Development Finance Options For Inexperienced Property Developers

One of the biggest challenges that new property developers face is accessing enough money to finance their project. Getting the right finance in place can be a major hurdle for new developers. This is because most lenders are reluctant to lend to inexperienced property developers due to the amount of risk involved.

If you are looking to break into property development the good news is that securing finance may not be an issue depending on your proposed project.

At Clifton Private Finance we pride ourselves on helping inexperienced developers secure the finance they need to help them on their way to property developing. We ensure that your time and effort is not wasted on organising finance and is focused on what matters the most: your project.

Finance Options

If you require a source of finance to assist on your development you may benefit from contacting a specialist property finance broker.

Specialist property finance brokers have access to various routes to finance that are not available to the general public. Through a specialist property finance broker you can access multiple financial products that could make your dream project a reality.

Short Term Finance

Short term finance or bridging finance provides fast, short term secured borrowing that offers an alternative option for inexperienced property developers to acquire the funding they need. There are a number of lenders that will consider inexperienced developers on a case by case basis.

Bridging loans can assist new property developers because they:

• Typically, offer up to 65% of loan to value ratio
• Can be accessible within a few weeks  depending on your circumstances
• Have flexible terms of finance, from 1 to 36 months

Bridging loans are popular with property developers, as there is normally the option to take the money in instalments and only pay interest on the capital already taken. This helps to keep the cost of borrowing down, while still ensuring the money needed is available at the right time.

Alternatively, the total interest of the bridging loan can be rolled up to be paid at the end of the term of finance. This eliminates monthly interest payments and enables property developers to spend their budget on the project, not their repayments. 

Property developers use bridging loans for a variety of projects including:

• Buying development sites when their capital is tied up in existing projects
• Buying renovation or change of use projects which are unmortgageable
• Buying property at auction to redevelop
• Build to let projects
• Self-build home developments

Bridging loans offer an attractive alternative to traditional sources of finance, if you decide to obtain a bridging loan it is advisable to contact a specialist property finance broker.

Joint ventures allow the inexperienced developer to access funding and build their portfolio at the same time, making it easier to secure finance in the future.  

The benefit for inexperienced developers is that lenders who are willing to enter into joint ventures usually have funds readily available, which minimises the likelihood of any delays in accessing the finance.

What inexperienced developers can get from a joint venture varies in a case by case basis and depends on who the joint venture is with.

Typically joint ventures may provide:

• Alternative finance which can range between £250,000 and £2m
• Finance up to 50% of the Gross Development Value
• Up to 100% of the building costs
• A contribution towards the purchase price
• Generally up to 24 months term of finance

There is no set interest rate with a joint venture and the rate itself will depend on the lender, though it is common for lenders to ‘roll up’ interest to be paid at the end of the term of finance.

It is important to note that a joint venture will usually mean a percentage or split of the profits of the project.  

However, there are some lenders who are willing to enter into a joint venture with an inexperienced developer without profit sharing, but they will normally require the following:

• percentage of the purchase costs
• contribution towards the building costs
• putting up an existing property

If you decide to enter into a joint venture you may wish to speak to a specialist property finance broker to explore your options.

How to Access Finance for Property Development

Are you an inexperienced property developer looking for alternative financial solutions? To investigate your finance options call our team on 0117 959 5094 or fill in our call back form below.