SMSF ownership offers lower tax rates but comes with strict rules, higher borrowing costs, and you can never live in the property. Personal ownership gives more flexibility but at your marginal tax rate.

Yes, but only with another LRBA-compliant loan — you can't switch to a standard home loan structure.

Yes. During accumulation, effectively 10% if held over 12 months. In pension phase, completely tax-free.

Interest on SMSF property loans, property management fees, repairs, insurance, rates, legal fees, and depreciation are all tax deductible against the fund's income.

Most financial advisors recommend $200,000-$300,000. Below this, ongoing costs typically outweigh the tax benefits.

No. Residential property owned by your SMSF cannot be lived in by fund members at any stage.

It's strongly recommended. SMSF property investment involves complex tax, superannuation, and lending rules. Professional advice helps you avoid costly mistakes.

Yes. During accumulation phase, capital gains are taxed at 15% (10% effective rate if held over 12 months). In pension phase, capital gains can be tax-free.

Yes, as tenants in common. Both funds must independently meet compliance requirements and the sole purpose test.

Typically 0.5-1% higher than standard investment loans. Rates vary by lender, LVR, and property type.

No. Residential property in your SMSF cannot be used by you, family members, or any related party—ever. This includes after retirement. The property must be sold or remain as an investment.

Most lenders require $200,000-$300,000 minimum. Below this, the costs of running an SMSF and servicing a loan typically outweigh the benefits

Beyond the deposit and stamp duty, your fund pays loan repayments, council rates, insurance, property management, maintenance, and SMSF administration costs. Budget for all ongoing expenses — not just the monthly repayments.

Technically yes, but it's rarely suitable. First home buyer grants and stamp duty concessions don't apply to SMSF purchases, and you can never live in the property. Most first home buyers are better served by personal home loans with government incentives.

Comparison rates for SMSF loans work similarly to home loan products — they include fees and charges to help you compare the true cost. Always check the comparison rate, not just the advertised interest rate.

While not required, a mortgage broker who specialises in SMSF lending can help you compare options across lenders. Not all banks offer SMSF loans, so a broker can save you time finding the right product.

Yes, most SMSF loans allow additional repayments. Check with your lender about any limits or fees for extra payments.

SMSF loans have stricter eligibility requirements, lower LVRs (meaning bigger deposits), higher interest rates, and must use an LRBA structure. Unlike personal home loans, you can't use personal income to service the loan — only fund income.

Lenders assess your fund's income (rental income + contributions), apply a stress test (usually +2.5% on the current interest rate), and check that income covers repayments with a buffer. They also verify you have sufficient liquidity post-settlement.

Most SMSF loans require principal and interest repayments. Some lenders offer interest only periods (typically 1-5 years), but these are less common than with personal loans.

Yes, but only with another LRBA-compliant loan. You can refinance to get a better interest rate or loan terms, but can't switch to a standard home loan structure while the property is in your fund.

Most lenders require $200,000-$300,000 minimum. Below this, the costs of SMSF property investment typically outweigh the benefits.

Yes. You can increase annual rent through upgrades, better property management, or adjusting to market conditions. You can also reduce expenses by shopping around for insurance, reviewing property management fees, or handling some maintenance yourself. Even small improvements to profitability compound over time.

Include all property expenses: property management fees, council rates, water rates, insurance, repairs and maintenance, body corporate fees (for units), and land tax if applicable. Don't include mortgage repayments or depreciation — those are financing and tax considerations, not property expenses.

No. Rental yield measures the property's return independent of how you finance it. Your mortgage interest rate and repayments affect your personal cash flow, but not the property's yield. This lets you compare different properties on equal terms regardless of your home loan structure.

Check recent rental listings in the area, ask local property managers, or use rental data from CoreLogic or SQM Research. Be realistic — use conservative estimates rather than best-case scenarios.

Net rental yield gives a more accurate picture of profitability since it accounts for real costs. Use gross yield for quick comparisons between different properties, but always calculate net yield before making investment decisions.

