Private & Commercial Property Finance Research
Know the numbers before the lender does.
Free education, calculators and research on private and commercial property finance. Not a lender. Not advice.
Start with the types of property finance01
Learn
Plain-English explanations of each type of property finance, the costs and the risks.
02
Model the numbers
Calculators that use government figures with their sources shown, and your own inputs.
03
Optional: send one enquiry
We pass it to finance providers who make their own credit decisions. Only with your consent.
The three questions every private lender asks
- 1
What is the security worth?
Lenders rely on a valuation they commission, not the price you hope for.
- 2
How much are you borrowing against it?
The loan-to-value ratio sets the lender's margin for error.
- 3
How will the loan be repaid?
A documented exit, and a backup if the first one is late.
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Types of property finance
How each one is secured, structured and repaid, what it costs to set up and what to ask before you sign.
The full indexShort-term and private
- First mortgage private loansShort-term loans secured by a first registered mortgage, assessed mainly on the property and the exit.
- Second mortgage loansFunding secured behind an existing first mortgage, unlocking equity without refinancing the senior loan.
- Caveat loansVery short-term funding where the lender protects its interest by lodging a caveat on the title.
- Bridging financeFunding to buy the next property before the current one sells, or to cover a settlement timing gap.
Development and construction
- Construction and development financeProgressively drawn funding for residential and commercial construction, released against verified progress.
- Mezzanine financeSubordinated debt that sits between senior debt and the developer's equity in a project.
- Preferred equity and joint venture capitalCapital that takes an equity position in a project with priority returns or a profit share, rather than lending.
- Pre-development and DA fundingFunding to acquire or hold a site and pay for design, reports and approvals before construction finance.
- Refurbishment financeShort-term funding to buy and improve a property, often released in stages as works are completed.
- Cost overrun and GST funding facilitiesFacilities that fund unexpected cost increases or the GST payable during a project, alongside senior debt.
- Land and residual stock loansLoans against vacant land, sites awaiting approval, or completed but unsold dwellings.
Commercial and specialised
- Commercial property loansFinance for offices, retail, industrial and specialised commercial assets, assessed on income and lease profile.
- Business funding secured by propertyFunding for business needs, including tax debts and creditor pressure, secured against real property.
- SMSF property lendingBorrowing by a self-managed super fund to buy property, which must follow strict superannuation rules.
- Vendor financeArrangements where the seller lends part of the purchase price to the buyer instead of a lender.
- Low-doc and non-conforming loansLoans for borrowers whose income or credit history does not fit standard bank policy, including regulated loans.
- Rural and specialised asset loansFinance secured by farmland or specialised property such as hotels, childcare centres or service stations.
Featured tool
Repayment calculator
Estimate only. Not a quote, offer or advice.
Enter the loan amount, the rate from your offer and the term.
Assumptions
- The rate stays the same for the whole term.
- Repayments are monthly and fees are not included.
- Privet does not supply interest rates: use the rate in an offer you have received.
How this is calculated
- Monthly rate = annual rate ÷ 12.
- Principal and interest repayment uses the standard amortisation formula: P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n).
- Interest-only repayment = loan × annual rate ÷ 12.
Free. No obligation. Not an application for credit.
General information only. Privet is not a lender, credit provider or mortgage broker and does not provide financial, credit, legal or tax advice.
Education
Contents
Lessons in five parts, a glossary of terms, worked scenarios and a self-test.
- 01FundamentalsHow property lending works, the ratios lenders use and what loans cost.
- 02Security and structureMortgages, caveats, priority, borrower structures and valuations.
- 03The processDocuments, term sheets, exits and working with professionals.
- 04Tax and dutyStamp duty, land tax, GST and foreign investment rules.
- 05Borrower protectionsDefault, hardship, complaints, scams and checking a lender.
- GlossaryScenariosTest your knowledgeStamp duty by stateFAQ
What Privet is, and is not
Privet is
- A free education and information resource
- Calculators that use government-sourced rates and thresholds
- A private, browser-only workspace for your own scenarios
- An optional way to pass one enquiry to finance providers, with your consent
Privet is not
- Not a lender, credit provider or mortgage broker
- Not financial, credit, legal or tax advice
- Not a ranking, rating or endorsement of any lender or product
- Not an application for credit, and no outcome is promised
Free. No obligation. Not an application for credit.