If you’re buying a serviced apartment investment, timing is rarely relaxed. You might be negotiating a sharp price with a tight settlement, juggling release of funds from another asset sale, or needing capital to upgrade and stabilise occupancy before refinance. That’s where bridging finance for serviced apartments becomes practical: it fills a short-term funding gap so you can secure the asset now, then move to longer-term funding once the dust settles. Contact us today to discuss your scenario.
Why bridging finance suits serviced apartment acquisitions
A serviced apartment purchase can be simple on paper and complicated in practice. The asset often sits between “residential style” and “commercial performance”, and the finance path can depend on how it’s titled, how it’s operated, and what the income looks like right now versus after improvements.
Bridging finance is designed for those in-between moments. It’s short-term capital secured by property, structured to get you to settlement (or stabilisation) quickly, then give you room to refinance or exit via sale.
Key benefits when you’re acquiring serviced apartment investments include:
- Speed when settlement is non-negotiable. If you’re facing an urgent settlement, a bridging loan can help you settle while your longer-term funding catches up.
- Confidence to negotiate. When you can move fast, you can often negotiate harder on price and terms because you’re not waiting on slow approvals.
- Flexibility around timing gaps. Common gaps include waiting for another property to sell, waiting for a lease or management agreement to be finalised, or waiting for improvements to lift value and rental performance.
- Funding to execute value-add. Serviced apartments can benefit from targeted upgrades—furnishings refresh, minor refurb, compliance items—so you can lift rates and occupancy, then refinance from a stronger position.
- Cleaner refinance pathway. After purchase and stabilisation, you can refinance into a longer-term facility that is priced and structured around the now-proven performance.
In short: bridging finance isn’t “extra debt.” It’s a tool to control timing and reduce friction when the opportunity is time-sensitive. For more information on this type of funding, see our commercial bridging finance page.
Where acquisitions commonly stall without a bridge
Most delays aren’t about the quality of the asset. They’re about timing and documentation. You’ll often see hold-ups when:
- The seller wants a short settlement and your bank process won’t fit that window
- You’re mid-sale of another property and the settlement dates don’t align
- The property needs work before it qualifies for your preferred long-term lender
- The income profile is changing (new management agreement, repositioning, tariff strategy), so the “future” case is strong but the “today” case needs time
This is where a secured business loan that is built for speed can protect the deal and give you breathing room.
How Secured Lending helps you acquire serviced apartment investments
You don’t need generic lending talk. You need a clear plan to get you from “accepted offer” to “keys in hand,” with an exit strategy that makes sense.
At Secured Lending, we focus on short-term funding that solves immediate timing problems. We coordinate the moving parts, confirm what’s realistic early, and structure a bridging loan that matches your settlement date and intended exit.
Here’s what that typically looks like in practice:
- We review your scenario quickly. Purchase price, settlement date, security property, and your exit (sale, refinance, or another capital event).
- We structure the bridge around the real-world timeline. Not an ideal timeline—your actual deadline.
- We coordinate valuation and documentation efficiently. So you’re not waiting weeks to find out whether the deal is workable.
- We keep the facility outcome-driven. The goal is straightforward: get you to settlement, then get you out cleanly.
For the right transactions, we can arrange Fast, same day settlement and funding within 24 hours. That matters when your solicitor is calling, the vendor is pressing, and you need certainty.
Funding amounts and pricing that match serious acquisitions
Serviced apartment investments can be substantial, and your funding needs may not stop at purchase. We can structure facilities that allow you to borrow up to $10million, depending on the security and scenario.
We also keep pricing transparent. In some cases, an interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a may apply (your rate will depend on the property, LVR, risk profile, and timeframe). The point of a bridge is not to be “cheap money.” It’s to be decisive money—then refinanced once the asset is stabilised.
Private Lender options for urgent serviced apartment settlements
When you need certainty and speed, working with a private lender urgent solution can be the difference between securing the asset and watching it go to another buyer.
Secured Lending is a Private Lender in Australia and we operate Australia wide: Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra. We are a non-bank lender, which means we can often move faster and be more practical around timeframes and complex scenarios—especially where a traditional lender’s process doesn’t match your settlement reality.
If you’re dealing with an emergency timing gap—like a delayed sale, a last-minute bank condition, or a compressed settlement—we can step in with a bridging structure that is built to meet the deadline, not miss it.
What you can expect when you engage Secured Lending
You’ll get a process that’s geared for speed and clarity:
- We confirm whether your security property supports the loan size you need
- We map your exit and align loan term to that exit
- We move quickly toward approval and settlement so you can meet your deadline
- We stay focused on a clean transition to your next step (sale or refinance)
This approach is why borrowers use bridging finance strategically—especially when the deal is strong, but the timing is tight.
FAQs
1. Can I use bridging finance to acquire a serviced apartment investment before refinancing later?
Yes. This is a common use case: settle quickly with a bridge, then refinance after you’ve improved performance, finalised operations, or met a longer-term lender’s requirements.
2. How fast can a bridging loan settle for a serviced apartment purchase?
Depending on the deal, we can facilitate Fast, same day settlement and funding within 24 hours. Timing depends on valuation access, documents, and how quickly legal parties can move.
3. What does Secured Lending look at when assessing a serviced apartment bridging loan?
We focus on the security property, your settlement timeframe, and the credibility of your exit strategy (sale or refinance). We also review the purchase details and any planned improvements.
4. Can bridging finance help if my bank is too slow and I have an urgent settlement?
Yes. If your bank timeline doesn’t match the contract, a bridging facility can cover the gap so you can settle, then you can refinance when longer-term funding is ready.
5. How much can I borrow for a serviced apartment acquisition?
Loan size depends on the scenario and security, but we can structure facilities where you can borrow up to $10million.
6. Is bridging finance only for emergencies, or can it be used strategically?
Both. Some borrowers use it for an emergency timing issue; others use it strategically to secure a discounted purchase, complete upgrades, and refinance from a stronger position.
How We Can Help
If you’re acquiring a serviced apartment investment and the timeline is tight, we can review your scenario, confirm what’s achievable, and structure a bridging loan that gets you to settlement with a clear exit plan. Secured Lending is a short-term lending solution you can rely on. When you’re ready, our team is here to help you move quickly and confidently. Our team specialises in urgent short term loans solutions.