It depends on your investment strategy. Cash flow-focused investors often target 5%+ net yield. Growth-focused investors may accept 3-4% if the property market has strong capital growth potential. Most property investors in Australia aim for a balance.

Yes. Gearing strategies have significant tax implications and affect your long-term financial goals. Speak to a financial adviser or accountant who understands property investment before making decisions.

Most first home buyers purchase their own home, not an investment property. But some first time investors do consider gearing as part of their strategy — particularly if they're renting where they live and buying an investment property elsewhere.

The tax benefits are greater for those on higher tax rates, but anyone can use the strategy. The key question is whether you can afford the ongoing shortfall.

Yes. As rents increase and loan principal is paid down, many negatively geared properties become neutral or positive over time. Interest rate drops can also shift the balance.

For complex portfolio decisions, tax structuring, and retirement planning, a financial planner adds value. For finding and buying properties, that's where a buyer's agent helps.

When you have sufficient equity, stable cash flow from existing properties, and the borrowing capacity to service another loan without overextending. Don't rush — each property purchase should strengthen your overall position.

Yes. Some first home buyers choose to "rentvest" — renting where they live while buying an investment property elsewhere. This can be a way to enter the property market sooner, though you miss out on first home buyer grants and stamp duty concessions.

Not necessarily. Many investors hold a home loan while also owning investment properties — the tax treatment is different. Speak to a financial planner about what makes sense for your situation.

There's no magic number. Some investors retire comfortably with 2-3 well-chosen properties; others build portfolios of 10+. Quality matters more than quantity.

Interest-only loans reduce your mortgage repayments in the short term, improving cash flow. But you're not paying down the loan principal, so you're relying entirely on capital growth to build equity. Many investors use interest-only periods strategically, then switch to principal and interest. Discuss with your mortgage broker.

Stamp duty (varies by state — budget 4-5% in NSW), legal/conveyancing fees, building and pest inspections, landlord insurance, and potentially renovation costs. Once you own, budget for council rates, property management fees, maintenance, and vacancy periods.

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We'd recommend speaking to a financial advisor or accountant before making major investment decisions — especially around tax implications, negative gearing, and how property fits your overall financial goals. We're buyer's agents, not financial advisors, so we focus on finding and buying property rather than advising on strategy.

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There's no magic number. It depends on the property values, rental income, your lifestyle costs, and whether you plan to sell or hold. Some investors retire comfortably with 2-3 well-chosen properties; others build portfolios of 10+.

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It depends on your financial situation and goals. If you can afford to top up a property and want long-term wealth, focus on high-growth areas. If you need the property to pay for itself, prioritise rental yields.

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Buy-and-hold in a well-located area with solid rental demand is the most straightforward approach. It doesn't require renovation skills or complex tax structuring, and gives you time to learn while the property (ideally) grows in value.

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Refinancing doesn't change the property's rental yield — yield is based on rent and property value, not your loan. But refinancing to a lower interest rate improves your cash flow by reducing repayments, even though the underlying yield stays the same.

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Generally inverse. When property prices rise faster than rents, yields compress. When prices fall or rents rise, yields expand. This is why high-growth markets often have lower yields — the denominator (property value) has grown faster than the numerator (rent).

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No. Residential property owned by your SMSF cannot be lived in, rented to, or used by any fund member or related party. This would breach the sole purpose test and result in significant penalties from the ATO.

Most financial advisors recommend a minimum super balance of $200,000–$300,000 before considering SMSF property investment. Below this, the costs of running an SMSF and securing finance can outweigh the benefits.

Your SMSF can co-invest with another SMSF (including a family member's SMSF), but both funds must hold the property as tenants in common, not joint tenants. The arrangement must comply with related party rules and sole purpose test requirements.

When you reach retirement age and start drawing a pension from your SMSF, the property can remain in the fund. Rental income and any future capital gains become tax-free in pension phase. Alternatively, you can sell the property and use the proceeds to fund your retirement.

