Copyright © LYDIAN FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD 2026. All Right Reserved.
Victoria | Lydian platform, delivered in partnership with Clark Finance Group
CHANGE LOCATION
Brunswick runs along Sydney Road with a housing stock of Victorian cottages, converted factories and a very large amount of new apartment development. It is dense, well-connected and one of the inner north’s busiest markets.
Brunswick has seen more apartment development than almost anywhere in the inner north, and that is the dominant lending consideration. Lender concentration limits within individual buildings are frequently reached, and several lenders apply reduced maximum loan to value ratios across the postcode where they consider supply heavy.
Minimum internal size thresholds catch a lot of the newer stock. Studio and compact one-bedroom apartments below fifty square metres can require a thirty or forty per cent deposit, or be declined. That is frequently the difference between a purchase proceeding and not.
The cottages and converted warehouses are a separate market with their own considerations, and Brunswick has plenty of both. Heritage overlays apply in parts, and warehouse conversions vary widely in how lenders treat them.
Concentration limits and postcode restrictions both apply here. Deposits vary a lot by lender.
Below fifty square metres, expect a much larger deposit or a decline. Check the internal measurement.
A separate market with heritage overlays and non-standard construction to navigate.
Whatever stage you are at, there is a path through it. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Because lender policy varies by postcode and building. In areas with heavy apartment supply some lenders reduce their maximum loan to value ratio, meaning a larger deposit for the same property. Others treat it normally. Establishing which lender suits before you offer avoids finding out during your finance clause.
It depends on the internal size and the lender. Below around fifty square metres of internal living area, many lenders reduce the maximum loan substantially or decline. A few will still lend at reduced ratios. Measure the internal area properly, excluding balcony and car space.
That is a market judgement we are not in a position to make for you. What we can tell you is that several lenders have formed a view and reflected it in their policies, which affects how much you can borrow. That is a practical constraint you need to plan around regardless of your own view.
Whether it suits you is your call. From a lending perspective, conversions vary enormously. Some are treated as ordinary apartments; others raise questions about title structure, former use and building services that make lenders cautious. We can tell you how a specific property is likely to be viewed.
Book a free consultation and we will walk you through your options, what you can borrow, and what it will cost.
Book a free consultation
Serving clients across Australia.
Authorised Representative no. 525 778
Specialist Financial Group Australian Credit Licence no. 387025
Lydian Financial Services Victoria
Suite 1/103 Grimshaw Street, Greensborough VIC 3088, Australia
Level 12, 15 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Copyright © LYDIAN FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD 2026. All Right Reserved.