Business loans for real estate agencies

Ardent Capital Group brings the same method to every client: execution and strategy, clear advice for smart lending, and long-term growth. That means the right lender, structure and timing, straight advice so you borrow with confidence, and today's deal built toward where you want to be tomorrow. We are specialists in helping business owners secure finance to purchase their own property, and we understand the complex structures that often sit around it, including multiple trusts, holding companies and self-managed super funds. Through that work we also understand what the business needs from its cash flow, and where an overdraft or line of credit fits for working capital. A rent roll is an intangible asset, and lumpy sale fee income set against steady recurring management fees is a profile a generalist bank desk often reads conservatively, or values at little because it cannot see the book behind the numbers. Our role is to know which of the more than sixty bank and non-bank lenders on our panel lend against recurring management income and fund rent-roll acquisitions, so you are not approaching each one yourself. We stay on well beyond settlement as you add to the book, open another office or acquire a competing agency. Every figure is subject to serviceability, lender appetite and approval.

It depends on how quickly you need it and what you are willing to offer as security. Unsecured facilities are assessed mainly on trading strength and recurring management income, and can be arranged in days, which suits a limit of $100K to $500K for working capital or a marketing float. Secured facilities, backed by property or the rent roll itself, support larger amounts and price better, and make sense once you are funding a rent-roll acquisition. Most established agencies end up with a mix, and we shape which sits where.

Yes, and this is one of the most common reasons agencies come to us. A rent roll is valued on its recurring management income, so lenders that understand the sector will fund a multiple of the annual management fee income rather than dismissing the book as an intangible. Expect the assessment to weigh the retention rate, the arrears and the quality of the managements, and a deposit or equity contribution is usually required. Bring us the book's numbers early, subject to serviceability, valuation of the rent roll and lender approval.

Yes, and the equipment is normally the security rather than your property. Office fit-out, signage, workstations, servers and office fit-out finance can all be funded new or used, and a whole franchise refresh can go on one facility. Terms are typically matched to the life of the asset, and established agencies can often be assessed on bank statements and BAS rather than full financials. Keeping the fit-out off your overdraft leaves your working capital line free for listings and salaries.

An unsecured facility can often be approved within 48 hours and funded inside a week where the agency is established and the BAS and bank statements are current. Secured facilities take longer, typically two to four weeks, because a valuation is involved. The practical advice is to open the limit before the spring campaign rather than when the portal invoices are already due, so the marketing float never holds a strong run of listings back. Timeframes are indicative and subject to lender appetite and approval.

Yes. Many lenders assess established agencies on 6 to 12 months of bank statements and recent BAS rather than full year-end financials, which suits a business whose accounts lag a strong run of settlements or a recent rent-roll purchase. It works best where the trading account shows regular receipts and the ATO position is current. If you have a payment plan in place, say so early, because several lenders will still proceed when it is disclosed and being met.

Yes. Where a tax bill lands between settlements, a short-term facility can bridge it so the ATO is paid on time and the account is not caught by a lumpy settlement calendar. Lenders will want to see that trading supports the repayments, and a payment plan already in place is not a barrier as long as it is disclosed and being met. We can fund an ATO position on an unsecured facility or fold it into a secured term loan where the numbers suit, subject to serviceability and lender approval.

Yes, and it is a commercial property deal rather than a working capital one. Owning the office takes a rising rent out of your cost base and builds an asset alongside the agency, and the equity can later support a rent-roll acquisition. Owner-occupiers can generally borrow a higher proportion than a passive investor would. Our commercial property team handles these end to end through our office commercial mortgage service.

It depends on your trading, your rent roll and the purpose, but lending here commonly runs from $100K to well into seven figures, and our range extends to $100M for larger groups. For a rent-roll acquisition, the recurring management income the book produces sets much of the number, alongside its retention and arrears. The binding constraint is usually serviceability rather than security, and we shape the funding early so you know your number before you commit.

Most of the time, no. We are paid a commission by the lender once your facility settles. Where a deal requires significant preparation or involves unusual complexity, a small mandate fee may apply. We will always be upfront about this before any work begins.

Although we are based in Sydney, we service clients across all major Australian cities, including Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, along with their surrounding regional areas. Wherever your business is located, we can arrange your finance.

Although our main speciality is property loans for business owners, such as an office property loan for your agency, we also assist with office fit-out finance for agencies and working capital. On asset finance, that covers office fit-out, signage and IT hardware finance for the sales floor. On working capital, we arrange business overdrafts, lines of credit and cash flow funding to bridge the gap between listings and settlements. We also arrange commercial mortgages if you are buying or refinancing your office.