Wealth is built with other people's money.
The trick is knowing whose - and how much.
At Habitat Finance, we give it to you straight. No jargon, no waffle, and no shotgunning your application to twelve lenders. We structure your investment finance properly - so it works now and keeps working as your portfolio grows.
Whether you're buying your first investment property, recycling equity from your home, expanding a portfolio, or navigating a structure your bank's relationship manager has never seen before - we're in your corner. Not just for this deal. For good.
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Investment finance we arrange.
Investment finance isn't one product - it's a capital strategy. The product matters less than how it's structured, what it's secured against, and how it fits with your tax position and everything else you've got going on.
Residential investment loans
Single properties, portfolios, and staged acquisition strategies. We assess interest-only periods, offset structures, and entity selection against your full financial picture.
Portfolio refinancing
Already invested but your structure's a mess? We review your full portfolio - rates, lender mix, cross-collateralisation, and equity positions - and rebuild it properly.
Using your home equity to invest
Your home is probably your biggest asset - and your most underutilised. We help you access that equity and deploy it into investments that build long-term wealth.
SMSF investment lending
Borrowing inside your SMSF to buy property. Strict rules, a narrow lender panel, and a lot of paperwork. We know the compliance requirements and coordinate with your auditor and accountant.
Debt recycling
Converting non-deductible home loan debt into tax-effective investment debt. We handle the lending mechanics; your accountant confirms the tax treatment.
Commercial property investment
Industrial, retail, office, and mixed-use. Different LVR rules and risk assessment to residential. Covered in full on our Commercial Property page.
Getting the structure right.
Getting finance approved is one thing. Getting it structured so it doesn't quietly limit your options three years from now - that's something else.
The goal is not the lowest rate. The goal is the right structure - one that grows with you, protects your equity, and doesn't collapse the moment your circumstances change.
Keep your securities separate
Lenders love cross-collateralisation. We structure facilities to keep each security independent wherever possible - so you can sell, refinance, or release equity from one asset without the bank having a say over everything else you own.
Debt recycling done properly
Debt recycling converts non-deductible home loan debt into deductible investment debt over time. It requires precise sequencing and ATO compliance. We set up the lending mechanics. Your accountant confirms the tax treatment. Both matter.
Serviceability across the portfolio
On a five-property portfolio, the difference between how lenders assess rental income can mean $400K of additional borrowing capacity. We know which lenders assess investment positions most favourably for your situation.
Interest-only periods used strategically
IO periods paired with offset accounts, redraw facilities, and staged equity releases require a deliberate structure - not a default product selection from a comparison site.
Entity and ownership structure
Personal name, company, trust, SMSF - each has different implications for asset protection, land tax, and borrowing capacity. We finance your accountant's chosen structure and flag lending implications before you commit.
We work best alongside your advisory team.
The best outcomes come from three-way collaboration: us, the client, and their accountant or financial adviser. The finance structure and the broader wealth strategy need to be speaking the same language.Where we're most useful to accountants and advisers:
Entity structure compatibility - confirm which lenders will finance the recommended ownership arrangement and what documentation is required
Debt recycling execution - set up the split loans, offset accounts, and redraw sequencing so the strategy works as intended
Borrowing capacity modelling - model serviceability across our lender panel before your client commits to a purchase
Pre-settlement coordination - manage the full application and flag any structural issues before settlement
We welcome referrals from accountants, financial advisers, and solicitors. We keep you across the transaction, respect your client relationship, and refer any tax or strategic advice back to you.
FAQs.
How does debt recycling actually work?
It progressively converts non-deductible home loan debt into deductible investment debt as you pay down your home and redraw to invest. Done properly, it dramatically improves your after-tax position. Done incorrectly, it's an ATO problem. We handle the lending mechanics; your accountant confirms the tax treatment.
Can I borrow inside a trust or company?
Yes - but your lender options narrow. Most major banks only lend to individuals or simple family trusts. Corporate trustees and unit trusts reduce the panel significantly. We map your structure against our full lender panel before you commit.
What is cross-collateralisation and why does it matter?
It's when a lender uses multiple properties as security across your loans, giving them control and making it harder to sell or refinance any one asset. We structure your facilities to avoid this wherever possible.
How much can I borrow for investment?
It depends on income, existing debts, rental income, and which lender is assessing you - two lenders can produce meaningfully different outcomes for the same borrower. We model your capacity across multiple lenders using your actual numbers, not online calculators.
Can you help with a complex structure or multiple properties?
That's what we're here for. Complex doesn't mean impossible - it means you need a broker who has actually read a trust deed. We have.
Do you work with SMSF borrowers?
Yes. We work alongside your SMSF auditor and accountant to ensure the lending structure is compliant and lender conditions are met. We don't provide SMSF financial advice - that's your financial adviser's job.