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Property Development Finance

Property development projects in New Zealand often require a different funding approach than standard property lending. The structure, timing and risk profile are different, which means the funding needs to be tailored to the project.

At Vive Capital, we help developers secure funding for land acquisition, construction and development projects. This may include funding through banks, non-bank lenders or private capital depending on the structure of the deal.

Some projects fit traditional lending. Others require a more flexible approach. Our role is to understand the project and structure funding around the opportunity.

Development projects we help fund

We work with a range of property development scenarios, including townhouse projects, subdivisions and staged developments. Some clients are experienced developers, while others are completing their first project.

Funding may be used for:

  • Land acquisition for development

  • Townhouse and unit developments

  • Subdivision projects

  • Build-to-sell developments

  • Small to medium developments

  • Multi-stage development projects

  • First-time developers

  • Projects requiring flexible structures

Each project is assessed on its own merits, including feasibility, team experience and exit strategy.

What lenders typically look at

When assessing property development finance, lenders usually focus on a few key areas. These help them understand both the strength of the project and the risk involved.

This typically includes:

  • Total development cost

  • Loan to cost ratio

  • Loan to value ratio on completion

  • Project profitability

  • Developer experience

  • Strength of the team

  • Exit strategy

A strong feasibility and clear funding structure can significantly improve the chances of approval.

Flexible funding structures

Not all development projects fit inside traditional bank policy. Some require staged funding, interest capitalisation or multiple lenders.

Depending on the project, funding may include:

  • Bank development finance

  • Non-bank development lending

  • Private funding

  • Mezzanine finance

  • Staged drawdown facilities

  • Residual stock lending

  • Bridging finance for site acquisition

The right structure depends on the project and timeline.

Talk to us early - when to look at development finance

The best time to review funding is early in the process. This allows the project to be structured correctly before commitments are made.

We can help when you are:

  • Assessing a development site

  • Reviewing a feasibility

  • Negotiating a purchase

  • Preparing for consent

  • Getting ready to build

  • Refinancing an existing project

Early planning often creates more funding options.

Discuss your project

If you're planning a development or assessing an opportunity, we can help you understand what funding options may be available and how lenders are likely to view the project.