No, stamp duty is calculated the same way regardless of whether you're buying personally or through an SMSF. However, some states offer stamp duty concessions for first home buyers that don't apply to SMSF purchases.

Technically yes, but it's highly complex. The property must still meet all SMSF compliance requirements, and you'll face additional challenges around foreign ownership laws, tax treaties, and practical management. Most advisors recommend sticking to Australian property.

Your SMSF is the super fund that owns the beneficial interest in the property. The bare trust (or custodian trust) is a separate legal structure that holds the legal title to the property during an LRBA. Once the loan is fully repaid, the property title transfers from the bare trust to the SMSF trustee.

You can conduct repairs and maintenance, but major renovations during an LRBA are restricted. You cannot change the fundamental character of the property while it's held by the bare trust. Once the loan is repaid and the title transfers to the SMSF, there's more flexibility—but all improvements must still be funded from the SMSF, not personal funds.

The fun part! Book a free 15 minute consultation using the form above - whether you're a first-time buyer or experienced investor.

We'll ask about your goals, budget, and timeline. You'll walk away knowing exactly what buying in this suburb looks like, what you can afford, and whether Peach is the right fit for your property journey. No prep required. No obligation. And if we're not right for you, we'll tell you straight.

Nope. Just bring your property goals and budget. We'll talk through your property journey and how we handle everything else to make your home buying experience seamless.

It's a fixed fee service, so there's no incentive to bump your purchase price. $500 + GST to get started, fully refundable. You pay the rest when we successfully buy your new home. Don't buy a property? Don't pay a cent. Fixed-fee pricing means we're motivated to get you the right property at the right price, not the most expensive one.

Yes, it's a fixed fee no matter your property price.

$0 for the first call, $500 + GST to get cracking, and you pay the rest when we successfully buy your home. Plus, if you don't end up buying a home, the retainer is 100% refundable. With our fixed fee model, you can rest easy knowing our interests are fully aligned with yours.

Our secret sauce is that we're data nerds.

If you have found and fallen in love with a suburb - whether you're drawn to quiet streets or vibrant areas near cafes and restaurants - we'll help you learn the data you need to purchase a great property there.

Each year, we invest hundreds of thousands into gathering data: pricing trends, days on market, agent track records, off-market flow, what's actually selling vs what's just listed. We'll often teach you something new about streets you've walked past for years.

Since 2023, our buyer's agency has helped 1,075+ property buyers purchase across Australia - 338 in 2025 alone. That's thousands of transactions worth of pattern recognition that no individual buyer could build on their own. You're tapping into thousands of transactions worth of insight and relationships.

Yes! Every year we find and purchase tens of off-market and pre-market properties.

Each week, we're in touch with hundreds of agents across Peach Property and we're tapped into the off-market databases. Both our Full Service and Investor options include property search and shortlist, and our search process includes both marketed properties and off-market opportunities to find your ideal property. It's helpful to know that the best value properties are oftenlisted on the market, so we don't discount properties listed online just because they're not off-market.

This is a really common reason why our clients work with Peach. It's hard to move quickly with confidence when you're buying property by yourself, especially if you're buying interstate or from overseas.

What we know is that speed can win in the real estate market. Good properties do get snapped up fast, especially in competitive suburbs. That's why we can move quickly. We're actively hunting every day, not just waiting for Saturday listings. We coordinate inspections, due diligence, and finance in parallel alongside your mortgage broker, conveyancer and financial advisor - not one after another. Our average time to purchase is one month. (which is about 9x faster than the typical buyer who spends 6 to 9 months searching.) If you've found the perfect property, we help you move before someone else does.

Yes, we can bid at auction for you.

Auctions are high-pressure by design. The auctioneer's job is to push you to your limit. Emotional decisions happen fast, and overpaying by $50K or $100K is more common than you think.

