Mortgage Broker in Melbourne — CBD, Southbank & Docklands
Buying or refinancing in the Melbourne CBD, Southbank or Docklands? Integrated Finance Group helps buyers in the apartment-heavy inner city, where lender rules on size, building type and valuation decide whether a loan is approved. We compare a deliberately broad panel of bank, non-bank and specialist lenders with no broker fees. Looking for our wider service area? See our Melbourne & Geelong mortgage brokers homepage.
Melbourne CBD property market at a glance
| Property Type | Median Price | Annual Growth | Rental Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit / Apartment (postcode 3000) | $415,000 | +2.5% | 8.3% |
| Weekly Rent (Unit) | ~$680/wk | — | — |
| Units sold (12 months) | 1,211 | — | — |
| Days on market (unit) | 38 days | — | — |
Only 16 houses sold in postcode 3000 in the same period, so house figures are not shown. Southbank (3006) and Docklands (3008) have separate postcodes and different price points. Indicative figures only: 12-month medians to mid-2026 (CoreLogic-derived) as published by Your Investment Property Magazine, accessed 24 September 2026. Medians differ between data providers and move every month — check current figures with the selling agent and your conveyancer before you commit.
About the Melbourne CBD
The Melbourne CBD is a compact grid of laneways, towers and heritage arcades, home to more than 50,000 residents in postcode 3000 alone, many of them young professionals, students and investors. Southbank and Docklands extend the apartment market along the Yarra, while East and West Melbourne offer a mix of terraces, warehouse conversions and mid-rise apartments.
Inner-city apartments are among the most closely scrutinised property types in Australian lending. Two buildings a block apart can be treated differently by the same lender, which is why the lender you choose matters as much as the rate you are quoted.
Inner-city landmarks and lifestyle
- Southern Cross Station, Flinders Street Station and the City Loop rail network
- Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central and the Collins Street precinct
- Federation Square, the Yarra riverfront and the Southbank promenade
- Docklands waterfront and Marvel Stadium
- Queen Victoria Market and the RMIT university precinct in the north of the grid
- The city’s tram network and easy access to Port Melbourne and South Melbourne
Buying a CBD apartment: what lenders look at
High-density lending is where broker experience matters most. Before you sign a contract, these are the points lenders commonly check:
- Apartment size: many lenders set a minimum internal floor area, commonly somewhere around 40–50 sqm, and some will not lend on very small studios at all.
- High-density and large-development policy: some lenders apply a lower maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR), or tighter conditions, on apartments in large towers or certain postcodes.
- Valuation risk on new apartments: if a lender values an off-the-plan or newly built apartment below the contract price, you may need extra cash at settlement. Read our guide to property valuation shortfalls in Melbourne.
- Owners corporation costs: strata levies reduce the income a lender will count towards your borrowing capacity, and a high-cost building can change the answer.
- Deposit and LMI: a smaller deposit can mean Lenders Mortgage Insurance. Our LMI calculator and Victorian stamp duty calculator show the up-front costs.
General information only — not personal credit or financial advice. Lender policies, rates and eligibility criteria change frequently and are subject to credit approval.
Investing in the Melbourne CBD
If you are buying a Melbourne CBD apartment to rent out, lenders assess your loan differently from an owner-occupier loan — only a portion of the expected rent is typically counted, and your existing debts and living expenses still apply. We compare investor loan options, interest-only and principal-and-interest structures, and ways to use equity in an existing home as a deposit. See our full guide to investment property loans in Melbourne, or read about interest-only investment loans and borrowing capacity for investment property. Recent data shows unit yields around 8.3% for postcode 3000, but yield can flatter small apartments — owners corporation fees, vacancy and resale depth all matter, and our rentvesting guide explains how some clients rent where they live and invest elsewhere. Questions about deductions or negative gearing are best answered by your accountant.
How we help inner-city clients
- First home buyers — deposit strategy, scheme eligibility and lenders comfortable with apartments
- Investors — investor loans, equity release and portfolio planning
- Rentvestors — buying an investment while renting where you live
- Refinancing — a loan health check against a broad panel, see refinancing
- Self-employed borrowers — see self-employed home loans
- CBD business owners — see our Melbourne business finance service
- Commercial property — see commercial property finance
How it works
| Step | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Free consultation | We map your goals, income, deposit and the type of property you are considering. Nothing is lodged without your say-so. | A director responds the same business day |
| 2. Lender comparison | We compare a deliberately broad panel of bank, non-bank and specialist lenders and give you a written comparison of your options. | Once we have your documents |
| 3. Pre-approval | We prepare, lodge and manage the application so you can make offers or bid with confidence. | Most clients receive formal pre-approval within 5–7 business days of submitting documents |
| 4. Valuation to settlement | We manage the lender’s valuation and conditions through to settlement, and stay on hand afterwards. | Depends on your contract terms |
Why choose Integrated Finance Group for your inner-city loan?
Our office is in Coburg North, and we work with inner-city clients by phone, video or in person at our office. We compare a deliberately broad panel of bank, non-bank and specialist lenders, charge no broker fees, and give you a written comparison before you commit. Both directors hold ASIC credit representative numbers and MFAA membership, and we are rated 5.0 on Google from 46+ reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you service Melbourne CBD, Southbank and Docklands?
- Yes. We arrange home loans and investment loans for buyers across the CBD (3000), Southbank (3006), Docklands (3008) and East and West Melbourne, by phone, video or in person at our Coburg North office. A director responds the same business day.
- Why is it harder to get a loan for a CBD apartment?
- Lenders view large high-density buildings as higher risk. Some apply a minimum apartment size, a lower maximum LVR, or extra conditions for particular buildings or postcodes, and valuations on new towers can come in below the contract price. We check the building against lender policy before you apply.
- What deposit do I need to buy a Melbourne CBD apartment?
- A 5% deposit may be possible with Lenders Mortgage Insurance or a government guarantee scheme if you are eligible, but many CBD lenders prefer 10–20% for high-density apartments. The recent unit median for postcode 3000 is around $415,000 — our LMI calculator shows the cost of each deposit level.
- Is a Melbourne CBD apartment a good investment?
- Rental yields on CBD apartments look high on paper — around 8.3% for postcode 3000 in recent data — but headline yield does not include owners corporation fees, vacancy, or oversupply risk. We help you stress-test the numbers against what a lender will assess. See our investment loans guide and Melbourne rental market guide. Tax questions should go to your accountant.
- I live interstate or overseas — can you still help me buy in Melbourne?
- Our process runs by phone and video, so location is rarely a barrier to getting started. Eligibility depends on the lender, your residency status and your income, and we’ll be upfront about what is and is not possible before you invest time.
- I’m self-employed — can I still get a loan?
- Absolutely. We work with full-doc lenders (typically two years of tax returns) and alt-doc lenders who assess business income more flexibly. Many inner-city business owners and contractors finance through us.
- How fast can I get pre-approved?
- Most clients receive a formal pre-approval within 5–7 business days of submitting documents. Faster is possible for straightforward PAYG scenarios.
Ready to chat about your Melbourne CBD property finance?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our team. We’ll take the time to understand your goals and explain your options in plain English — no jargon, no pressure.
Book a free consultation or call 0401 333 636
Nearby areas we service
Inner-city buyers often also look at neighbouring areas. We also arrange loans in Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Carlton, Parkville, Fitzroy and Kensington.
