Settlement Times and Approvals with Innovate Funding

When you need funding, time is everything. Missing a settlement date, auction, or contract deadline can cost you real money and real opportunities.

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At Innovate Funding, we specialise in fast approvals and practical settlement timeframes for borrowers and brokers who can’t afford bank delays. Our private lenders focus on the strength of the security and exit strategy, not just tick-box credit scoring, so we can often move when traditional lenders can’t.

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Whether you’re refinancing, purchasing, or unlocking equity for your business, this page explains how long approvals and settlements usually take, what can speed things up, and what you can do to help us move quickly.

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Why Settlement Time Matters

In the current market, settlement delays can:

• Jeopardise a purchase or contract of sale

• Trigger penalty interest or extension fees

• Disrupt development or construction timelines

• Cause cash flow stress in a trading business

• Damage relationships with vendors, agents and counterparties

Private lending is often used when time is critical – to meet a hard settlement date, cover an urgent tax or business liability, or refinance out of an expiring facility. That’s why we’ve built our processes around speed, communication and clear expectations.

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Our Typical Approval and Settlement Timelines

Every deal is different, but the outline below reflects how we usually operate when information is supplied promptly.

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1. Initial Enquiry (Same Day)

• Phone call, email or enquiry form

• We confirm basic details: property type, estimated value, loan amount, purpose, timing and exit strategy

• If it fits our lending scope, we’ll ask for key documents and move straight to indicative terms

Tip: The more complete your summary at the start, the faster we can respond.

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2. Indicative Terms (Often Within 24 Business Hours)

Once we have the basics, we can usually provide high-level, non-binding terms such as:

• Approximate interest rate range

• Indicative LVR

• Estimated fees

• Rough settlement timing

This helps you decide quickly whether a private solution is worth pursuing.

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3. Conditional Approval (Typically Within 24–48 Hours)

After we receive your supporting documents, many scenarios can reach conditional approval within 1–2 business days.

Conditional approval may be subject to:

• Valuation

• Title and company searches

• Confirmation of the exit strategy

• Satisfactory answers to any outstanding questions

Once conditional approval is in place, we can book valuation and instruct legals.

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4. Valuation and Due Diligence (1–5 Business Days)

Valuation timing depends on:

• Property location (metro vs regional vs rural)

• Asset type (residential, commercial, specialised, rural, development)

• Valuer availability and access

In many metro locations, valuations can be completed within 24–72 hours of instruction. Regional or specialised assets may take a little longer.

During this stage we also complete title checks and other due diligence so we can move to formal approval.

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5. Formal Approval & Loan Documents (Within 24 Hours of Sign-Off)

Once valuation and due diligence are complete and satisfactory, we can move to formal approval.

• The lender issues a formal letter of offer

• Once the letter of offer is signed and any upfront fees (such as valuation or legal) are paid, solicitors are instructed

• Loan documents are usually drafted within 24 hours of instruction, subject to complexity and solicitor workload

You and your solicitor review, sign and return the documents so we can book settlement.

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6. Settlement (As Fast As 3–5 Business Days in Many Cases)

From the time valuation is completed and legals are instructed, many straightforward files can settle in 3–5 business days, assuming:

• All parties are responsive (you, your solicitor, any outgoing mortgagee)

• All conditions precedent are met

• There are no title or caveat issues

For urgent caveat and short-term facilities, turnaround can sometimes be faster where the security is clear and the exit strategy is strong.

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Product-Specific Timeframes

The timeframes below are general guides only. Actual timing may be faster or slower depending on the deal.

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First Mortgage Private Loans

Used for purchases, refinances and equity release on residential or commercial property.

• Indicative terms: same day

• Conditional approval: typically 24–48 hours

• Settlement: around 5–10 business days from valuation in straightforward cases

Ideal when you need a competitive private first mortgage but still require speed and flexibility beyond the banks.

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Second Mortgages & Equity Release

Used when there’s an existing first mortgage and you want to access extra equity.

