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Can I buy with a mortgage?

How mortgage buying differs between a ready property and an off-plan unit, and what banks generally ask for.

Who this is for: Buyers considering finance, and owners selling to a financed buyer.

Quick answer

Possibly — it depends on whether the property is ready or off-plan, the status of the project and the bank you use. Ready properties are the more straightforward route; off-plan lending is more restricted and is assessed case by case.

The guidance below is general. Sign in and verify ownership to see this tool alongside your own unit's recorded details.

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Step by step

  1. 1

    Establish whether the property is ready or off-plan

    This is the first question a bank will ask, and it changes everything that follows. A ready property is complete and capable of being valued and handed over. An off-plan unit is still under construction and is normally held as an initial registration rather than a Title Deed.

  2. 2

    Get your own eligibility assessed before you commit

    Banks assess the buyer as well as the property — income, liabilities, residency status and profile all matter. Eligibility is confirmed by a lender or broker, never by The Valley Digital.

  3. 3

    Confirm the property side with the lender

    Ask the lender directly whether it will finance this specific project and unit at its current stage, and what documents it needs. Requirements differ between banks and can change.

  4. 4

    Plan for the equity you fund yourself

    A buyer normally still needs to fund the required down payment, transaction costs and fees from their own funds. Ask the lender what that looks like for your case — we do not publish loan-to-value figures or bank fees.

Which are you buying?

  1. 1

    A valuation of the property

    Most banks instruct their own valuer and lend against that figure rather than the agreed price. The valuer generally needs physical access to the unit, which is why viewing access has to be arranged — an inaccessible unit can hold up the whole file.

  2. 2

    Building Completion Certificate (BCC)

    The BCC, sometimes called a Certificate of Completion, is the certification that the building or unit is complete. Banks typically want to see it because it evidences that what they are lending against actually exists in finished form.

  3. 3

    Handover notice or evidence the unit is ready for handover

    Lenders commonly ask for the developer's handover notice, or other evidence that the property is ready to be handed over, alongside the usual ownership and transaction documents.

  4. 4

    Nuance: transfer before physical handover

    Some banks may be able to proceed with a transfer once they hold the valuation and the BCC, even before the unit has actually been handed over. Where that route is available, the buyer may start drawing and paying the mortgage before the property is physically ready to occupy. Whether it is available depends on the bank, the project status, the documents that exist and the buyer's approval — confirm the exact requirements with your lender or broker before you commit.

  5. 5

    Ask what else your specific bank requires

    The items above are the ones that come up most often. They are not a universal list: no two banks ask for exactly the same set, and requirements change over time.

What should I check before making an offer?

  • Is this unit ready or off-plan, and what is the recorded project status?
  • Has the lender confirmed it finances this project and unit at its current stage?
  • What documents does this particular bank require — valuation, BCC, handover notice, anything else?
  • Can the valuer get access to the unit, and who arranges it?
  • Would the bank transfer before physical handover, and would repayments start then?
  • How much equity, deposit and cost do I need to fund myself?
  • Do I have written mortgage eligibility or approval, and what conditions sit on it?
  • If the seller has finance outstanding, how does their settlement sequence affect the timeline?

What TVD can help with

  • Explaining what ready and off-plan generally involve for a financed purchase
  • Showing the recorded status and handover value we hold for a verified unit
  • Connecting you to a mortgage specialist through the referral flow, with your consent

What must be completed elsewhere

  • Any decision on whether you or the property qualify for finance
  • Valuation, BCC, handover notice and every other document
  • Loan-to-value, rates, fees, conditions and project eligibility — these come from the bank

This is educational guidance, not financial advice and not a lending decision. Lending criteria and required documents vary between banks and change over time, and no bank is bound by anything written here. Obtain confirmation from your lender or broker for your specific case before committing to a purchase.