Finance and ownership

01 · Cash to complete is more than the deposit

Stamp duty, transfer fees and legal costs vary by state and by price. Investment and commercial purchases often require more equity than a home. Development finance is a different conversation again, because construction and holding costs arrive after the land is bought.

02 · The loan changes the holding period

Interest-only and principal-and-interest repayments change cash flow and how quickly debt falls. Offset and redraw change where surplus cash sits. Rates, rent and costs all move, so a single base case is not enough.

We can help you see the shape of those scenarios. Whether you qualify, and on what terms, is assessed by your lender or broker. We do not provide credit advice.

03 · Serviceability is personal

Income, existing debt, dependants and living expenses decide borrowing capacity. Two people can look at the same property and have entirely different outcomes. A strategy that ignores that difference is not a strategy.

04 · Whose name is on the title

Individuals, joint owners, companies and trusts are used for different reasons. The suitable structure depends on tax, asset protection, lending policy and the longer plan.

That advice comes from your accountant and, where needed, a lawyer. It should be settled before exchange. We will not guess it for you.

05 · Not every property is assessed like a home

Lenders treat rental income, existing property debt and property type differently. Some formats, including certain co-living or dual-income arrangements, are assessed more conservatively than the brochure suggests.

Confirm the format with the lender before the yield becomes the reason to proceed.

06 · Superannuation is a separate path

Borrowing inside a self-managed super fund has its own rules, documents and liquidity needs. If the fund is the buyer, its adviser needs to be involved before a property is selected. The notes on SMSF and commercial property cover why that path is narrower.