Buying an Investment Property: Financing Tips

If you travel back in time and rewind 30 years, you’ll notice that the average Australian would rarely dream of buying an investment property. However, real estate investment began to steadily increase throughout the 90s and 2000s. These days, based on the latest data from the ATO, around 20% of Australian taxpayers are investing in property.

Why Consider Buying an Investment Property?

Why are so many people buying an investment property these days? Investing in real estate offers some serious advantages, including:

Potential appreciation in value
A source of income through rental yields
Possible tax benefits

Historically, property values in Australia have increased over time, making investing in property a comparatively “safe” way to grow your wealth. That’s why investing in real estate is considered by many to be a strong and stable financial plan.

Set Realistic Goals Before Investing in Real Estate

When you know exactly what you want to achieve – whether it’s steady rental income or long-term appreciation – you can tailor your property search to match those objectives. For example, if your goal is regular income, residential properties may be ideal. Commercial properties, on the other hand, might be better suited to those aiming for long-term growth. Having a clear goal in mind will help you to invest wisely, aligning your choices with your financial objectives.

Do Thorough Research Before Buying an Investment Property

Once you’ve established your real estate investment goals, you’re ready to start house hunting, right? Not exactly. It’s important that you thoroughly research and understand market trends before making important real estate investment decisions.

What kind of factors should you consider?

Capital Growth

Check that the area has strong growth-trend indicators. What is the median house/unit price in the area? Has that price gone up over the past 5 years?

Vacancy Rates and Rental Yield

Research local vacancy rates for rental properties (a high vacancy rate is a bad sign) and check what the average rental yield is for real estate investment properties in the area.

Investment Location

Remember that you’re looking for a location that will appeal to tenants. Access to schools, shops and public transport are big drawcards, whereas proximity to heavy industry or airports may be a deterrent.

Property Type, Age and Features

Units will be cheaper to buy initially, but how much are the strata fees? A house may cost more to buy and maintain, but will that be offset by higher rental yields? An older property is typically more affordable but comes with higher maintenance costs. Finally, certain features (such as additional bathrooms or a garage) will allow you to charge more.

A local real estate agent can often provide valuable insights into what kinds of rental properties are popular and which areas are experiencing low vacancy rates.

Financing Options for Investing in Real Estate

When buying an investment property there are several different financing options available:

Mortgages: Traditional loans for buying residential properties, with fixed or variable interest rates.

Interest-Only Loans: Where borrowers pay only interest for a specified period, reducing initial repayment amounts.

Home Equity Loans: A loan that uses existing home equity as collateral for a new loan.

Line of Credit Loans: A flexible loan allowing withdrawals up to a predetermined credit limit.

SMSF Loans: Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) loans for property investment within a superannuation fund.

Construction Loans: Specifically for building or renovating properties.

Commercial Property Loans: Customised financing specifically intended for business-related properties.

Investing in Property with the Help of a Broker

Investing in real estate can be a significant step towards growing long-term wealth. But to ensure you maximise your real estate investment returns, you need to start with the right finance. A mortgage broker can help you optimise your real estate investment by identifying which finance option is right for you.

At Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions, our brokers can walk you through the entire process of buying an investment property, ensuring you have everything you need to make an informed decision.

Ready to embark on your real estate investment journey? Book a free consultation with the experienced brokers at Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions today.

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Chris Wilson

Meet Chris Wilson, the heart of Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions (SCFS). With over a decade of experience in finance, Chris started his journey as a broker with Aussie Home Loans in 2009. His dedication earned him the title of Rookie of the Year in 2010. By 2011, he was ready to build a business based on trust and strong partnerships.

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John Stevenson

Absolutely outstanding service. Our needs to re mortgage were far from simple yet SCF Solutions didn’t give up and persevered. Saying they went above and beyond would be an understatement. Would highly recommend their services again and again. Thanks

Cassie Morris

My husband and I just bought our second property with the guidance of SCFS. Chris, Adam & Shanina are all incredible at what they do which made the finance side of our purchase simple. They are always willing to go above and beyond for their customers and answer any question, no matter how small. We wouldn't use any other mortgage broker for our finance needs. Highly recommend!

Anthony Fox

Excellent experience with our finance requirements. Would highly recommend.

Liam Kelly

We are completely satisfied with, and trust this company to have our best interests at heart, so much so that we have recommended them to others who have then went on to do business with them.

Sara Williams

We called Chris out of the blue and wondering if there was a clever way to secure finance for a dream house. Chris was friendly, approachable and straight away was able to offer solutions for our situation. He and Adam kept us up to date, were so easy to deal with and genuinely felt like they were on our side working with us for the best outcome. We have been very impressed and would highly recommend Chris, Adam, Shanina and the rest of the team for any finance needs. Thank you team for all your help.

stephen waterson

Amazing crew to deal with. Always prompt and helpful. Their communication was outstanding and it was an absolute pleasure to deal with everyone involved.
Don’t hesitate to put your trust in these guys. They are very professional and very good at what they do. 10/10

Emma Hagan

Deanna Chelepy

Always a pleasure dealing with Daryl and team. Always prompt, efficient and helpful working towards best outcomes for us. It is greatly appreciated. Thanks team!

