Interim Finance: broker-only first and second mortgages for business

Some lenders you can ring on a Tuesday afternoon and some you can only reach through someone else. Interim Finance is firmly in the second group. Its website tells brokers how to get accredited, and it never offers a direct application to borrowers, so the first decision is whether you are working with a broker at all.

That shapes how to read this profile. It sets out what Interim publishes as at October 2026, what a second mortgage from a non-bank looks like for a business owner, who it suits, and what to do if you can’t reach it or it says no. As always, products change and approvals are individual.

What does Interim Finance offer?

Interim describes itself as a non-bank lender of first and second mortgages, and its site also lists a handful of business uses, so it isn’t only a home-loan lender. The second mortgage details it publishes:

Feature	As published
Loan size	$100k to $3m
LVR	70-75%, which may be reduced for vacant land and commercial security
Security	Residential, commercial and vacant land (vacant land metro only)
Lending area	Nationwide
Turnaround	7-10 days
Business uses	Working capital, ATO or creditor debt, business investment

The process runs through four stages: application, assessment, valuation by licensed experts, and agreement before funds are released. To understand why the LVR is calculated the way it is, read our second mortgage glossary entry and try the second mortgage calculator, which shows how the first mortgage and the new loan combine against the property’s value.

Why does the broker-only model matter?

For a borrower, three things follow.

1. You need a broker. Interim’s site says brokers must go through its accreditation to access the second mortgage solutions. If your broker isn’t accredited, they cannot submit directly.
2. The broker is paid by the deal. That isn’t a reason for suspicion, but ask how they are paid and which lenders they compared. Our broker versus direct lender comparison covers the questions to ask.
3. You see less of the lender. Documents, valuation and contract timing often pass through the broker, so choose one who responds quickly.

None of that is good or bad by itself. For a borrower with a complicated scenario, a good broker can shorten the search considerably. For someone who wants to speak directly with the credit decision-maker, a direct private lender may feel simpler.

Trying to work out whether a second mortgage is even the right tool? Describe your plan and your property and we’ll tell you where it fits.

Who is a second mortgage from Interim likely to suit?

• Owners with equity and a cheap first mortgage who don’t want to refinance the lot. A second mortgage leaves the first loan alone.
• Business owners with a time-bound need, such as an ATO bill, creditor settlement or a short-term working capital gap, where the repayment source is clear.
• Property investors in a short-term business investment, repaying from a sale or a refinance.

It suits less well if you need under $100k, if the only security is regional vacant land (it’s listed as metro only), or if you have no clear exit. Because second-ranking security carries more risk for the lender, the cost per dollar borrowed is usually higher than a first mortgage, and a bank is often cheaper when you fit its policy. Our guide to second mortgage business loans explains the trade-off.

What should I check before signing?

1. Total repayable in dollars across the full term, with every fee counted: establishment, valuation, legal and monthly charges.
2. Term and extension. What happens if the sale or refinance is a month late?
3. Priority and consent. Does your first mortgage lender need to consent to a second mortgage over the property?
4. Business purpose declaration. Be accurate about what the money is for; it decides which rules apply.
5. Guarantees. Who signs, and what are they exposed to?

If Interim can’t help

• No broker, or you prefer to deal direct. Private lenders such as Maxiron Capital and Private Mortgages Australia accept direct enquiries or work with brokers.
• Under $100k. Smaller property-backed lenders or an unsecured business loan may fit better.
• Need it faster than a week. A caveat loan can move quicker for the right security.
• Using your home as security. See business loans against your home.
• ATO debt is the issue. Our guide to ATO tax debt business loans covers payment plans as well as finance.

Turn the profile into a plan

It’s easy to get stuck choosing between lenders when the real question is structure: first or second mortgage, caveat or bridging, broker or direct. Our form takes about a minute, doesn’t involve a credit check when you enquire, and stays with one team rather than being pushed out to a crowd of lenders. A real person reads it and calls to talk it through.

Give honest numbers on the property value, the existing mortgage and the date you need funds, and the option we suggest first is much more likely to be one that works.

Find the right structure for my property →