Land Banking Finance
Access to a nationwide network of 200+ private lenders and specialist funding partners.
Helping developers connect with suitable private lenders for land banking, development sites and pre-development funding across Australia.
Is this your situation?
Land banking finance is often needed where a site has future potential, but the project is not yet ready for standard construction or development funding.
You are holding land for future development
The land may be held while you work through planning, timing, feasibility, pre-sales, rezoning or future development strategy.
You are buying a development site
A short-term private loan may assist with site acquisition where bank timing or policy does not suit the transaction.
The bank will not fund the land
Banks can be conservative when there is no immediate construction approval, income, pre-sales or completed development plan.
You are waiting on DA or planning approval
Funding may be required while planning, permits, design, council or consultant work is being finalised.
You need to refinance an existing land loan
An existing land banking, development site or private facility may need to be refinanced to buy more time.
You need capital for pre-development costs
Funds may be required for planning, consultants, holding costs, rates, interest, permits or site-related costs.
What is land banking finance?
Land banking finance is short-term private funding secured against land being held for future development, subdivision, rezoning, planning approval, pre-development work or resale.
Why land banking can be difficult
Land may not produce income, may not have development approval yet and may require time before construction, sale or refinance is possible.
Where private lenders can help
Some private lenders can assess the land commercially by looking at the site value, zoning, location, development potential, loan-to-value position and exit strategy.
Why banks often decline land banking scenarios.
Banks can be conservative when a borrower is holding land before construction, approval, income or a confirmed development exit.
Banks commonly decline because of:
- No immediate construction approval
- No income from the land
- Rezoning or planning uncertainty
- No pre-sales or project presales
- Longer holding period required
- Vacant land or non-standard security
- The scenario does not fit standard policy
Private lenders approve based on:
- Current land value
- Location and zoning
- Development or subdivision potential
- Loan-to-value position
- Borrower contribution and equity
- Planning status and site strategy
- Clear sale, refinance or development exit
Common land banking finance scenarios.
These scenarios often require fast private lender assessment rather than a full bank-style application process.
Development Site Purchase
Funding to purchase a future development site where bank timing or policy does not suit.
Englobo Land Funding
Private funding for larger land parcels with future subdivision or development potential.
Vacant Land Finance
Short-term finance secured against vacant land, infill sites, acreage or land holdings.
Pre-Development Costs
Funding for planning, consultants, permit costs, holding costs and early project expenses.
Subdivision Land
Funding for sites being held before subdivision, civil works, titles or staged development.
Land Loan Refinance
Refinance options for existing land, site acquisition or private land banking facilities.
Waiting for Rezoning
Funding where land is being held while rezoning, planning uplift or approval is pursued.
Exit via Sale or Refinance
Short-term funding where the exit is sale, refinance, DA approval, subdivision or future construction funding.
Urgent Site Settlement
Fast private funding where a land purchase deadline is approaching and the borrower needs a quick answer.
Land and sites private lenders can consider.
Every lender has different appetite. The goal is to match the land banking scenario with lenders that understand the site type, planning pathway and exit strategy.
Development Sites
Land intended for future residential, mixed-use or commercial development.
Vacant Land
Private funding against vacant land where the location, value and exit strategy support the loan.
Englobo Land
Larger parcels of land with future subdivision or staged development potential.
Subdivision Sites
Land being held before civil works, title registration, subdivision or staged sale.
Acreage
Selected acreage or rural-residential sites where there is strong security value and a clear exit.
Infill Sites
Metro or suburban sites suitable for future townhouses, units or residential development.
Mixed-Use Sites
Sites with residential, commercial or mixed-use development potential.
Commercial Land
Selected commercial or industrial land holdings depending on valuation, location and exit.
What information helps private lenders assess the scenario?
You do not need a full bank-style application to make an initial enquiry, but land banking scenarios need enough detail for lenders to understand the site and exit pathway.
Property Address
The land address and basic property details help lenders understand location and security type.
Land Size and Zoning
The site area, zoning, planning controls and current permitted use help lenders assess the opportunity.