Hayden McKelvey

Highly recommend Adam at SCSF he made the whole loan process hassle free and their communication during the entire time was excellent.

araiza ariza

Thanks to SCF for their unwavering support throughout our home loan journey. As first-time homeowners, the process felt overwhelming at times, but the team ensured that every step was covered and guided us toward the best loan option. They were incredibly attentive to every detail, always ready to clarify anything we needed. Working with them made us feel supported every step of the way. A special thank you to Chris, Adam, and Shanina for their exceptional help.

Michelle Mazlin

Chris has been amazing in helping me secure a huge decrease on my home loan interest rates. There is absolutely no way I could have achieved that without his advice. No only is he knowledgeable but incredibly friendly and an absolute pleasure to deal with. If I could give 6 stars I would 😊

Asha Kay

I highly recommend Chris and his team! They have helped me twice in the last 3 years and I cannot thank them enough!

Ryan Jones

SCFS are brilliant. Chris and the team have been exceptional every step of the way and have really made things easy for us. Super efficient and generous with their time. Highly recommend!

Ashley Schmerl

Exceptional communication and highly efficient. Slightly complex case with one applicant PAYG and another being paid through owned businesses. Able to provide clear advice and guide us through the process when other brokers (including a bank directly) made it far more difficult. Approved within 2 days.

Sophia Tapp

The whole team at SCF Solutions always exceed our expectations. everything is always taken care of in such a professional and punctual matter, and they always have your best interest at the forefront of any transactions. Would highly recommend their service. 10/10

Sarah Foster

I've been using Sunshine Coast Finance for a number of years over which time they have taken care of the finance for 3 properties. I can't recommend them enough.

Helen Hawksworth

Great! They got the deal done and over the Christmas break. Really good communicators and appreciated the initial Zoom meeting at a busy time and the continued easy, fast responsiveness.

Cheryl Southwell

Adam is fantastic from beginning til the end. No question or multiple phone call was a problem. Comunication and organising documents was timely. We are very grateful for helping us get our Loan. I give Adam and the team from SCFS 5 🌟

Tam

Great to deal with. Good communication and understood our situation and helped us achieve our goal. Made things so much simpler.

Jessica Wilson

Chris and Daryl were a pleasure to deal with - attentive and on the ball. Both Extremely knowledgeable, they helped me select the right bank that would suit my individual needs. Thank you!

Daynah Lawrence

Once again, Chris and his team have gone above and beyond to achieve our goal. It was a stressful round this time, but the team worked their magic again. Special mention to Adam, this is the first time dealing with him, and he worked quickly, kepted us well informed the whole way and communication was excellent. Thank you again SCFS, you know we will be returning customers.

Joanne Sansom

Can highly recommend Chris and his team at Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions. Chris always provides a prompt and professional service, nothing is ever too much trouble and always goes above and and beyond. Chris is extremely down to earth and explains things in simple terms. Thanks Chris for all your help you have provided and will most definitely continue to use you and recommend you.

Jess paton

Cannot recommend SCF enough!!!

2 years ago i reached out to the team hopeful to put a plan in place thinking we could purchase in a few years, only to find we were closer than we thought possible.

The staff provided the info and game plan we needed.
The process rolled so smoothly when we touched base a couple of months later. The team at SCF all played their part to make the process seamless and worry free.
We are now the proud home owners of a house in an area we dreamed of Sunny Coast

Fast forward to a few weeks ago I contacted SCF and the team were yet again proactive and efficient with coming up with a solution to our request which again happened sooner than imagined and were able to refinance to reach our desired outcome come .

Thanks so much Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions!

Jessie Binns

The team at SCFS helped us to buy our first home and we couldn’t be more impressed with the service. Chris, Adam and Shanina were extremely knowledgeable and always available when we had questions, and they worked with us to find a finance solution that was tailored to our needs. We are so grateful for their services + would definitely work with them again in the future!

Kerry Fulluck

Would highly recommend Adam, Chris and the team. Efficient, professional and excellent communication. Thank you

Donnie Dee

Very pleased, efficient, transparent and supportive! Thanks Guys.

Min Jung

Working with Chris and Adam from Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions has been a breeze! They made the whole mortgage process super easy, offering great advice and always being there to answer any questions. Their expertise and friendly approach took the stress out of it all. Highly recommend them!

john maxwell

Always had a good service from Chris and his team. They’ve sought out the best deal for our family. Highly recommended.

