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Find the right

Construction Loan.

Looking to build your dream home? Then you’ll find our advice & experience invaluable.

Looking to build your dream home?

Building a brand-new home or undertaking a major renovation is an exciting project, but things can get complicated when it comes to financing construction. However, getting expert advice early to make sure your finances are in order will take the stress out of the process, and save you both money and headaches!

Here are a few questions you might have to answer if you plan to build:

  • What’s the maximum build price I should be looking at? 
  • Do I sell first or build first? 
  • Do I have the cashflow to afford rent and the building loan during the construction period?  
  • Is it financially possible to turn my existing home into an investment property? 
  • Which lender and which loan will be best suited to me? 

For over 25 years, our family business has been helping home borrowers structure their finances correctly so that they can build their dream home. Our expert advice and help is free from obligation and won’t cost you a cent, so there’s absolutely nothing for you to lose.

Talk to us today to benefit from our experience and get free expert advice.

A couple walking through their almost built home
Every road block we hit you were determined to push on and find a solution for me, your quick replies to all my emails and texts, you were always available to talk to.

Krysinta Casey

Dan is amazing at explaining the process and not keeping you in the dark about anything. He constantly reassures you on every level and handles any hurdles that may arise without putting the stress onto us.

Tayla Ransley

Dan is amazing at explaining the process and not keeping you in the dark about anything. He constantly reassures you on every level and handles any hurdles that may arise without putting the stress onto us.

Tayla Ransley

Dan is amazing at explaining the process and not keeping you in the dark about anything. He constantly reassures you on every level and handles any hurdles that may arise without putting the stress onto us.

Tayla Ransley

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Easy as 1,2,3!

How to get your best loan approved.

1

Get in Touch.

No commitment. No cost. Just one easy call.

2

We’ll do the research.

Once we know your objective, we’ll do all the research and heavy lifting to find the best solution for you.

3

You’ll get approved.

We’ll discuss your options with you, offer our advice, and when you’re happy we’ll get your loan approved.

Excited Parent
The Best Rates, Guaranteed!

Why use a Multi Choice broker?

Whether you’re buying your first home or building a portfolio of investment properties, talking to a Multi-Choice mortgage broker is a great way to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your situation. And as a completely free service, you’ve got nothing to lose – and a whole load of savings to gain!

1

Better loans.

With decades of experience and industry software on our side, we’re sure to find you a better deal on your loan. We give you access to 60+ lenders under one roof and we compare them for you.

2

Better success.

Over 70% of borrowers use a broker because it’s better doing all your shopping under one roof!  Getting expert advice makes it easy to choose the right lender and get your loan approved first time!

3

No stress.

Putting all the research and paperwork in our hands makes everything easier for you! We’ve been doing this for over 25 years, so we know the application process inside and out.

We’ve been doing

building loans

for over 25 years, and we're good at it!

15K
Loans settled
Australia wide
$5B
In loans
settled
60+
Lenders to
choose from
100%
Completely free
service
Don’t Take Our Word For It

See what other

building loan clients


have to say about our service.

Excellent help in securing finance to build our home for first time home buyers.

Tiffany Beck

Sharyn was a great help and guide for us while we were in the process of buying a home and land package. Did a great work in liaising on our behalf with the bank and organising all documents was a smooth process. Would definitely recommend her service to anyone looking for financial advice. She continues to our Financial Advisor. Thank you Sharyn.

Merlin Mathai Abraham

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My entire experience with Multi Choice has been really positive. They have helped us with a loan to purchase land, got a better interest rate than we expected, and have been super helpful and friendly through the whole process. Thanks!

MaryAnne Geygan

From the first moment Sharyn returned our call I knew we had made the right choice to have her as our broker as we embarked on our journey to build our first home. Sharyn was professional and proactive from the get go and we have certainly found our broker for life. Not only is she professional but you can tell by the way she presents herself that she wants the best for her clients and will achieve all that is necessary to provide them the outcome they need.

Maria Perre

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Calculate your potential savings

Get started with our easy-to-use mortgage calculators.

Our handy calculators can help you to explore multiple options in just a few clicks. Check out our most relevant calculators for buying your first home below or

view all our calculators.

Borrowing
Calculator.

Find out how much you can borrow and what type of property you can afford.

See what you can borrow

Repayment
calculator.

Find out what your minimum home loan repayment will be.

