Saltair Featured in Australian Financial Review on the Future of Modular Housing

In the article, CBA outlines a new approach to financing modular homes, offering loans of up to a high proportion of fixed-price builds from a select group of approved manufacturers, including Saltair. This is a major shift from previous lending practices, where financing modular homes was often more limited and fragmented. For homeowners, investors and developers, this move signals:

• Greater access to finance for modular projects
• More confidence from mainstream banking in offsite construction
• Recognition that modular is a serious, scalable solution to Australia’s housing needs

For Saltair’s clients, it helps bridge the gap between innovative building methods and traditional lending frameworks, making it easier to choose modular with confidence.

The AFR piece highlights a core challenge: Australia needs to deliver more homes, more quickly, without compromising quality. Modular builders were interviewed about how offsite construction can support that, including Saltair’s own perspective on speed and reliability.

Key advantages of modular discussed in the article include:

• Faster build times compared to conventional on-site construction
• Factory-controlled quality, reducing rework and delays
• More predictable programs, which are crucial in a tight lending and labour environment

These are the benefits we see every day in our projects across Queensland, from regional housing and tourism cabins to education and community assets.

Being named as one of CBA’s approved modular manufacturers in the AFR is not just a media mention; it’s an acknowledgement of the capability, systems and track record required to deliver at scale.

For Saltair, this recognition reflects:

• Our investment in factory capacity and process
• Our commitment to design-led, high-quality modular buildings
• Our focus on reliability and delivery certainty for clients

It also underscores the progress the modular sector has made in Australia. What was once seen as niche or “alternative” is now being recognised by major institutions as an important part of the country’s housing and infrastructure solution.

Historically, finance has been one of the biggest hurdles for modular projects, even when the design, cost and program stacked up. The AFR article notes that CBA’s updated lending settings are designed to unlock more projects by aligning finance with the way modular is actually delivered.

For Saltair’s residential and small-scale developer clients, this can mean:

• A clearer pathway from enquiry to approval
• Better alignment between progress payments and offsite manufacturing
• More confidence to pursue modular as a primary delivery method

As banks modernise their approach, modular builders like Saltair can do what we do best: deliver well-designed, high-quality buildings quickly and efficiently.

We’re proud to have been part of this national conversation in the Australian Financial Review and to see modular construction recognised as a serious, bank-backed solution to some of Australia’s biggest housing challenges.

Saltair will continue to work with lenders, industry bodies and partners to:

• Advocate for smarter, more flexible finance for modular projects
• Demonstrate what’s possible through real, built outcomes
• Help governments, developers, investors and homeowners build faster and better

You can read the full article on the Australian Financial Review website: Read the AFR article here.