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Development Finance

Fund the build. Not the waiting.

Steer your development project from site acquisition to completion with a funding solution structured around your project’s cost, timeline and exit strategy. Nice Loans helps developers compare suitable lenders, present stronger applications and manage the entire funding process from approval through to settlement.

7.99%* Rate p.a. from
36 mo Maximum loan
term
Capitalised Interest option
available
Land settlement Drawdown 1
Base & slab Drawdown 2
Frame Drawdown 3
Lock-up Drawdown 4
Fit-out & fixing Drawdown 5
Practical completion Final claim

With capitalisation switched on, interest accrues against the facility at each stage instead of falling due monthly, there's nothing to service until completion or sale.

The Facility

What is Development Finance?

Development finance is a short-term lending facility designed specifically for property development projects. Unlike a standard construction loan, which is generally intended for a single owner-occupier home, development finance is structured around the entire project lifecycle. Funding from the financing can cover land acquisition, construction costs, professional consultant fees, council and statutory costs, contingency allowances, and interest, as well as holding costs where capitalised.

Built for developers who need funding to move at the pace of the build, not the bank.

Why This Facility

Three numbers that make a project stack up

Development finance is won or lost on rate, runway and cash flow. Here are the terms we structure the facility around:

01 / RATE

Interest rate from 7.99%*

Pricing is assessed on your project’s strengths, including land value, feasibility, builder experience, presales and exit strategy, rather than a standard rate card.

02 / TERM

Loan terms up to 36 months

Facilities can be structured to accommodate planning approvals, construction, settlement delays and your intended exit without unnecessary time pressure.

03 / CASH FLOW

Interest Capitalisation available

Rather than making monthly interest repayments, interest can be added to the loan balance and repaid when the project is completed. This helps preserve working capital for construction costs, variations and contingencies.

The Process

From feasibility to final drawdown

Nice Loans manages the finance process from initial assessment through to the final discharge of the loan, giving you a single point of contact throughout the project.

1

Feasibility review

We review your development feasibility, construction budget, development approval status and proposed exit strategy to determine the project’s borrowing capacity.

2

Lender matching

Your project is matched with lenders whose policies suit your development type, location, funding requirements and risk profile.

3

Approval & documentation

Once indicative terms are accepted, we coordinate formal approval, valuations, loan documentation and facility structure, including interest capitalisation where applicable.

4

Staged drawdowns

Funds are released at each construction stage following QS certification, from slab through to completion.

5

Completion & exit

At practical completion, the facility is repaid through property sales, refinanced into long-term debt or another agreed exit strategy.

Getting Ready

What Lenders Look For

Preparing a strong application improves both your approval prospects and the terms available. Here’s what to have on hand before your first conversation:

Project Information

  • 01

    Development feasibility and cost report.

  • 02

    Development approval (DA) or a clear approval timeline.

  • 03

    Fixed price building contract with a licensed builder.

Financial Information

  • 04

    Exit strategy, including presales, lease commitments, or refinance plans.

  • 05

    Equity contribution through land value and/or cash.

  • 06

    Previous development experience, where applicable.

Why Nice Loans

National lender access, specialist support

Development finance is relationship lending, the right introduction to the right lender matters as much as the numbers.

01 · Panel Access

Access to a National Panel of Lenders

We work with both bank and non-bank development lenders across Australia, allowing us to match your project with lenders that actively fund your type of development.

02 · Feasibility-First

Strategic Lender Presentation

Before approaching lenders, we review your feasibility, construction costs, project timeline and exit strategy to ensure the application is well-positioned.

03 · Structuring

Negotiated Funding Structure

Rather than simply comparing interest rates, we negotiate the overall facility, including pricing, loan term, leverage and interest capitalisation to suit your project’s cash flow.

04 · Drawdown Support

End-to-End Support

We coordinate lender communication, progress drawdowns and required documentation throughout construction, so you can stay focused on delivering the project.

05 · One Point of Contact

One Dedicated Broker

The broker who structures your finance remains your point of contact from initial assessment through settlement, drawdowns and final repayment.

06 · Track Record

Trusted by Clients

Rated 4.9 stars from more than 111 Google reviews across property purchase, refinance and development lending.

Going direct to one lender vs. structuring through Nice Loans

Going Direct

One lender, one offer

  • Assessed against a single lender's credit policy only
  • Standard rate card, little room to negotiate terms
  • You manage drawdown paperwork and QS liaison yourself
  • If that lender declines, you start the process again from scratch
With Nice Loans

Your project, shopped and structured

  • Presented across a panel of development-focused lenders
  • Rate, term and capitalisation negotiated on the project's merits
  • Drawdowns and QS certification managed on your behalf
  • Fallback lenders already lined up before you'd ever hear “no”
Common Questions

Development finance, explained plainly

A standard construction loan is generally designed for building a single residential home. Development finance is intended for multi-dwelling and commercial projects, with funding structured around the total development cost and a defined exit strategy, such as sale or refinance.

Interest is added to the loan balance during construction instead of being paid monthly. The total balance repaid when development is sold or refinanced, helping preserve cash flow throughout the build. 

Borrowing capacity depends on the lender’s assessment of your project. Facilities are commonly based on a percentage of the total development cost (TDC) or the gross realisation value (GRV), taking into account factors such as equity contribution, presales, builder experience and project feasibility.

Not always. Some lenders will fund projects without presales where the exit strategy involves refinancing or retaining completed properties. For larger developments, presales often improve borrowing capacity and lender appetite.

With a complete application, indicative terms can often be issued within a few business days. Formal approval depends on valuation, due diligence and lender assessment. Having your feasibility report, DA, building contract and exit strategy prepared upfront typically results in a faster approval process.

Have a site or a set of plans? Let's see what it can borrow!

A no-obligation feasibility consultation takes around 20 minutes. Bring your project costs, DA status, and builder’s contract to assess how your project stacks up with our panel of development lenders.

Comparison rate from 7.99% p.a. is indicative only and subject to individual project assessment, security, loan-to-value ratio, presale or exit evidence, and lender credit criteria at the time of application. Loan terms up to 36 months and interest capitalisation are subject to lender approval and may not be available on all facilities. Fees, charges and lender-specific terms and conditions apply. This information is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs , please consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances before proceeding. Nice Loans is a credit representative and can facilitate introductions to Australian Credit Licence holders. Full terms available on application.