Owner-occupied vs investment loans - loans.com.au (2024)

Are you looking to switch your owner-occupied property into an investment, or move into your investment property? Find out how below.

It’s safe to say housing is very popular in Australia, with a sizeable portion of people with an investment property. Another sizeable portion are also at least thinking about an investment property.

However, if you’ve got a home loan attached to your property, you probably can’t just start renting it out, or move into your investment without telling anyone!

As the names imply, the difference between owner-occupiedresidences and investment properties comes down to what you intend to do with them. When you're buying a home or apartment you intend to live in, it's called an owner-occupiedproperty. If you plan to rent it to tenants, it's considered an investment.

Investment loan vs home loan

As the names imply, the difference between owner-occupiedresidences and investment properties comes down to what you intend to do with them. When you're buying a home or apartment you intend to live in, it's called an owner-occupiedproperty. If you plan to rent it to tenants or flip it, it's considered an investment.

Some people may choose to live in a home for a while and then rent it out after moving somewhere else, such as when their finances permit a transition or their careers compel them to relocate. Others may purchase a building and lease it to tenants initially, planning to move in themselves at a later date. However, if you follow this path and want torefinance your mortgageas an owner-occupier home loan, you may need to live there a set period of time before you can make the transition.

What if you purchase a property with more than one flat or apartment? If it has four or fewer units, it's typically considered owner-occupier as long as you live in one of them.

What it means for your home loan

Why does it matter? When you're applying for home loans to help you buy a house or to refinance an investment property, you'll need to specify whether you're applying for an owner-occupier loan or an investor loan. The distinction will most likely change the rate at which you'll be charged interest, whether you go with anoffset mortgage,variable rates,fixed home loanorconstruction financing.

Investment loans are typically the more expensive of the two, both in terms of interest rates and additional closing costs, such as the appraisal fee. For example, a variable interest home loan for an owner-occupier might be available at 3.39per cent interest. For investment mortgages, the interest rate for a comparable loan might be 3.79per cent. If you’re looking for the cheapest investment home loan, look for lenders that don’t charge high closing fees and ongoing fees, such as loans.com.au. Make sure to check the specifications

Furthermore, you might need to put forward a larger down payment for an investment home loan, meaning your maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) will be higher. In Australia, many major banks and other lenders have recently lowered the maximum LVR and raised interest rates forinvestor home loansin response to concerns that the lending rate for this type of mortgage is growing too quickly.

How to get a loan to buy a house

When you apply for a home loan to purchase a house, you'll need to provide information about the value of the asset, your income and liabilities such as existing debt. Lenders will evaluate these details and other considerations, including credit history, for the amount you intend to borrow and the type of loan you're looking to obtain.

Before settling on a particular type of loan, you should evaluate your options and compare rates with multiple lenders. Mortgage providers such as loans.com.au that operate entirely online can often offer better rates by cutting overhead expenses. Additionally, you should assess the financial impact of different interest rates, terms and payment plansusing a loan calculatorso you can choose the option that best suits your economic situation and goals. Speak with a trusted loan advisor if you need assistance evaluating your choices.

After you submit your application for a mortgage, the lender will contact you to discuss your eligibility, options and any other information you need to provide. For instance, you may be required to submit financial statements from the last few years, pay slips, tax documents, proof of sale of your property and documentation for your current assets and liabilities.

How to get a home loan for an investment property

For investor home loans, the requirements can be a little stricter, especially now that many banks and lenders have raised the bar on their stress tests and other criteria for non-owner-occupied properties. You'll need to demonstrate that you have a certain amount of money set aside to manage the mortgage. If you already have an investment loan, the required value of the funds set aside might be higher than if it's your first home loan. This will typically be evaluated in terms of a certain number of months of mortgage repayments for each property.

The amount you'll likely receive in rental income can also be a consideration for investment loans, since you might be able to cover the cost of your mortgage repayments and other expenses with this income. That means the investment might not actually lower your debt-to-income ratio (the percentage of your monthly income that's put towards repaying your mortgage), which is one of the factors in the loan approval process.

Mortgage lenders also take into consideration thepotential appreciation of your propertyover the course of the home loan. Both you and they may want to review information about vacancy rates for the area or property as well as trends in housing prices. These factors will come into play when you have your property valued.

How to live in your investment property

Lifestyle changes, kids leaving the nest, whatever the reason, it’s common for people to want to live in their investment property after a while. However, you likely can’t just move in - you’ll need to tell your lender first.

The bonus is that owner-occupier rates are often lower than investment loan interest rates. Plus, if you haven’t reviewed your home loan rate in a while, you could be paying too much. Switching to an owner-occupier loan is usually pretty straightforward, especially if it’s with the same lender, as they know who you are and your financial standing.

