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Find your best SMSF loan with interest rates starting from 6.39% p.a. (comp rate^ 6.45% p.a.^).
Use an SMSF loan to buy an investment property through your super
Get expert help finding the right SMSF loan for your needs
Our dedicated Home Loan team is here to help. Updated 8 May 2026.
Compare some of the lowest variable and fixed rate SMSF residential home loans with principal & interest repayments from some of the lenders available. This table is sorted by the lowest interest rate, then the lowest comparison rate. Read the Important Disclosures.
Lender | ING Green Upgrade Loan Available to existing ING home loan customers only |
|---|---|
Interest rate from | 3.74% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.12% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Laboratories Credit Union Simple Home Loan Investment |
Interest rate from | 5.60% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.62% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 95% |
Lender | Northern Inland Credit Union Value Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.69% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.73% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | South West Slopes Bank Optimum Investor 1 Year Fixed Rate Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.70% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 6.33% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 90% |
Lender | Woolworths Team Bank Residential Investment Variable |
Interest rate from | 5.71% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 6.71% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Homestar Finance Star Choice |
Interest rate from | 5.74% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.74% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Homestar Finance Star Classic |
Interest rate from | 5.74% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.74% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Horizon Bank First Home Buyer Loan Residential Investment |
Interest rate from | 5.74% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.74% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
Lender | People First Bank Basic Variable Investment Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.79% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.80% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
Lender | People's Choice Credit Union Basic Variable Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.79% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.80% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
Lender | Heritage Bank Discount Variable INV P&I |
Interest rate from | 5.79% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.81% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
Lender | Police Credit Union Low Rate Home Loan Special Offer Investment |
Interest rate from | 5.79% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.82% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Unloan Refinance |
Interest rate from | 5.84% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.75% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Pacific Mortgage Group Investment Variable Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.84% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.84% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | RACQ Bank Fair Dinkum Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.84% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.84% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 60% |
Lender | Easy Street Variable Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.84% p.a |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.89% p.a |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 95% |
Lender | Bank of China Discount Investment Home Loan - Australian Income |
Interest rate from | 5.88% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 6.08% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Bank of China Discount Plus Investment Home Loan Australian Income |
Interest rate from | 5.88% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 6.26% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | HSBC Home Value Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.89% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 50% |
Lender | Hume Bank LiteBlue Variable |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.90% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 60% |
Lender | Bendigo Bank Easy Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.91% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 50% |
Lender | Virgin Money Lite Home Loan Variable Investor |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.91% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 60% |
Lender | Bank First Basic Home Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.92% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 60% |
Lender | ING Mortgage Simplifier |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.92% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 60% |
Lender | Horizon Bank Home Sweet Home Loan Residential Investment |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 5.59% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
Lender | The Mac Credit Union Fixed Investor Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.89% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 7.37% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 80% |
Lender | Bank of Queensland Economy Variable Investment Loan |
Interest rate from | 5.93% p.a. |
Comparison rate^ from | 6.07% p.a. |
Features |
|
Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | 70% |
| Lender | Interest rate from | Comparison rate^ from | Features | Maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ING Green Upgrade Loan Available to existing ING home loan customers only | 3.74% p.a. | 5.12% p.a. |
| 80% |
Laboratories Credit Union Simple Home Loan Investment | 5.60% p.a. | 5.62% p.a. |
| 95% |
Northern Inland Credit Union Value Home Loan | 5.69% p.a. | 5.73% p.a. |
