Business owners and developers come to us when a development site is part complete and time is not on their side. Delays can be caused by cost overruns, builder changes, variations, presales issues, QS disputes, unexpected planning conditions, or a tight refinance deadline. Contact us today.
When a project is already in motion, you usually need a lender that can assess the current position quickly, understand the security, and structure funding around a realistic exit.
Secured Lending provides short-term secured finance for part-complete development sites with a focus on speed, clarity, and practical requirements.
When Part-Complete Development Finance Makes Sense
Part-complete development funding is typically used to:
- Finish remaining works so you can reach practical completion
- Stabilise cash flow while settlements, refinancing, or sales are finalised
- Pay out an expiring facility or a private investor
- Fund holding costs, interest, and essential construction items
- Bridge a gap caused by updated build costs or a revised program
This type of facility is not about long approval cycles. It’s about certainty and execution when the project is mid-stream—so you can protect what’s already been built and keep momentum.
A Non-Bank Private Lender for Part-Complete Development Sites
As a non-bank private lender, we can be a fit when traditional bank criteria does not align with your timeline or the site’s current status. If you’re looking for a private lender in Australia, the advantage with part-complete development sites is responsiveness and an approach built around the asset, the plan, and the exit—not a slow process that assumes everything is starting from day one.
Benefits of working with a non-bank private lender for part-complete development sites include:
- Faster decisions when you’re facing a deadline or a builder program
- More flexible assessment of project complexity, non-standard sites, or changing circumstances
- Practical focus on current value, remaining works, and exit strategy (rather than rigid box-ticking)
- Direct communication with decision makers so issues can be resolved quickly
- Ability to structure short-term funding for 1 to 24 months, aligned to completion and sale or refinance
At Secured Lending, we speak to clients every week who require finance for projects already underway. If you’re unsure what information a lender will need, we can guide you and help you prepare it so you’re not losing time.
Our Lending Capability and Typical Loan Details
We are specialist private lenders in secured business funding, including secured business loan solutions, private mortgage options (including first mortgage and second mortgage structures), and private bridging finance.
For part-complete development sites, our typical lending parameters include:
- We have funded over $500 million in loans
- We use our own funds for fast decisions and have an internal property valuation team, which allows us to move fast (often within 24 hours)
- Loans from $250k to $10M
- Rates from 9.2% p.a.
- Short-term finance of 1 to 24 months
Speed matters, but so does certainty. The goal is to provide a clear path from today’s position to your exit—whether that is sale, refinance, or completion and stabilisation.
What We Typically Look For on a Part-Complete Site
Every project is different, but borrowers usually get better outcomes when they can provide a clear picture of risk, remaining scope, and how the loan will be repaid.
Common requirements and considerations include:
- Current project status and percentage complete
- Remaining works scope and cost to complete (supported where possible by builder documents or a QS-style breakdown)
- Planning approvals and any updated conditions
- Current debt position, including payout figures and time constraints
- Security details including title, existing encumbrances, and any presales arrangements
- Exit strategy (refinance, sale of completed stock, or staged settlements)
- Evidence of servicing during the term, or a plan for capitalised interest where appropriate
If your site has complexities—such as partially completed civil works, builder replacement, or a revised design—we focus on what’s needed to move forward rather than rehashing what caused the delay.
Locations We Serve Across Australia
Secured Lending is a non-bank private lender servicing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and surrounding metro and regional areas.
If your project is outside the CBD but still in a strong metro or regional corridor, non-bank business loans can be a practical solution where timing and local market conditions require a decisive approach.
Why Borrowers Choose Secured Lending for Part-Complete Development Finance
Part-complete sites are time-sensitive. You often need to protect value that is already in the ground and avoid costly delays. Borrowers choose us when they want:
- A lender that understands construction-stage risk and the realities of mid-project funding
- Fast internal processes supported by our own funds and internal valuation capability
- Loan structures built for short-term outcomes, not long-term bank-style products
- A straightforward conversation about what’s feasible—and what’s required to proceed
If you have a part-complete development site and need private lending to finish works, refinance, or bridge to sale, Secured Lending can assess the opportunity quickly and provide guidance on requirements so you can move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How do you assess a project that’s already mid-construction, not “ready to start”?
We assess the site as it stands today: current completion status, quality of works to date, remaining scope, and the practical risks between now and completion. We’ll focus on what’s needed to get you from the current stage to the exit, including timing, access to trades, approvals, and a realistic contingency.
2) If my builder has been terminated or replaced, is that a deal breaker?
Not necessarily. Builder changes happen. What matters is whether there’s a credible plan to restart and finish: the incoming builder’s capability, a clear remaining-works scope, updated cost-to-complete, and a timeline that matches the proposed loan term and exit strategy.
3) Can funding cover both remaining construction costs and holding costs?
Often, yes—depending on the deal structure and the security position. Many part-complete projects need a mix: essential construction items to reach practical completion, plus holding costs (rates, insurance, interest) so cash flow pressure doesn’t derail the program again.
4) What do you need from me in the first 24–48 hours to move quickly?
Typically: a short project summary, site address and security details, current debt/payout figures, estimated percentage complete, remaining works and cost-to-complete (builder/QS info if available), approvals/conditions, and your intended exit (sale/refinance/settlements). If anything is missing, we’ll tell you what’s most important to prioritise first.
5) If presales have fallen over or settlements are delayed, can the loan be structured around staged exits?
Yes, where the project supports it. If there are staged settlements or sales expected over time, the facility can sometimes be structured to align with those cash inflows—so the loan term and repayment plan match the real sales/settlement timeline rather than an idealised one.
6) How do you handle projects with disputes (QS, variations, or contractor claims)?
We look at whether the dispute prevents completion or sale/refinance. If it’s manageable, we’ll focus on the practical path forward—what must be paid, what can be resolved later, and what needs to be documented so the project can progress without ongoing uncertainty controlling the timeline.