However, if you follow this path and want torefinance your mortgageas an owner-occupier home loan, you may need to live there a set period of time before you can make the transition.

How to turn your home into an investment property

Some people may choose to live in a home for a while and then rent it out after moving somewhere else, such as when their finances permit a transition or their careers compel them to relocate. However, there’s a few things you should know before refinancing to an investment loan.

Investment loans are typically the more expensive of the two. If you’re looking for the cheapest investment home loan, look for lenders that don’t charge high closing fees and ongoing fees. Furthermore, you might need to put forward a larger down payment for an investment home loan, meaning your maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) will be lower.

The amount you'll likely receive in rental income can also be a consideration for investment loans, since you might be able to cover the cost of your mortgage repayments and other expenses with this income - this is called a ‘positively geared’ property.

On the flipside, investment loans commonly come on interest-only payments. Interest-only loans are popular because it allows the investor to minimise costs while establishing themselves, and in some cases write-off the interest portion against their income if they’re making a rental loss - called ‘negative gearing’.

Investment properties can come with a range of extra considerations than owner-occupied properties. You might have to be willing to do a bit of extra market research, such as looking at vacancy rates for the area or property, as well as trends in housing prices, and typical rental yields.

Choosing the right home loan for your goals

It's very important not to misrepresent your intentions for a property when applying for a home loan. Because of the differences in rates, it might be tempting to try to obtain an owner-occupier mortgage no matter what, but loan agents are trained to evaluate whether their borrowers are committing what’s called ‘occupancy fraud’.

The differences in rates come down to the amount of risk that tends to accompany each type of home loan. With investment properties, there tends to be a greater chance of default, and therefore more exposure for the lender, among other factors.

There are better ways to ensure you're obtaining the best possible rates for your mortgage if you're purchasing an investment property. No matter what type of loan you require, the same tried-and-true tips apply: pay down your existing debts, improve your credit score, and show you can pay off a mortgage.

If you’re ready to move into your investment property, or turn your home into an investment, speak with one of our lending specialists today to talk about refinancing.

Find out if you qualify

Owner-occupied vs investment loans - loans.com.au (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between owner-occupied and investment properties? ›

As the names imply, the difference between owner-occupied residences and investment properties comes down to what you intend to do with them. When you're buying a home or apartment you intend to live in, it's called an owner-occupied property. If you plan to rent it to tenants or flip it, it's considered an investment.

What is the difference between a loan and investment loan? ›

If repayment is based on how the business does, the money could be seen as an investment. Investments will pay off or not pay off, depending on how the business does. The loan will be due no matter what or how well the business does.

What is the difference between investor and occupier? ›

As the name suggests, an owner-occupier is someone who purchases a property and lives in it. An investor is someone who purchases a property for investment purposes, i.e., with the intention of renting it out to tenants in order to make an income.

What does owner-occupied mean for SBA loan? ›

For SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) lending purposes, a property is considered owner occupied when 51 percent or more of the property's space is occupied by the owner's business, and the owner pays at least 51 percent of the rent. Beyond that, lenders want to know your business is secure.

What is the difference between buying a home and investment property? ›

Both terms refer to a property aside from your primary residence, but the difference is in how you intend to use that property. A second home is a home you intend to live in during part of the year. An investment property is one you intend to rent out rather than live in.

Is owner-occupied property considered as an investment property? ›

Another important of example of investment property is land held for a currently undetermined future use. If an entity has not decided whether it will use the land as owner-occupied property or for short-term sale in the ordinary course of business, the land is regarded as investment property.

What are the two types of investment loans? ›

Four types of loans you can use for investment property are conventional bank loans, hard money loans, private money loans, and home equity loans. Investment property financing can take several forms, and there are specific criteria that borrowers need to be able to meet.

What is an example of an investment loan? ›

For example, let's say you borrowed $10,000 to invest in stocks. The stocks went up and you sold them for $15,000; the loan interest cost you $1,000. You would only have to report a gain of $4,000 on your tax return - $5,000 in capital gains less the interest cost of $1,000.

What is a loan for an investment property called? ›

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) loan

A typical non-qualified (non-QM) DSCR loan allows a real estate investor to qualify for a mortgage based on the cash flow generated from a rental investment property instead of their personal income. This is also known as a rental investment loan or rental loan.

What advantage does an investor have over owner-occupied borrowers? ›

In the eyes of a lender, when financing a residence, what advantage does an investor have over owner-occupied borrowers? Investors are less of a risk.

What are the 3 types of investors? ›

The three types of investors in a business are pre-investors, passive investors, and active investors.

What is the difference between an investment property and a primary residence? ›

A primary residence is typically your long-term home. It's where you live, sleep, raise you family and watch TV. An investment property might be fully capable of serving as a home, but it's instead used as a means of generating income.

