Investment loans
Lisa Shen has spent 20+ years acquiring sites, running feasibilities and financing developments. That's the experience behind every investment loan we structure — from a first rental to a growing portfolio.
The difference experience makes
Feasibility, holding costs, construction drawdowns, the sprint to refinance before an interest-only cliff — Lisa has managed all of it with her own projects on the line.
The structural choice
The most consequential decision on an investment loan isn't the rate — it's the repayment structure. Here's the honest trade-off.
Cash flow & deductibility
Equity & price
Which one suits you depends on tax position, cash flow and what the property needs to do in your plan. Read Lisa’s full explainer or ask us to model both.
Using what you've built
Most investors don't save their second deposit — they release it. Done in the right order, it protects both your tax position and your future borrowing power.
01
Most lenders will lend against 80% of your property's value (sometimes more with LMI). Usable equity is that figure minus your current loan balance.
02
A separate split or line of credit keeps investment borrowing cleanly separated from personal debt — which your accountant will thank you for at tax time.
03
The released equity becomes the deposit and costs on the investment purchase, often letting you buy without touching cash savings.
04
Avoiding cross-collateralisation and choosing lenders in the right order preserves borrowing power for purchase two, three and beyond.
Good to know
Straight answers on deposits, structures and the mechanics of building a portfolio.
Usually 10–20% of the purchase price plus costs, though many investors use equity in an existing property instead of cash. With 20% down you avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance; some lenders accept less for strong applicants.
It depends on your cash flow, tax position and strategy. Interest-only maximises deductible debt and frees cash flow — useful while you hold non-deductible home debt or run a project. P&I is cheaper and builds equity faster. We model both against your actual numbers, and we'd encourage you to involve your accountant on the tax side.
In most cases, yes — it's how the majority of our investor clients fund their first purchase. If your home is worth $900,000 with a $500,000 loan, you may have around $220,000 of usable equity at an 80% lend. Structured properly, that covers a deposit and costs without selling anything.
It's when one loan is secured by two or more properties. It can seem convenient, but it hands the lender control over your whole portfolio — complicating sales, refinances and equity releases later. We structure loans stand-alone wherever possible.
Yes. Lisa's background is in property development, and Capital Finder arranges construction loans, land bank facilities and small-development finance alongside standard investment lending. If your plans involve a build, you're in experienced hands.
Most count 75–90% of expected rent towards your serviceability, verified by a rental estimate or existing lease. Some lenders are notably more generous than others for portfolio investors — choosing the right order of lenders can add hundreds of thousands to total capacity.
Take the first step
Bring your numbers — or just your idea. A free assessment maps your equity, capacity and structure options across 50+ lenders.
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