Australian mortgages for Expats today

Home loan lending in Australia has become difficult for Australians abroad and non-Australian citizens, however it’s still possible.

Planning to buy property with an Australian mortgage is something Australians have taken for granted over many years. The long-enduring economic growth cycle that Australia has enjoyed, together with a low inflationary and interest-rate environment, has meant a boom in property ownership over the last decade or more.

However since mid-2016 bank lending policies changed in response to government concerns that some foreign buyers were obtaining loans in Australia fraudulently, and so lending standards needed to be tightened.

Over the course of the next 18 months all of Australia’s major lenders dramatically reduced or completely ceased lending to non-Australia residents and/or those with foreign-currency incomes.

The changes have affected both Australian citizens (expats) and non-citizens, and their dreams of owning property, down-under. As a result off-the-plan purchases by foreign investors have become significantly more risky.

There are loans still available, but you need to know where to look. You need to accept that if high-street or the largest banks are not lending then there may be alternatives! – They’re just not so easy to find, and don’t expect all the same homeloan terms and conditions including interest rate and upfront fees, that you would find at a high-street lender.

Non-Australian applicants

When considering a mortgage and you don’t have Australian residency, first conclude if you are non-Australian whether you are eligible to buy your chosen property, (which needs to be a newly-built property), by contacting the FIRB website. There are additional fees that apply to buy property as a non-Australian.

Australian citizens

Australian citizens overseas don’t need FIRB approval, and can purchase any property, however like non-Australians, finding a lender that suits your situation and will lend to you whilst you are earning non-AUD income, could prove challenging.

Currently for Aussie expats we have access to a mortgage product with a rate of 4.99% and it applies to a variety of self-employed and employee situations. For more information, please contact Daniel for more details and an initial assessment of your mortgage loan eligibility.

Daniel Shillito

Aussie Finance and Property


One Response to “Australian mortgages for Expats today

  1. Mortgage Finance for buying off-plan in Australia | Aussie Finance & Property