Can I change my home loan from investment to owner occupied? ›

And if you're a new customer, you'll need to refinance your home loan but you'll be applying for an owner occupied (live-in) home loan instead of an investment. You also don't need to record your rental income for that property in the application.

Do SBA loans have to be owner occupied? ›

In fact, SBA loans can only fund real estate that is owner-occupied, and will be used primarily by the business that is taking out the loan. However, in most cases, a business only needs to occupy 51% of the property it has purchased.

Does SBA have to be owner occupied? ›

The SBA defines “owner-occupied” as a minimum of 51% owner occupancy by square footage. SBA loans do provide for non-owner use as long as the owner utilizes at least 51% of the usable space. The SBA provides a government-backed guarantee on a portion of the loan.

What makes a property an investment property? ›

An investment property is real estate purchased to generate income (i.e., earn a return on the investment) through rental income or appreciation. Investment properties are typically purchased by a single investor or a pair or group of investors together.

What is an example of an investment property? ›

Examples of investment property are land held for appreciation and a building held for current or future leases to third parties.

Is it risky to buy an investment property? ›

Real estate investing can be lucrative, but it's important to understand the risks. Key risks include bad locations, negative cash flows, high vacancies, and problem tenants. Other risks to consider are the lack of liquidity, hidden structural problems, and the unpredictable nature of the real estate market.

Is an owner occupied property held by an owner? ›

Owner-occupied property- is property held (by the owner or by the lessee under a finance lease) for use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes.

Does investment property count as income? ›

You must report rental income for all your properties. In addition to amounts you receive as normal rent payments, there are other amounts that may be rental income and must be reported on your tax return.

Is buying a house an investment or liability? ›

Given the financial definitions of asset and liability, a home still falls into the asset category. Therefore, it's always important to think of your home and your mortgage as two separate entities (an asset and a liability, respectively).

Can I use my house as collateral to buy another house? ›

The short answer is yes, although the advantages and disadvantages of this course of action may depend on what the second property is used for. It could also be a good option for those interested in buying an investment property.

Is it harder to get a mortgage for an investment property? ›

Investment property loans are more difficult to get than traditional mortgage loans. However, this is because investment property loans are considered more high-risk investments for lenders. If your investment property falls through, you may not pay back the loan.

How many days does a borrower have to cancel on an investment property? ›

Key Takeaways

Established by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) under U.S. federal law, the right of rescission allows a borrower to cancel a home equity loan, home equity line of credit (HELOC), or refinance with a new lender, other than with the current mortgagee, within three days of closing.

What does an investment loan do? ›

Borrowing to invest gives you access to more money to invest. This can help increase your returns or allow you to buy bigger investments, such as property. There may also be tax benefits if you're on a high marginal tax rate, such as tax deductions on interest payments. But, the more you borrow the more you can lose.

What is investment loan interest? ›

An investment property mortgage rate is the interest rate on a loan used to purchase or refinance an investment property, which is one that a borrower does not intend to live in as their primary residence. Most of the time, these properties are bought to generate rental income or to increase in value over time.

What are 4 examples of loans? ›

Here are eight of the most common types of loans and their key features.
  • Personal Loans. ...
  • Auto Loans. ...
  • Student Loans. ...
  • Mortgage Loans. ...
  • Home Equity Loans. ...
  • Credit-Builder Loans. ...
  • Debt Consolidation Loans. ...
  • Payday Loans.
Oct 13, 2021

Can a DSCR loan be owner occupied? ›

DSCR is normally limited to investment properties. For owner-occupied properties, lenders tend to more closely evaluate the net operating income of the business to ensure that the business can service the new debt.

What is an example of owner occupied property? ›

For example, if an individual buys a house and lives in the house while renting out the basem*nt, the property is considered owner-occupied because the landlord lives in the property.

Can you have two primary residences? ›

Can you have two primary residence mortgages? No, you cannot legally have two primary residences. Even if you split your time equally between two places or in between places while relocating for work, the IRS requires you list one property as a primary residence while filing taxes.

How do you get around owner occupancy? ›

Lending companies cannot force a homeowner to live in a home when they have legitimate reasons –– or even desires –– to move. However, to get out of the owner-occupancy clause on a primary residence home loan, the owner should be able to prove that they had every intention of occupying the home at the time of purchase.

What is the 72 rule of finance? ›

Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What are the 4 basic rules for investors? ›

The golden rules of investing
  • If you can't afford to invest yet, don't. It's true that starting to invest early can give your investments more time to grow over the long term. ...
  • Set your investment expectations. ...
  • Understand your investment. ...
  • Diversify. ...
  • Take a long-term view. ...
  • Keep on top of your investments.