Mick Hills

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We had an excellent experience with Adam from SCF Solutions! He made the entire application process smooth and stress-free, showing an incredible level of knowledge and professionalism throughout. Adam’s expertise really stood out as he navigated us through a tricky financial situation with ease, finding a solution that worked perfectly for us. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend Adam and the team at SCF Solutions to anyone looking for expert financial assistance.

Emelia Morrell

Huge thank you to the team at SCF! Chris, Daryl and Shanina made purchasing our first home an absolute breeze and put our minds at ease with their expertise! Definitely recommend them to anyone! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Andrew Rogers

The service and experience the team provides, has been amazing, professional and smooth, Chris, Daryl and Shanina have been a absolute pleasure to work with during what should be a stressful time but completely took all of the stress and guess work out of the experience. I highly recommend the team and look forward to working with them again in the future. A+++++++…

Andrew Pearson

Chris and Daryl were fantastic from start to finish. Chris worked through multiple options with us over 12 months and when we finally found our perfect first home, he and the team were there to provide expert advice to get us over the line. The process was simplified and we felt confident in the teams hands.

Sally Rogers Keating

Always an amazing experience! Supportive, knowledgeable and professional. Nothing is too much for Chris and his team. Always happy to provide assistance in anyway possible. Special thanks to Adam & Shanina! I look forward to working with the SCFS team for all my future financial needs.

Casey

We have had multiple dealings with Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions.
Chris and the team have always been very helpful and transparent through the whole process.
Would definitely recommend.

Phil Cheetham

K k

Thanks once again to Chris and his wonderful team for a smooth and beneficial refinance, we're always happy with the knowledgeable advice and help we receive thanks SCFS!

Dylan Johnston

Recently dealt with Chris and Adam with respect to my finance application. My personal circumstances had changed from being an employee to then being self employed with only had received 3 months of dividends. Chris and Adam were able to work through this challenge and find me an excellent deal and got the job done. I cannot recommend a better team. I will be no doubt referring friends and colleagues to the Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions team!!

travis woodward

Very proffesional and courteous staff , always a pleasure to deal with.
Chris goes above and beyond to make sure you get the outcome your looking for and has delivered for us every time

Gemma Shipley

Can't fault the team at SCF. They helped us every step of the way and made sure we understood the whole process throughout. Friendly and professional, I would highly recommend them.

Robert Johnson

Adam and Shanina made the whole loan process hassle free and their communication during the entire time was excellent. We highly recommend the whole team at SCSF.

Rachel Hull

Chris and Adam were so helpful and professional. Continual follow up and delivery while setting clear and accurate expectations. Excellent follow up and communication made our process seamless. We really appreciate your time, advice and service thank you.

Justin Cardell

Highly recommend the team at SCF Solutions. Chris, Daryl and Shanina we're awesome to work with, helping us get our new home loan over the line.

Vanessa Cera

Best in the biz! We can't thank Chris, Daryl, Shanina and the team at SCF Solutions enough for helping us secure our new home loan. From start to finish they were very pleasent to deal with. Well done, team!

Kelly Gijsbertsen

Highly recommended.
We had never owned a house and new to the whole process including First Home Owners Grant.
Everyone in this office made this process very easy and simple to understand.
Couldn’t recommend a better company to assist anyone buying their first home.

Sue Gaskell

I've now used Chris, Adam, Shanina, Tracey and the rest of the team at SCF Solutions on a number of occasions. They make the process of obtaining a mortgage - whether new or refinance - so easy and streamlined. They kept me well informed of the process; let me know what the next steps would be and timeframes and were absolutely amazing to deal with. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again or recommend them to others. Thank you team :)

merryn hughes

Highly recommend Chris and team!! Professional, very friendly, always helpful and awesome service. Always go above and beyond to ensure we are looked after, got the best product for our needs and that we understand the details. Always impressed and satisfied!

Countryview House

Always a fantastic experience with the team at SCFS. We’d never use anyone else.

Brittanie English

Adam and the team at SCF worked quickly to secure our home finance and ensure it was the right loan for us. The team are responsive and professional.

Tamara White

The team at Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions were amazing to deal with. In a time when the financial side of things were getting tough they were able to put us in the right direction and then make it all happen. I would highly recommend SCFS.

Tana Peckham

Great follow up service. Tracey reviews our loan every year by approaching our lender and asking for a better offer and checking that we are paying the lowest rate. Saved us thousands!

Buying an Investment Property: Financing Tips

Why Consider Buying an Investment Property?

Set Realistic Goals Before Investing in Real Estate

Do Thorough Research Before Buying an Investment Property

Capital Growth

Vacancy Rates and Rental Yield

Investment Location

Property Type, Age and Features

Financing Options for Investing in Real Estate

Investing in Property with the Help of a Broker

What our Clients Say

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