Calculate repayments

Stamp Duty
Calculator.

Find out how much stamp duty you can expect to pay on your new property.

Calculate stamp duty

Budget
Planner.

Find out how much you need to budget to keep up repayments and save for the future.

Plan your budget
Your Questions Answered

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most common questions that people ask about our services and how working with a mortgage broker can help them. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

How is a building loan different from a home loan?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

Building loans are different to standard home loans primarily because the lender only has security over the land whilst they are asked to fund the end perceived value of the house to be built. To limit their risk of having lent out more money than the value of the asset that they hold as collateral security, the lenders do partial drawdowns of the total approved loan and typically pay the builders over five stages of the house construction once that stage has been completed. The borrower is only required to make interest payments on the portion of the loan that has been drawn down to pay the builder. The building loan always starts out as an interest only loan during construction and on completion of the home the lender converts the loan to a regular principal and interest loan.

How does a construction loan work?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

Construction loans are drawn down gradually or paid in stages as the building is erected.  The lenders generally have 5 stages that determine when they will make payments to the builder, but these do differ slightly between lenders.  These 5 stages are:

  • Foundation – earthworks and concrete slab.
  • Frame up – erecting of the frame and roof.
  • Lock-up – installation of windows and doors to ensure house is lockable.
  • Fixing – flooring, plastering and sealing
  • Completion – painting complete with appliances installed.

The lender will check up on the builder during construction by doing partial valuations of the house as it is being built.  These are done at the various stages prior to the release of funds to the builder.  This also becomes a practical form of protection for the borrower, ensuring that the funds handed to the builder were actually spent on the borrower’s proposed dwelling!

What is the process of applying for a building loan?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

While not all lenders operate the same, you can generally expect to follow these 5 steps when applying for a building loan:

  1. Talk to your broker and get your maximum loan pre-approved.
  2. Start looking for land and the house you would like to build.
  3. Get the land and build contract from the builder.
  4. Talk to your broker to finalise your building loan approval.
  5. Upon settlement of the land, you can start building.
Do I have to make payments on the land while my home is being built?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

If you purchased your land for say $550 000 and you already have a “land loan” for that land, the required repayments will be principal and interest. Now, if you are hoping to get a loan to build for $650 000 and the broker submits a fixed price contract to the lender with the loan application, then the lender will convert the repayments on the land loan to interest only.  The reason for this is to assist the borrower with the extra cashflow that will be required for construction whilst they are still either paying rent or paying the mortgage on another home.  

When do I have to make the first repayment on the building loan?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

The lenders can only charge interest on the funds drawn down for the construction.  The first repayment is triggered when the builder makes a claim for the first progress draw upon completion of stage 1 of the construction, which typically is the base stage that includes concrete slab, footings, and base brickwork.  The bank then pays the builder, and the bank starts charging the borrower interest on those funds paid to the builder.  As each phase of the construction is completed the bank charges the interest, and the borrower is expected to make an interest only repayment.  When the loan is fully drawn, the loan converts to a principal and interest repayment.

How do I prepare for cashflow challenges during construction?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

One of the biggest challenges when building your own home is having to fund your existing mortgage or rent while paying for the construction loan. However, only the interest is required to be paid on each portion of the loan that is drawn down for each phase of the construction.  This will help your cashflow a little, but you will need to be careful with your budget if your finances are tight because builders notoriously take longer than promised!  One way to prepare yourself financially is to ask your mortgage broker if you can have your existing home loan changed to reduce your repayments to the absolute minimum.  Here are a few ways that you could achieve this:

  • by converting your existing loan to interest only 
  • or by extending the term of the existing home loan.  
  • Or by consolidating any other short-term loans such as car loans, personal loans and credit cards, into the existing home loan which would have a dramatic positive impact on your cashflow.
Can I make changes to my building contract as it progresses?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

Yes, you can, but you should not plan to!  Any variations to your building contract must be approved by the lender, otherwise you will have to fund any extra building costs out of your own pocket. Where there is a significant increase in funds required, and you don’t have the available cash, you will need to get the broker to relodge an application for further funds and the lender will restart the process of reassessing your eligibility for further credit.  The builder may even be required to stop work until the further funds have been approved. In other words, don’t plan on making any large changes because it can get rather complicated and become a cashflow nightmare!   