| 80% |
South West Slopes Bank Optimum Investor 1 Year Fixed Rate Home Loan | 5.70% p.a. | 6.33% p.a. |
| 90% |
Woolworths Team Bank Residential Investment Variable | 5.71% p.a. | 6.71% p.a. |
| 80% |
Homestar Finance Star Choice | 5.74% p.a. | 5.74% p.a. |
| 80% |
Homestar Finance Star Classic | 5.74% p.a. | 5.74% p.a. |
| 80% |
Horizon Bank First Home Buyer Loan Residential Investment | 5.74% p.a. | 5.74% p.a. |
| 70% |
People First Bank Basic Variable Investment Loan | 5.79% p.a. | 5.80% p.a. |
| 70% |
People's Choice Credit Union Basic Variable Home Loan | 5.79% p.a. | 5.80% p.a. |
| 70% |
Heritage Bank Discount Variable INV P&I | 5.79% p.a. | 5.81% p.a. |
| 70% |
Police Credit Union Low Rate Home Loan Special Offer Investment | 5.79% p.a. | 5.82% p.a. |
| 80% |
Unloan Refinance | 5.84% p.a. | 5.75% p.a. |
| 80% |
Pacific Mortgage Group Investment Variable Home Loan | 5.84% p.a. | 5.84% p.a. |
| 80% |
RACQ Bank Fair Dinkum Home Loan | 5.84% p.a. | 5.84% p.a. |
| 60% |
Easy Street Variable Home Loan | 5.84% p.a | 5.89% p.a |
| 95% |
Bank of China Discount Investment Home Loan - Australian Income | 5.88% p.a. | 6.08% p.a. |
| 80% |
Bank of China Discount Plus Investment Home Loan Australian Income | 5.88% p.a. | 6.26% p.a. |
| 80% |
HSBC Home Value Loan | 5.89% p.a. | 5.89% p.a. |
| 50% |
Hume Bank LiteBlue Variable | 5.89% p.a. | 5.90% p.a. |
| 60% |
Bendigo Bank Easy Home Loan | 5.89% p.a. | 5.91% p.a. |
| 50% |
Virgin Money Lite Home Loan Variable Investor | 5.89% p.a. | 5.91% p.a. |
| 60% |
Bank First Basic Home Loan | 5.89% p.a. | 5.92% p.a. |
| 60% |
ING Mortgage Simplifier | 5.89% p.a. | 5.92% p.a. |
| 60% |
Horizon Bank Home Sweet Home Loan Residential Investment | 5.89% p.a. | 5.59% p.a. |
| 70% |
The Mac Credit Union Fixed Investor Loan | 5.89% p.a. | 7.37% p.a. |
| 80% |
Bank of Queensland Economy Variable Investment Loan | 5.93% p.a. | 6.07% p.a. |
| 70% |
Update on trust lending:
Commbank and Macquarie have tightened their lending policies for companies and trusts. From 22 November 2025, borrowers will need to have an established relationship with the bank before they can access these types of loan structures.
The move comes as regulators raise concerns about unlicensed advisers promoting trusts as a way to bypass loan servicing limits. Under the new rules, the applicant – or their servicing guarantor – must have held a lending facility with the bank for at least six months prior to applying.
If you’re considering this type of structure, it’s worth talking to a qualified financial professional or broker to see if it’s the right fit for your circumstances.
Rafi from Sydney
“We needed help to find the best option and bank to purchase a new investment property through our SMSF. Our Credit Manager, Debbie Hays, was great in comparing loan options and finding the most suitable one for us. She explained everything clearly and made the whole process simple. We ended up with an SMSF loan that included an offset account, which was hard to find. We’re really happy with the outcome.”
Rafi from Sydney
Note, this is a guide containing general information only. Please seek personalised professional advice from a qualified advisor before making significant financial decisions.
An SMSF loan lets you use your self-managed super fund to buy an investment property. Instead of using a standard home loan, you can borrow money through your super fund to purchase residential or commercial property.
Although SMSF loans open the door to a property investment strategy for those saving for retirement, they come with strict regulations that can be tricky to navigate.
These types of loans are available through specialist lenders who understand the unique requirements of SMSFs.
A separate “bare trust” is set up to hold the property on behalf of the SMSF. This trust is often managed by a corporate trustee. The SMSF takes out a loan from a lender, using the property as security.
The SMSF borrows money to buy the investment property, which is held in a separate trust specifically set up for this purpose. The SMSF typically covers the deposit and ongoing expenses, while the loan finances the remaining cost. The property’s rental income and any capital gains go back into the SMSF, helping to grow your retirement savings.
SMSF loans are usually set up as Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs). This means that if there is a default on the loan, the lender can only claim the property purchased with the loan, not other assets of the super fund.
Repayments are made by the super fund and typically include both principal and interest payments. Rental income from the investment property is deposited back into the SMSF, helping cover the loan repayments and fund expenses, while also increasing your super balance.
Getting professional financial and tax advice is crucial for SMSF loans because they come with complex rules and tax implications that can affect your retirement savings. Seeking expert advice can help you stay compliant and make the most of your superannuation investments.
There are several rules and considerations around SMSF loans, as explained by Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block:
As a member of an SMSF, you cannot live in the residential property. This rule also extends to other trustees or anyone related to the trustees, no matter how distant the relationship.
It cannot be rented by you, any other trustee or anyone related to the trustees, so buying a holiday home in your SMSF and living there during the summer isn’t allowed.
The property must not be acquired from a related party of a member, even at market value.
Borrowing to buy property through an SMSF is achieved by way of a limited recourse loan. This means that the borrowing is made through a trust (often called a Bare Trust), which has the legal title in the property.
Beneficial ownership rests with the SMSF, which then collects all of the rental income on the property. The reason for this arrangement is so that the lender can take charge of the property if the SMSF fails to keep up with the loan.
