Getting a loan for an investment property
Estimated read time: 5 Minutes
Thinking of buying an investment property? Finding an investment property loan that meets your goals could help set you up for investment success.
Whether you’re thinking of dipping a toe into the property investment pool or looking to grow your well-established investment portfolio, you may need an investment property home loan. The following article looks at investment loans, how they work and how to apply for one.
What is an investment property loan?
An investment property loan is a home loan you take out when you want to invest in property . An investment home loan has similar features to an owner-occupier home loan, but there are a few important differences.
How do investment property loans work?
If you already have a mortgage for the home you live in, you’ll know the basics of how it works. An investment property loan is similar to a residential home loan - you borrow a sum of money and pay back the loan amount and interest in regular instalments over a chosen time period.
However, buying an investment property may be riskier than buying a home to live in, for example:
You may want to talk to your broker or lender about deposit requirements and whether a larger deposit means that you could benefit from a lower interest rate.
Just like a standard residential home loan, there are different types of investment home loans. You can choose from:
Fixed or variable rate
Interest-only or principal and interest:
Different investment loan types will work for different people and circumstances. We’re happy to talk discuss options so you can decide what’s best for you.
How do I get an investment property loan?
You can get an investment home loan from your bank, or a non-bank lender such as Pepper Money.
Property is a big investment, so it’s worth comparing a few options. It could be a good idea to consider a lender who understands the needs of property investors, and can give you loan options which could suit your needs. Securing conditional approval beforehand can help you start your investment property journey and help you negotiate an offer on an investment opportunity.
At Pepper Money, we can provide a credit decision within 2 business days, so you won’t be left waiting. We’re also flexible – we’ll do our best to give you options, if we can, rather than an outright no. Whatever your situation, we’re here to help.
Can I use the equity in my home to buy an investment property?
If you’ve built up some equity in your own home, you may choose to put that towards your investment property rather than having to do all the hard yards and save up the full deposit amount.
If you’re interested in doing this, you’ll need to know how much ‘usable’ equity you have on your existing home loan.
For example, let’s say your home is valued at $800,000 and you still owe $500,000 on your mortgage.
Your equity is $300,000. Typically, not all of this can be put towards a deposit, only a portion known as usable equity can be utilised and is based on the loan to value ratio of your home. Commonly, lenders use a loan to value ratio (LVR) of 80% to calculate usable equity, although a lower LVR may be commonplace for investment loans.
In this example 80% of the value of the home is $640,000, so your usable equity is $640,000 - $500,000 = $140,000.
You can put this $140,000 towards a deposit on an investment property, as well as to cover stamp duty and other fees such as settlement fees.
Do I qualify for an investment property loan?
Like any other loan, you are likely to need to show evidence of your income, expenses, savings and credit history – through these may not all be required for certain lenders. Your lender will also look at your assets including other property you own, and your debts and liabilities – like credit cards, car loans and any other loans you have.
If you have a less than perfect credit history (e.g. late payments, defaults), your income fluctuates, or you want to combine multiple properties as security, then you may not be eligible for an investment loan with some lenders. But you don’t necessarily need to wave farewell to your dream of property investment as some lenders may have a more flexible approach.
At Pepper Money, we take a flexible approach to credit assessment. We know real-life doesn’t fit into neat little boxes. We’ll take the time to understand the story behind your application – then we’ll do our best to look for a solution that suits you.
Ready to grow your investment portfolio?
Before you start, it’s a good idea to do your research to make sure property investment is right for you. Consult a financial adviser, crunch the numbers and get clear on your financial goals. Once you’re ready, find a mortgage broker or you can check out our Pepper Money home loan or speak to one of our lending specialists.
Contributor | Vasè Marcevska, Head of Direct Sales – Mortgages and Personal Loans
Vasè has over 16 years of experience in the Banking and Finance sector, specifically within the Third Party and Consumer lending industry. Her expertise now focuses on enhancing our Customer program through a deep understanding of mortgage origination and service excellence across our Financial products.
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Information provided is factual information only and is not intended to imply any recommendation about any financial product(s) or constitute tax advice. If you require financial or tax advice you should consult a licensed financial or tax adviser.
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