Author: Ben Frietlander

10 Questions Lenders Ask When Funding Property Developments (Part 1) Securing funding for your property development can be challenging , but understanding what information is relevant to your lender can make the process less daunting. This blog post will be the first in a two-part series where we break down some of the critical questions […]

It is well established that settlement default risk increases during downturns in the property market. A settlement default occurs when a purchaser fails to complete the purchase of a property according to the terms of a binding sale and purchase agreement. At ASAP, we have personally witnessed an increase in the number of purchasers attempting […]

Formulating a robust exit strategy is a critical part of the development process. When assessing an application for a development loan, the credibility of a clients’ proposed exit strategy will be reviewed and assessed in detail. There are several ways a developer can exit a construction loan – the most common strategies being: to sell […]

Subdivisions are a common feature in property development. The subdivision process is where a parcel of land is divided into one or more parcels. When complete, a unique Record of Title will issue for each new parcel of land. In our experience, some of the most common issues in development pertain to an inability to […]

In our previous blog we explored key factors property developers should consider when undertaking pre-purchase due diligence. In this blog, we revisit some of those concepts with a particular focus on neighbour consents and approvals. In our experience, neighbours will object to having a property development occur in their back yard. This is not surprising […]

Thorough due diligence is an essential risk mitigation strategy that all purchasers need to undertake before acquiring a property. For developers, it is an opportunity to test a project’s viability and identify key risk items that may impede or prevent a project’s completion and you ability to obtain finance. Due diligence should include an investigation […]

By now, most property developers will be well aware of the credit crunch sweeping through the development finance sector. With limited funds at their disposal, development finance lenders are allocating funds on a preferential basis with a focus on existing client relationships – at the same time, lending criteria is adjusting. Lower LVRs and higher […]

NZ’s largest financial institutions including the RBNZ, Treasury and most major trading banks provide forward guidance on NZ house prices as well as wider-ranging macro forecasts for the housing market. While such predictions make for good reading, they are of limited use when making investment decisions. This is because macro forecasts typically fall into one […]

As a builder or developer, you will know that working in construction means being vulnerable to all kinds of risks, many of which can result in compensation claims or financial loss. The inherently unpredictable and dangerous nature of the work means that you, your employees, sub-contractors, and members of the public are all vulnerable to […]

Property development has been thriving over the past 12 to 24 months. Low interest rates and insatiable demand for housing (from investors and owner-occupiers alike) has spurred one of the most significant construction booms since the 1970s. The industry that was hit hard during the GFC appears to have now fully recovered with a strong […]