What are the different ways to buy from house developers?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

There are two main options when buying a home from a developer. The first is that the house of your choice is built on the developer’s land, and the second is that you acquire the land first and then get a builder to build on your land.

Package 1
The house of your choice is built on the developer’s land which you purchase and finance once the construction is complete.  The developers will generally insist on a non-refundable deposit for you to secure the purchase and construction.  No progress payments or further monies are expected from you until the construction is complete.  At that point you complete the purchase by making the necessary arrangements with your lenders to pay the balance of funds to the developer.

Advantages:

  • Fast build – Because the developer/builder will complete the project without delay to save on interest charged by their lenders for the funds they have borrowed for the project.  The quicker they build, the less it costs them!
  • Your risk of the builder leaving you with a half-finished house is minimised.  You only actually purchase the finished product. 
  • You don’t pay interest on funds borrowed since the loan is not in place until you take possession.  An attractive thought if you are unable to afford the loan repayments plus existing rent.

Package 2
You choose the land you want and purchase it from the developer.  You might need a 10% deposit but that depends on how you present the loan application to the lender.  Please ask our Multi Choice mortgage brokers for assistance.  The balance of the land’s value is to be paid upon settlement of the land purchase contract, after which the builders can commence construction.

The difference here is that you take ownership of the land prior to construction.  That means you will need to pay stamp duty on the land when you transfer it into your name and will need a “land loan” to fund it, unless you can pay cash from the proceeds of a property that you have sold.  Importantly, only once you have taken ownership of the land will the lenders be prepared to release approved funds for construction.  Simply, the lenders won’t let you build a beautiful home and spend their money on land that you don’t legally own because you have no jurisdiction or legal ground to choose whether you get to live in it!  If the house is completed and then the developer does not transfer the property into your name, you will end up with a debt to the bank without a house to live in! So, in short, the lenders will protect themselves by only releasing funds for construction if they have a mortgage over the property, which will basically be protecting you. 

During construction, the bank releases funds to the builder at various stages of the construction, that is; slab down, framework erected, roof complete, flooring and tiling complete and lock-up. This protects the bank and the borrower from a ‘dodgy builder’ who doesn’t plan on spending the money on the agreed construction!

Advantages of Package 2:

  • You will generally have more choice in the design of the home.
  • You have more control in the finish and standard of workmanship since payment is made only if you are happy with the quality of the work.
  • Stamp duty costs may be lower since you only pay transfer fees on the land component.

Do I need a building loan for renovations?
Close FAQOpen FAQ

You don’t necessarily need to take out a specific building loan to make renovations to your existing property provided that you have sufficient equity in the home.  However, there are two very good reasons why you would preferably use a construction loan if you were renovating your existing property.  The first is that you’ll pay a lower interest rate and, the loan will also be structured over a longer repayment period, which means that your minimum required monthly loan repayments will be much lower than if you were to fund it with a short term loan such as a personal loan.  

Secondly, the bank might insist that you use a construction loan!  That happens when you don’t have sufficient equity in the existing home to fund the renovation without relying on the increased value of the home after the renovation.  For example, if you needed $220,000 for the renovation and your existing home is valued at $800,000 and you already owe the bank $560,000, then you would not have enough equity in the home to complete the project if the home loan was increased to a maximum of 80% LVR on an as-is valuation.  Instead, you will have to get the bank to do a valuation on the proposed end value of the house after the renovation.  If the house values at the extra $220,000 with an on-completion valuation of $1,020,000, then the final LVR will be 76% which is below the required 80% level, (without having to pay mortgage insurance on the whole loan.)  The bank will then insist on controlling the loan drawdowns to make sure that their loan to you does not exceed the value of the security property as the funds are withdrawn.  The example is explained again below:

Existing loan $560k/ $800k = 70% LVR (LVR of existing dwelling before the loan)

  • $640k/ $800k = 80% LVR (acceptable LVR for a new loan but with insufficient extra funds available for the renovation; $640k - $560K = $80k available when we require $220k)
  • $220k + $560k/$800k = 97.5% (unacceptable bank LVR with a normal loan)
  • $220k + $560k/$1020k = 76% (acceptable LVR with a building loan)

  If you do have sufficient equity in the home, then you could simply increase your existing home loan sufficiently to cover the cost of the renovation and then control the payments to the builder yourself.  This will of course, make the whole process simpler for you.

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