Construction finance leads demand forecast across commercial lending

More than half of brokers expect asset and construction finance demand to rise, with lender turnaround times and satisfaction levels pointing to a fiercely competitive market.

Agile Market Intelligence’s latest Broker Pulse: Commercial Lending survey reveals a shift in broker sentiment across key loan categories. Conducted in July 2025, the research captures expectations for loan demand, accessibility, and lender performance across business loans, commercial mortgages and equipment finance.

Key stats you need to know

• 54% of brokers expect asset finance demand to increase in the next three months, the highest of any loan type.
  
  
• Construction finance leads forward-looking demand by industry, with 52% of brokers forecasting growth.
  
  
• Brokers reported finance turnaround times ranging from 0.7 to 10 days, with non-bank lenders dominating top performance rankings.

Asset finance sentiment is holding strong

• In June 2025, 54% of brokers expected asset finance demand to rise, highest among loan types for this month.

• This category has led demand expectations since March 2025, coinciding with rising sentiment around equipment and fleet investment.

The data suggests brokers are responding to renewed business investment in plant, vehicle, and equipment upgrades. Easing supply constraints and stronger liquidity conditions may be driving demand. Consistently fast approval times and strong non-bank satisfaction scores make asset finance one of the most competitive and active segments.

“Capital expenditure is clearly back on the agenda. The consistency of broker sentiment suggests this isn’t just post-COVID catch-up, but a forward-looking investment cycle,” said Michael Johnson, Director at Agile Market Intelligence.

Construction and real estate forecast strong demand

• Construction finance leads all industry segments in forward-looking demand, with 52% of brokers forecasting growth.
  
  
• Real estate followed closely at 48%, with health and transportation all above 40%.
  
  
• These forecasts come despite macroeconomic uncertainty, pointing to resilience in infrastructure-linked sectors.

This outlook signals confidence in project pipelines and developer activity. Construction finance sentiment may reflect public infrastructure investment and a shift in lending appetite as projects move off hold.

“Brokers are aligning around a steady build phase. These aren't boom-time numbers, but they suggest sustained demand from developers and builders moving forward with confidence,” said Michael Johnson.

Broker satisfaction driven by lender process and performance

• Turnaround times ranged from under a day to 10 days depending on lender and loan type.

• Non-bank lenders such as Prospa, Metro, and Autopay led across speed and service in business loans and asset finance.

• Non-banks consistently outperformed majors in perceived BDM quality, credit assessment and application support.

The results highlight a clear service gap between major banks and agile non-bank lenders. Faster turnaround, stronger communication, and a streamlined assessment process continue to define broker satisfaction — and shape lender preference.

“Lenders winning broker trust are those that move fast and communicate clearly. It’s no longer just about price or product,” said Michael Johnson.

About the report

The Broker Pulse: Commercial Lending report is a community-driven benchmarking initiative capturing the experiences of commercial and asset finance brokers across Australia. The latest edition captures experiences for applications submitted throughout June 2025, with the survey conducted between 1st to 23rd July 2025. The report includes data across asset finance, business loans, and commercial mortgages, and is conducted by Agile Market Intelligence in partnership with the Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association (CAFBA).