Development Finance Rates Explained

Property development involves a lot of risk, so lenders often charge a high interest rate for development finance to balance that risk. It’s not unusual to be offered a rate in the double figures.

However, a more competitive deal can be secured. We’ll explain the factors that matter and how to influence them.

Here are the topics we’ll cover…

Typical interest rates for development finance

Development loan rates can vary significantly. To provide a rough idea, the typical rate for a loan above £500,000 would be around 3%-3.5% above the Bank of England base rate; below £500,000, it would be around 4%-4.5% above.

These interest rates are much higher than those for residential or commercial mortgages. However, development loans are usually much shorter in term (usually under 3 years, compared to 25 years for mortgages), so the total amount of interest you pay, relative to the loan size, could be less.

You should also be aware that some development finance lenders advertise their annual interest rate (which will be around the figures stated above) but others advertise their monthly interest rate, which will appear a lot lower. For example, 6% per annum is 0.5% per month.

Compare current rates

Without knowing some details of the size of the loan you need, the project you’re financing, or your background, we can’t tell you what rate you’d be offered from a specific lender. However, we’ve put together the development finance comparison table below to help you understand where the range might begin.

If you hope to secure an interest rate at the lowest levels, working with a broker who can help compare rates across the market and help with your application would be sensible. Otherwise, you may pay much more.

 How a broker can help you to get the best rate

A final factor that will contribute to the interest rate you’ll secure is the broker you work with. This is the factor you have the most control over. For example, if you don’t have a substantial deposit or have no previous developer experience, these things are difficult to change. But a broker can help you to find the best high-LTV deal, or the best deal for first-time developers.

A broker will help you by comparing every deal you’re eligible for, including those you might not be able to find yourself, and working with you on your application to give you the best chance of success.

There are countless brokers out there, but their level of skill and experience varies. If you’d like to speak to a broker who’s been trained and vetted by us, get in touch.

Factors that determine your rate

The interest rate for your loan could be significantly higher or lower than the typical rate, depending on factors including:

• Size of loan. Larger loans typically have lower rates than small loans.
• Type of financing. Bridging loans, mezzanine, and joint venture finance have different typical rates.
• Deposit size. You’ll usually pay a higher interest rate if you have a small commercial deposit.
• Development location. Not all lenders finance projects in all regions, so you may be unable to choose from the lowest rates.
• Gross development value (GDV). Projects with a high GDV will likely have a lower rate.
• Your experience. Many lenders will only consider applications from developers who have completed two or three successful projects. First-time developers will pay much higher rates.
• Your credit history. You may sometimes be charged a higher rate if you have a poor credit history.

A developer with a large deposit, good track record, credit history, and business plan should qualify for the best development finance rates.

Other costs and fees involved

Development finance costs are much higher than a typical mortgage. As well as the interest on the loan, you should be prepared the pay all or some of the following:

Get matched with a development finance broker

It’s best to find a broker who specialises in projects like yours, whether they’re under £1 million or over £5 million, commercial or residential projects, or 100% development finance deals.

We offer a service designed to match you with the development finance broker best suited to your needs. If you’d like to try it, we just need to take a few details about you and your project. Give us a call on 0330 818 7026 or enquire online today.