construction finance reaches further than a loan against the bare land would.
Yes, provided the builder is licensed, insured, and has completed similar work. The lender reviews the builder and the fixed-price building contract as part of the assessment.
Construction finance suits a single build or a small project. Our development finance covers larger, multi-stage projects that run from land and DA through construction to sell-down. To secure a site before you build, see bridging finance.

Construction finance near you

We are based on the Gold Coast and place construction finance for clients right across South East Queensland. Explore by area:

Tell us about your deal.

Send through the scenario. You’ll hear back the same day with who would fund it and roughly what it costs. If it doesn’t stack up as it stands, we’ll say so and tell you what would need to change.