In addition to the establishment of an SMSF and its trustee, an additional trust (bare trust) and trustee (which cannot be the same as that of the SMSF) must be legally established to enable the super fund to borrow and purchase the property.
Borrowing criteria for an SMSF are generally much stricter than for a normal property loan which you might take out as an individual and come with higher costs, which need to be taken into account when working out if the investment is worthwhile.
It is strongly recommended that you approach a financial institution prior to incurring the costs of establishing an SMSF and the other legal entities required to get an idea of how much they are willing to lend you based on your current super balance and anything you may be willing to contribute personally to the investment.
Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block
“Remember that loan repayments must be made from your SMSF which means your fund must always have sufficient liquidity or cash flow to meet the loan requirements. The SMSF can fund the loan repayments through rental income on the property and through superannuation contributions into the fund.”
Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block
You can generally borrow up to 70-80% of the property’s value, but you can’t use your entire SMSF balance for a deposit. This means you’ll need at least $100,000-$200,000 in your fund.
If you have a sufficiently large SMSF balance and meet the lender’s criteria, you can usually borrow up to $2,000,000 for residential properties and up to $10,000,000 for commercial properties.
Keep in mind that some lenders may not have a liquidity buffer, while others may require you to have at least 5 or 10% of the investment property’s value left in your SMSF once all the fees and charges have been deducted. Essentially, you'll need to make sure you have enough cash flow remaining to meet a portion of your loan repayments and for expenses like rates and body corporate fees.
Here are the main factors that’ll impact your borrowing power:
Mansour Soltani, Money.com.au's Home Loans Expert
“You’ll generally need to have a liquidity buffer of 5 to 10% remaining in your SMSF, but the amount will vary based on the lender. The liquidity buffer and your loan-to-value ratio will have the biggest impact on the interest rate you’re offered. Other factors include the rental income of the property and your super contributions.”
Mansour Soltani, Money.com.au's Home Loans Expert
“Note also, that if you make a loss on your property rental, any tax losses cannot be offset against your personal taxable income outside the fund.”
It is possible to use a loan to acquire any form of investment in your SMSF, including listed company shares and property. The most common, however, is property. There are a number of do’s and don’ts for investing in assets through your SMSF:
Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block
“The asset must meet the ‘sole purpose test’ of solely providing retirement benefits to fund members. There can be substantial fees and charges associated with the purchase, ownership and subsequent sale of a property in an SMSF. These will eat into your super balance so you need to ensure the income into the super fund will cover these costs and allow for growth. Many people assume that if they contribute personal monies into the purchase, that once the super fund has the money, they can repay themselves. This is not the case. You may contribute your own money to help purchase the property, but that will be counted as contributions and can’t be withdrawn until you meet preservation age and a condition of release (for example, retirement)."
Mark Chapman, Director of Tax Communication at H&R Block
The CEO of the SMSF Association, Peter Burgess, also clarified some common myths surrounding SMSF loans:
Peter Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the SMSF Association
"Probably the biggest misconception relates to the release of equity. Investors often mistakenly believe they can use the equity from a property acquired using an SMSF loan to build a multiple property portfolio in the same way they can outside of super. Another common misconception relates to renovations and improvements. Many people are often unaware that they are not able to draw-down from the loan to finance property improvements. The SMSF can only use its own funds for such purposes. They are often also unaware that the improvement or renovation cannot fundamentally change the character or use of the property. For example, a major refurbishment that changes the nature and use of the property from residential to commercial, is not permitted."
Peter Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the SMSF Association
You’ll generally need to provide the following documents when applying for an SMSF loan:
To apply for an SMSF loan, you should start by seeking professional financial and taxation advice. This can help you understand the requirements and ensure your SMSF is set up correctly. These experts can guide you through the process, including setting up a separate trust to hold the property, assessing your liquidity buffer, and determining the best loan terms for your situation.
Once you’ve sought professional advice, you can usually apply for an SMSF loan online through your chosen lender or by using a mortgage broker. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how the application process works:
Before making any offers, get pre-approval for your SMSF loan. This helps you know how much you can borrow and gives you a clearer idea of your budget.
Once pre-approved, set up a bare trust deed. This trust holds the property on behalf of your SMSF. It’s important that the bare trustee is not a member of the SMSF, and often a corporate trust is used.
After negotiating with the seller, your SMSF will need to pay the deposit. Ensure the contract is in the name of the bare trustee, not your SMSF directly.
The lender will arrange for a property valuation. Once the valuation is complete and the purchase contract signed, the lender will issue formal loan approval.
The lender will prepare mortgage documents with specific provisions for SMSF property purchases. Review and sign these documents to finalise the loan.
