Construction Finance
Construction finance funds the build phase of a new commercial or residential construction project, with money released in stages as your build reaches each certified milestone rather than paid out as one lump sum. Dark Horse Financial arranges construction finance through a large panel of lenders, including banks, non-bank lenders and private financiers who are experienced with staged drawdowns.
Quick Enquiry
Get a free, obligation-free assessment. Usually responds within 2 hours.
How Construction Finance Works
Three steps from your first enquiry to funds being released against your build.
Contact Our Team
Fill out our online form to apply for construction finance. We'll get in touch with you fast to understand your situation and make a recommendation.
Contact Us →Submit Application
We'll expertly handle your application from start to finish. Approval times depend on the lender, the type of finance and the valuation and building documents involved.
Start Application →Get Funded
Once approved, documentation is signed electronically, making settlement fast. With construction finance the funds are then released in stages as each stage of your build is certified complete.
Get Funded →Rated by Our Clients on Google
Construction Finance
Construction finance funds the physical construction of a new commercial or residential building, and rather than a lump sum it's released in stages against certified construction progress, so each drawdown follows a stage being signed off. It funds the build itself, whereas property development finance can also extend to land acquisition and broader project feasibility funding around the build, so if you still need to buy the site that page is the better place to start.
Staged drawdowns
Funds are released at base or slab, frame, lock-up and fit-out as each stage is completed.
Certified progress
Lenders generally require a progress inspection or certificate before each drawdown is paid.
Interest on funds drawn
Interest is typically charged only on what has been drawn down so far, not the full approved facility.
What Can Construction Finance Be Used For?
Construction finance is designed for a build that's ready to start or already underway. It's most commonly used for:
Building new commercial premises your business will occupy itself, such as a warehouse, office or retail space built from the ground up
Funding a builder's or developer's construction costs on a residential or commercial build that's already at construction stage
Covering staged trade and material costs as the build progresses, from foundations and framing through to lock-up and fit-out
Renovating or refinancing an existing completed property is different, and sits with our commercial property loans instead
Construction Finance Options
Alongside build-stage funding, construction businesses often need finance for equipment, cash flow and the gaps between progress payments. These are the options we arrange most often.
Who Is Construction Finance Suitable For?
Construction finance generally suits:
- Builders and head contractors who need funding to carry a project through to completion
- Developers with land and approvals already secured who now need build-stage funding specifically
- Businesses constructing their own new commercial premises from the ground up, not renovating an existing one
- Owner-builders managing their own construction project
- Businesses wanting staged funding that lines up with cash flow, rather than a lump sum drawn and charged interest in full upfront
Am I Eligible?
Every lender has its own policy, but most will want to see these in place before they assess a construction finance application:
- A signed building or construction contract
- Council or development approval (DA) in place
- A licensed builder or contractor engaged
- Your deposit or equity position, measured by the loan-to-value ratio (LVR)
- Servicing capacity to meet repayments during and after the build
Check Your Eligibility
Get a free, obligation-free assessment of your build and funding position before you apply anywhere else.
Quick Enquiry →Case Study: $159k Unsecured Loan to Support a Residential Builder Through the Christmas Shutdown
Challenge: A residential builder had just finished several new builds and their incoming cash was on pause until March, even though contracted work would keep them at capacity right through 2026.
Solution: Building and trade are restricted industries for most lenders, so we went to a lender with a track record of funding construction businesses and arranged a $159,000 unsecured loan.
Outcome: The loan was approved ahead of the Christmas cut-off and the builder went into the break with the cash flow to cover the gap.
Why Choose Dark Horse Financial for Construction Finance?
Dark Horse Financial is a Credit Representative (No. 465325) of Buyers Choice Licencing Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence 509484), part of the Money Quest Group, and we arrange construction finance through a large panel of lenders.
Lenders Who Know Drawdowns
Builder risk and staged drawdown admin is where a lot of mainstream banks slow right down, which is why we work with lenders who deal with construction drawdowns as part of their everyday business.
Banks, Non-Banks & Private
Having banks, non-banks and private financiers to work with means a decline from your bank doesn't have to be where your build stops.
Matched to the Right Lender
We match your project to the one lender whose policy actually fits it, rather than whoever answers first.
Faster, More Flexible Assessment
Usually quicker and more flexible than taking your build to a major bank direct.
10+ Years Trading
More than ten years in business lending and over 1,000 Australian businesses funded in that time.
No-Obligation Assessment
A free initial assessment, with no obligation to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about construction finance, answered directly.
* Disclaimer: Loans and the benefits associated with them are only available to those who have been approved. The information provided on this page is general and does not consider your individual circumstances. It is not meant to serve as a substitute for professional advice, and you should not rely on it for any decisions. Always consult with a professional regarding finance, tax, and accounting matters before making any choices or taking action. Dark Horse Financial Pty Ltd is a Credit Representative No. 465 325 of Buyers Choice Licencing Pty Ltd.