Loan Amount Required
The purchase, refinance, payout, holding cost or pre-development funding amount required.
Current Value
Purchase price, current valuation, agent appraisal or value estimate helps determine the possible LVR.
Planning Status
DA status, permit position, subdivision plan, rezoning pathway or pre-development progress.
Exit Strategy
Sale, refinance, DA approval, subdivision, construction funding or another clear repayment pathway.
Case study: development site held while DA was progressed.
A borrower purchased a well-located infill development site and needed time to progress planning before applying for construction funding.
The bank was not comfortable with the land banking position because the site was not yet income-producing and the development approval was still being progressed.
The scenario was introduced to a private lender that assessed the land value, location, zoning, borrower equity and proposed DA/refinance exit strategy.
A short-term private facility allowed the borrower to hold the site, continue planning and prepare for the next stage of funding.
Case study: englobo land refinance before subdivision.
A borrower held a larger land parcel with future subdivision potential but needed to refinance an existing facility while consultants finalised the subdivision pathway.
The existing lender required repayment before the subdivision was ready to proceed, creating pressure to either refinance or sell the land early.
The scenario was matched with a private lender that could assess the land as security and rely on a future refinance or sale exit.
The borrower refinanced the land, bought time to progress planning and avoided selling the site before the uplift strategy could be completed.
A simple process designed for fast scenario assessment.
The goal is to get your land banking scenario in front of suitable private lenders quickly and receive indicative funding options within 24 hours.
- Submit your scenario
- We match your deal with suitable private lenders
- A private lender will make contact
- Receive indicative funding options within 24 hours
Frequently asked questions about land banking finance.
Common questions from borrowers, developers and land owners considering private funding for land banking, development sites and pre-development scenarios.
What is land banking finance?
Land banking finance is short-term funding secured against land being held for future development, subdivision, rezoning, planning approval or resale.
Can private lenders fund land banking?
Yes. Private lenders can consider land banking scenarios where the land has sufficient value, acceptable location, suitable zoning or future development potential and a clear exit strategy.
Can I get finance for a development site without DA approval?
Yes. Some private lenders can consider development sites before DA approval, subject to the land value, zoning, location, borrower contribution and exit strategy.
Can I refinance a land banking loan?
Yes. Existing land loans, development site loans or private facilities can sometimes be refinanced where the security value and exit strategy support the new facility.
Can land banking finance help while waiting for rezoning?
Yes. Private funding may assist borrowers holding land while waiting for rezoning, planning progress, permit approval or a future sale event.
Do banks lend for land banking?
Banks can be conservative with land banking because there may be no immediate income, no approved project, longer holding periods and uncertainty around planning outcomes.
What types of land can private lenders consider?
Private lenders may consider residential development sites, englobo land, subdivision land, vacant land, acreage, infill sites, mixed-use sites and selected commercial land.
Can I borrow against land to fund planning costs?
Yes. Some private lenders can consider funding secured against land to assist with planning, consultants, permits, holding costs or pre-development expenses.
Do I need full financials or tax returns?
Not always. Many private lenders focus on the asset, valuation, location, zoning, loan-to-value position and exit strategy rather than a full bank-style application upfront.
How quickly can a land banking scenario be assessed?
Indicative responses can be obtained within 24hrs where the borrower provides the address, land value estimate, loan amount, zoning, site status and exit strategy.
What information is needed for an initial assessment?
Useful information includes the property address, land size, zoning, purchase price or current value, existing debt, loan amount required, planning status and proposed exit strategy.
Who contacts me after I submit the scenario?
Once the scenario is reviewed and matched with suitable lending partners, a private lender or their representative can contact you directly to confirm requirements, structure and next steps.
Related development finance scenarios.
Every development project is different. Explore other private development finance scenarios that may also match your situation.
Funding Problems
Construction & Development
Land, Planning & Civil Works
Need funding for land banking or a development site?
Submit the key details of the land, zoning, loan amount, planning status and exit strategy so the scenario can be matched with suitable private lenders.
Submit your land banking finance scenario.
Send through the key details of the land, zoning, loan amount, planning status, current value and exit strategy.