Investment property finance

Lending structured for
long-term returns.

Investment property lending is fundamentally different from owner-occupied finance. The structure of your loan — interest-only periods, offset accounts, cross-collateralisation, portfolio sequencing — determines how much you can borrow next, and how efficiently your portfolio grows over time.

Book a free consultation

What this service covers

First investment property — structuring your first residential investment loan to maximise flexibility and set up correctly for future purchases.

Portfolio growth — expanding an existing portfolio with careful attention to cross-collateralisation, serviceability and lender policy limits.

Investor refinancing — restructuring existing investment loans to improve cashflow, access equity for the next purchase, or move away from a lender that no longer suits your strategy.

Your situation

Where are you in your journey?

Whether you're buying your first investment property or managing a multi-property portfolio, the right structure at each stage makes the difference between stalling and scaling.

Profile 01

First investment property

Getting the structure right on your first investment property is critical — it determines how quickly you can purchase your second. Many first-time investors unknowingly lock themselves out of future borrowing by choosing the wrong loan type, linking loans incorrectly, or not using an offset account strategically.

We ensure your first investment loan is clean, independent and positioned for growth — without compromising your owner-occupied loan structure in the process.

What we cover
  • Separating investment and owner-occupied debt
  • Interest-only vs principal & interest — which suits investors
  • Offset accounts for investment loans
  • Using existing home equity as a deposit
  • Lender policy on investment loan serviceability
  • Negative gearing and tax deductibility explained
  • Avoiding cross-collateralisation from the start
Profile 02

Growing your portfolio

Each property purchase changes your borrowing capacity, your lender relationships and your risk profile. Investors who don't review their structure between purchases often find themselves borrowing capacity running out faster than expected — or stuck with a lender whose policies no longer accommodate their strategy.

We work with multi-property investors to sequence purchases intelligently, spread lending across lenders where needed, and protect equity and borrowing capacity at every step.

What we cover
  • Borrowing capacity assessment across lenders
  • Avoiding single-lender concentration risk
  • Standalone security — preventing cross-collateralisation
  • Equity release to fund deposits on new purchases
  • Debt recycling strategies
  • APRA investor lending policy limits across lenders
  • Land tax and entity structure considerations
Profile 03

Restructuring & refinancing

Investment loans often need restructuring as your portfolio and circumstances evolve — whether that's moving off an expired interest-only term, releasing equity for the next purchase, or untangling cross-collateralised securities that are limiting your flexibility.

We review your full portfolio structure before recommending any move, ensuring refinancing genuinely improves your position rather than simply changing lender.

What we cover
  • Expiring interest-only period — review and extension options
  • Cash-out refinancing to access built equity
  • Untangling cross-collateralised portfolios
  • Rate and feature comparison across 30+ lenders
  • Break cost analysis on fixed investment loans
  • Consolidating or separating lending across lenders
  • Repositioning for next purchase within 6–12 months
Key concepts

What every investor should understand.

Four structural decisions that shape every investment portfolio — and the questions we'll work through with you.

Interest-only vs P&I

Interest-only repayments preserve cashflow and keep deductible debt higher for longer — but they come with lender restrictions, higher rates after expiry, and APRA policy constraints. We model both scenarios against your cashflow and tax position before recommending.

Cross-collateralisation

Linking multiple properties as security for a single loan gives the lender control over your entire portfolio. We structure each property with standalone security so you can sell, refinance or access equity on one property without triggering a full portfolio revaluation.

Offset accounts for investors

An offset account on an investment loan reduces interest without reducing the principal balance — preserving tax deductibility on the full loan amount. This is particularly important if you plan to move back into the property or sell later.

Lender diversification

Most lenders cap their exposure to investment lending, and serviceability policies vary significantly. Spreading your portfolio across two or three lenders increases your future borrowing options and reduces the risk of a single policy change blocking your next purchase.

Our process

How we work with investors

A structured approach that looks at your full position — not just the next loan.

I

Portfolio review

We start by mapping your existing loans, securities, rates and lender relationships — identifying what's working, what's limiting you and where the opportunities are.