At settlement, the purchase is finalised. The lender will hold the transaction and title documents. Your SMSF can then take ownership of the property.
A self-managed super fund (SMSF) is a private super fund that you control yourself. It operates like a trust where the members (who are also trustees) make decisions about investments and administration, while ensuring the fund adheres to relevant legislation.
You can have up to six members in a self-managed super fund (SMSF). Each member must also be a trustee or a director of the corporate trustee. Having up to six members gives you more flexibility to pool resources and manage the fund, but it also requires more communication to make sure everyone stays on the same page and meets regulatory requirements, according to the ATO.
Here are some bank and non-bank lenders in Australia that offer SMSF loans:
With an SMSF loan, you can buy investment properties, which can either be residential or commercial. For residential properties, this includes a house, unit, apartment, or townhouse. However, you can’t use an SMSF loan for vacant land, construction, or transactions that aren’t at market value (known as an “arms-length transaction”).
For commercial real estate, acceptable properties include offices, showrooms, retail outlets, factories, warehouses, and medical suites, among others.
Yes, interest rates on SMSF loans are usually 1.2 - 1.5% higher than standard investment property loans. This is because SMSF loans are considered riskier for lenders due to the Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA), which limits the lender’s ability to recover funds solely to the specific property purchased with the loan.
Most lenders will charge fees for settling a self-managed super fund loan. Some common fees to look out for include:
You usually need a loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of 80% for an SMSF loan, which means you’ll need to provide a 20% deposit of the property’s value. Some lenders might require a lower LVR of 60-70%. Lenders tend to offer better rates and terms for SMSF loans with lower LVRs because they see these as less risky.
Yes, most lenders have what’s known as a “liquidity requirement”. This means that you need to keep a minimum amount of cash or shares in the SMSF after the loan is settled. However, some lenders offer SMSF loans without post-settlement liquidity requirements, such as Yard.
Yes, you can refinance an SMSF loan to potentially secure better interest rates or terms. However, you generally cannot borrow additional funds beyond the existing loan amount with a refinance. The new loan will only replace the current debt, and any increased equity in the property cannot be used to finance new purchases within the SMSF. Compliance with SMSF regulations, including maintaining the Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA) rules, is essential when refinancing.
You can invest in assets like listed shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed funds, term deposits, cryptocurrency and bonds. These investments must comply with the SMSF’s investment strategy and sole purpose test, which is to provide retirement benefits to members.
No. SMSF-owned assets purchased with a loan – such as property or shares – must be held for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits and can’t be used personally or by related parties.
SMSF loans can be complex and costly, with strict borrowing conditions, limited lender options, and risks if returns underperform. Legal and financial advice is strongly recommended before proceeding.
You can’t live in a property owned by your SMSF while it's held within the fund – even after you retire. However, once you've reached retirement and met a condition of release, you may be able to transfer the property out of the SMSF into your personal name.
This process is known as an “in-specie transfer”, where the SMSF distributes an asset (like a property) to you as a member instead of cash. Once the property is no longer owned by the fund and is held in your personal capacity, you may be allowed to live in it.
Keep in mind that this transfer must comply with superannuation laws, and the property’s market value will be counted towards your pension cap or lump sum withdrawal limits. There may also be stamp duty and capital gains tax implications, depending on the state or territory.
When looking for advice about your SMSF, make sure you consult a licensed professional who specialises in self-managed super funds. CEO of the SMSF Association, Peter Burgess, says these experts can help you understand your options, and explain the risks and benefits based on your situation.
"SMSF loans are complex arrangements that are required to satisfy superannuation law requirements and different rules apply depending on when the arrangement was entered into. You should always seek advice from a licensed professional who is also an SMSF specialist when deciding whether to enter into and maintain an SMSF loan."
If you need help sourcing an SMSF loan, you can speak with a mortgage broker.
Jared Mullane is a finance writer with more than a decade of experience at some of Australia’s biggest finance and consumer brands. His areas of expertise include energy, home loans, personal finance and insurance. Jared is qualified with a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking (FNS40821).
Sean Callery is the Editor of Money.com.au. He has over 15 years of international experience. He is qualified with a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking (FNS40821) and is compliant to provide general advice in Tier 1 General Insurance (RG 146) products.
Home loan comparison rates are calculated based on a loan amount of $150,000 repaid over a 25-year term with monthly repayments. The comparison rates only apply to the examples given. Different loan amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees and cost savings such as fee waivers are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Check with the provider for full loan details, including rates, fees, eligibility and terms and conditions to make sure the product is right for you.
General information only
The information on this page is general in nature and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information provided and the nature of any home loan product is suitable for you and seek independent financial advice if necessary.
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