How do investors get paid back? ›

The most common way to repay investors is through dividends. Dividends are payments made to shareholders out of a company's profits. They can be paid out in cash or in shares of stock, and they're typically paid out on a quarterly basis. Another way to repay investors is through share repurchases.

How do lenders know if its your primary residence? ›

The type of house you buy can influence two things: the type of mortgage loan you apply for and what your lender will look for during the mortgage approval process. Mortgage lenders consider your primary residence the place you move into within 60 days of purchase and live in for most of the year.

Can I Airbnb my primary residence mortgage? ›

The short answer is yes, you can Airbnb a mortgaged property, but there are things you need to keep in mind in doing so. Firstly, what is the purpose of your mortgage? If it is to purchase an investment property (e.g. rental property), then things will be relatively simpler.

Can a married couple have two primary residences? ›

Can a husband and wife buy separate primary residences? Yes, married spouses could buy separate primary residences if they don't co-borrow on each other's mortgages. Each borrower would need enough income and credit to qualify for a mortgage as a sole borrower.

How do I convert my primary residence to an investment property? ›

How to convert your primary residence to a rental property
  1. Check with your lender to see if you can use your mortgage for a rental property. ...
  2. Add landlord liability insurance. ...
  3. Apply for licenses and permits. ...
  4. Prep the property. ...
  5. Get property management software.
Nov 21, 2022

Can I lose my house if I default on SBA loan? ›

Lender seizes your collateral

When you default on an SBA loan, your lender will reach out to inform you of your default status. Next, the lender will seize any collateral — e.g., real estate, inventory, equipment — that you used to secure your SBA loan and sell it to recover its losses.

What is the 20 ownership rule for SBA? ›

SBA requires a personal guaranty from owners of 20 percent or more of the borrower as a prudent and reasonable risk mitigation measure. SBA applies the requirements for personal guarantees at § 120.160 to all SBA business loans unless otherwise prohibited by law.

Can you sell home with SBA loan? ›

In general, you will need permission to sell your home if the SBA lender placed a lien when you took out your SBA loan. There are many circ*mstances under which you may need to sell a home with an SBA lien on it.

What does owner occupied mean for SBA loan? ›

For SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) lending purposes, a property is considered owner occupied when 51 percent or more of the property's space is occupied by the owner's business, and the owner pays at least 51 percent of the rent. Beyond that, lenders want to know your business is secure.

What is classified as owner occupied? ›

An owner-occupied property is a piece of real estate in which the person who holds the title (or owns the property) also uses the home as their primary residence. The term “owner-occupied” is commonly associated with real estate investors who live in a property and rent out separate spaces to tenants.

What is considered non owner occupied? ›

A non-owner-occupied property is one in which the owner does not occupy the property. Non-owner-occupied properties have higher loan rates than properties that are owner occupied.

What classifies as an investment property? ›

Investment Property Definition

An investment property is real estate purchased to generate income (i.e., earn a return on the investment) through rental income or appreciation. Investment properties are typically purchased by a single investor or a pair or group of investors together.

What is different about investment property? ›

The definition of an "investment property" is a property that's: not your primary residence, and. is purchased or used to generate income, profit from appreciation, or take advantage of certain tax benefits.

What is the 1 rule for investment property? ›

What Is The 1% Rule In Real Estate? The 1% rule of real estate investing measures the price of the investment property against the gross income it will generate. For a potential investment to pass the 1% rule, its monthly rent must be equal to or no less than 1% of the purchase price.

Which is not an investment property? ›

Examples of assets that are not investment property are property intended for sale in the near term, property being constructed for a third party, owner-occupied property, and property leased to a third party under a finance lease.

What is an investment property loan? ›

An investment property loan is a mortgage for the purchase of an income-producing property. That includes buying properties to generate rental income or to renovate and sell for a profit (more commonly known as house flipping).

Can I convert my primary residence to an investment property? ›

Did you know turning your primary residence into an investment property turns you into a rental real estate investor? As a new landlord, you can have a rental agreement, start charging fair market value rents—you may even be able to pay a part of your mortgage and receive some positive cash flow.

Do investment properties have higher interest rates? ›

Are interest rates higher for investment property loans? Investment property loan rates are almost always higher than conventional loan rates, including second home loan rates, due to the steeper risk an investment property poses compared to a primary residence.

What are the three main parts of an investment property? ›

A real estate investment property is like a money machine. It has three main parts: income, expenses, and financing.

What are the four general categories of investment property? ›

Real estate investments can occur in four basic forms: private equity (direct ownership), publicly traded equity (indirect ownership claim), private debt (direct mortgage lending), and publicly traded debt (securitized mortgages).

Why are investment properties a good idea? ›

Real estate investors make money through rental income, appreciation, and profits generated by business activities that depend on the property. The benefits of investing in real estate include passive income, stable cash flow, tax advantages, diversification, and leverage.

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