II

Strategy & structure

We model different loan structures against your cashflow, tax position and growth goals — recommending the approach that best positions you for both the current purchase and the next one.

III

Lender selection

We select lenders based on investment-specific policy, rate, features and how they interact with your existing structure — not just who has the lowest headline rate today.

IV

Ongoing review

Investment portfolios need regular attention. We review your loans at least annually — interest-only terms, rates, equity positions and borrowing capacity — so you're always ready for the next move.

Why FinanceOnly

Investment lending is
all we specialise in.

Many brokers place investment loans as a side business. For us, investor clients are a core focus — we understand the structural differences, the lender policies and the long-term thinking required to grow a portfolio without painting yourself into a corner.

  • MFAA accredited — investment lending specialists
  • Australian Credit Licence holder since 2007
  • 30+ lenders — including investor-friendly policies
  • Portfolio-level thinking — not just one loan at a time
  • Standalone security structuring as standard
  • Annual portfolio reviews included

Structure before rate

An investor on the lowest rate but with cross-collateralised securities and no offset account is often worse off than one paying 0.2% more with clean, flexible structure. We start with structure — then optimise rate within it.

Think two loans ahead

Every loan we place is structured with your next purchase in mind. We don't just solve the immediate transaction — we ensure each decision preserves or improves your borrowing capacity for what comes next.

Independent from lenders

We have no ownership ties to any lender and no product targets. Our recommendations are based entirely on what fits your investment strategy — and we'll tell you clearly when a lender no longer serves your goals.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Should I use an interest-only loan for my investment property?
Interest-only loans are popular with investors because they maximise cashflow and keep the deductible debt balance higher for longer — you're only paying interest, not reducing the principal. However, lenders now apply stricter policies on interest-only terms (typically 5 years maximum on investment loans), and interest-only rates are generally higher than principal-and-interest rates. We'll model both against your cashflow and tax position to determine which makes sense for your situation.
What is cross-collateralisation and why should I avoid it?
Cross-collateralisation is when a lender uses more than one of your properties as security for a single loan. While it can make approval easier in the short term, it gives the lender significant control over your portfolio — if you want to sell one property, refinance, or access equity in another, the lender can require a full revaluation of all cross-collateralised properties. We structure every loan with standalone security so each property remains independent, giving you maximum flexibility.
Can I use the equity in my home to buy an investment property?
Yes — this is one of the most common ways investors fund their first investment purchase. If your home has grown in value and you've been paying down your mortgage, you may have usable equity that can be accessed through a cash-out refinance or a separate equity loan. We calculate your usable equity (typically up to 80% of the current property value, less the outstanding loan balance), assess serviceability, and structure the equity release cleanly so the investment debt remains separate from your owner-occupied debt for tax purposes.
How many investment properties can I borrow for?
This depends on your income, existing debts, property values, rental income and the lenders you've used. Each additional property increases your debt and can reduce your assessed serviceability, even if the rental income more than covers the repayments — because lenders typically only count 70–80% of rental income in their serviceability calculations. We map your borrowing capacity across our full lender panel to identify which lenders can accommodate your next purchase and how many properties are realistically achievable from your current position.
My interest-only period is expiring. What are my options?
When an interest-only period expires, your loan reverts to principal-and-interest repayments over the remaining loan term — which can significantly increase your monthly repayment. Your options include: requesting an extension of the interest-only term with your current lender (subject to serviceability reassessment), refinancing to a new lender offering a fresh interest-only period, or transitioning to P&I if your cashflow can absorb the higher repayment. We'll review your situation before expiry and recommend the best course of action with enough lead time to avoid the reversion.
Should I buy investment properties in my own name or a trust/company?
This is a question we always recommend discussing with your accountant or tax adviser before purchasing — it has significant tax, asset protection and estate planning implications that fall outside the scope of mortgage broking. What we can tell you is that the entity structure affects which lenders are available and at what rates. Company and trust borrowers have fewer lender options and typically pay higher rates. We work with clients purchasing through various structures and can advise on lender options once your adviser has recommended an approach.

Ready to grow your property portfolio?

Confidential consultation. Obligation-free.

Book a free consultation