• Indicative terms: same day where information is clear

• Conditional approval: 24–48 hours

• Settlement: often 5–7 business days, depending on consent requirements from the first mortgagee

These can be an effective option for business working capital, tax debts, or short-term cash flow.

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Caveat Loans & Urgent Bridging Facilities

Used for urgent, short-term funding where speed matters more than term length.

• Indicative terms: often the same day

• Conditional approval: sometimes within 24 hours

• Settlement: in some circumstances as fast as 24–72 hours from receipt of full information, subject to valuation and legals

Common uses include:

• Urgent ATO or creditor payments

• Bridging a settlement or contract deadline

• Short-term working capital while sale or refinance is finalised

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Business-Purpose Private Loans

Business-purpose loans secured against property but used to fund trading businesses, acquisitions or restructures.

• Indicative terms: same day

• Conditional approval: 24–48 hours

• Settlement: usually 5–10 business days, depending on structure and security

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What We Need to Move Quickly

You can significantly reduce approval and settlement time by having the following ready:

• Full names and entity details (individual, company, trust)

• Address(es) of all security properties

• Approximate property values and existing loan balances

• Purpose of funds and a clear exit strategy

• Contract of sale (for purchases)

• Recent council rates notice and land tax (if applicable)

• Last mortgage statements for any existing loans on title or screenshots

• For business-purpose loans: a brief summary of your business and how funds will be used

Your broker or adviser can help you gather this information. The fewer gaps we need to chase, the faster we can approve and settle.

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Factors That Can Delay Settlement

We always act as quickly as possible, but some items are outside our control. Common causes of delay include:

• Slow response times from outgoing banks or lenders

• Delays booking valuations in regional or remote areas

• Complex ownership structures not disclosed upfront

• Unregistered building works or title issues

• Late changes to the loan amount, security or structure

• Documents not returned promptly or incomplete solicitor instructions

• Discharges from other institutes

• Clearing existing caveats

We’ll flag issues early and work with you, your broker and your solicitors to keep the file moving.

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Banks vs Private Lenders: Timeframe Comparison

While every case is different, many borrowers come to private lending because banks simply can’t move fast enough.

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​*These timeframes are indicative only and can vary depending on the lender, deal complexity, and responsiveness of all parties.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Settlement Times and Approvals

How fast can you issue an indicative offer?

In many straightforward scenarios we can provide indicative, non-binding terms on the same business day, once we have the key details of your scenario.

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What is the fastest settlement you can do?

In some urgent caveat or bridging situations, where title is clear and information is complete, settlements may occur within a few business days of receiving all required information, valuation and legals. Actual timing depends on property type, location and how quickly all parties respond.

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Do I have to pay anything upfront?

You will usually need to cover valuation and, in some cases, legal costs before loan documents are issued. These are always discussed clearly in our letter of offer so there are no surprises.

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What can I do to avoid delays?

• Respond quickly to requests for information

• Engage a solicitor early and let them know the file is time-sensitive

• Provide clear instructions about settlement dates and contract conditions

• Make sure you disclose any existing mortgages, caveats or credit issues upfront

The more transparent and prepared you are, the smoother the process.

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Can you work to a hard deadline?

In many cases, yes – but only if the requested timing is realistic. We will always give you an honest assessment of whether your target settlement date is achievable given the property type, location and deal structure.

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Do you lend in all Australian states and territories?

Yes, we work with private lenders who cover most Australian states and territories, subject to security type, location and individual lender appetite. Please contact us with your specific scenario so we can confirm.

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Ready to Talk About Your Timeframes?

If you have a contract deadline, refinance expiry or urgent business requirement, now is the time to speak with us. Contact Innovate Funding today to discuss your settlement timeframes and see whether a private lending solution is right for you.

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• Call: 02 8919 3639

• Email: deals@innovatefunding.com.au

• Enquire online: Contact

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We’ll review your scenario, give you realistic approval and settlement expectations, and help you move forward with confidence.