We take the emotion out of it. We set a clear ceiling based on comparable sales and what the property is reasonably worth. Then we bid on your behalf, calmly and strategically. We know when to open strong, when to hold back, and when to walk away.

Same goes for private treaty negotiations. Selling agents use tactics such as deadline pressure to get you to pay more. We've seen it all. We handle the back-and-forth, protect your position, and make sure you're not leaving money on the table.

You never have to talk to a selling agent if you don't want to.

Absolutely - this is where we shine. Buying property in Australia is adversarial. Selling agents work for the vendor, not you.

Price guides are often deliberately low to drive competition. Auction tactics are designed to push you as high as you can go.

We level the playing field for property buyers. We handle all agent communications, build your offer strategy, and negotiate or bid on your behalf. You don't have to deal with the pressure. Our clients walk in knowing what a property is worth and what it takes to win, without overpaying.

Peach has a dedicated investment property service built for this.

You get capital growth forecasts, rental yield analysis, vacancy rates, and suburb comparisons so you can see the numbers before you commit. We've helped investors buy properties that outperform the real estate market. We're not here to sell you a property, but to help you navigate the options confidently so you can make informed decisions you're proud of. If the numbers don't stack up, we'll tell you.

Yes, and we love working with first-time property buyers.

While we regularly work with investors and those buying in their self-managed super fund, helping first home buyers purchase their dream home has always been our bread and butter.

We know the process can feel overwhelming: price guides, cooling-off periods, Section 32s, strata levies. We translate the jargon and walk you through every step.

Our job is to set you up for success for the long term and help you buy a new home that actually fits your needs.

We help find and purchase existing residential property of all types: houses, units, apartments, townhouses, villas.

The due diligence changes depending on the property type. With units, we dig into strata reports, check for special levies, review building defects history, and assess the owners corporation. With houses, we focus on structural condition, land value and conditions.

Either way, you get suburb data, professional reports, and expert valuations so you're making your property purchase with full visibility.

It shows how the suburb has performed historically in terms of capital growth. But growth isn't evenly distributed. Some pockets outperform, others lag. Some streets have development upside, others have noise or planning issues that limit growth. We track these micro-markets closely. Our goal is to help you buy the right property in the right pocket, not just the right suburb.

Of course, there's always more to buying a home than investment statistics, and we're just as focused on ensuring your ideal property meets your lifestyle goals.

The median prices come from recent sales data, but here's the thing: medians can be misleading.

A suburb's median might be $1.2M, but the range could span $900K to $2M depending on the street, block size, and condition. That's why we appraise every property individually using comparable sales, recent auction results, and what we're seeing agents accept right now. Our clients don't guess - they make informed decisions and know exactly what a property is worth before they offer.

We hear the same things time and again with our clients. Buying without Peach was stressful, time-consuming and costly.

Here's how we think about it:

Save time: We find property for our clients in a median of about a month. That's much faster than the Australian average of 6 to 9 months. Plus, save valuable time spent searching and fielding real estate agent calls.

Save money: Our buyer's agents draw on their extensive knowledge to appraise your target property, so you don't overpay. They also shield you from manipulative sales tactics and emotional decisions. As negotiation and auction experts, we know exactly what strategies work to secure better property deals and lower purchase prices.

Save stress: If you've been missing out on properties, find dealing with selling agents stressful or lay awake at night wondering if you're over-paying, the team at Peach buyer's agency make the property purchase process much less overwhelming. We handle all real estate agent communications, guide you through each step of buying property in Australia with confidence and make the financial costs crytal clear - making the entire process as stress-free as possible.

A buyer's agent (also known as a buyers advocate) provides comprehensive support and expert guidance across all parts of homebuying - from search and shortlist to due diligence to expert negotiation and auction strategy.

With our deep understanding of property, you'll save valuable time and stress while giving yourself a significant advantage in the buying process. You also get access to exclusive investor-grade data, detailed appraisals, off-market properties where available, and more. Whether you're searching for your dream home or an investment property, we're with you every step of the way.