SMSF Mortgage Broker – Geelong & Surf Coast

There’s no legislated minimum, but many advisers suggest at least $200k–$250k in the fund before considering property. Lenders will look at deposit (usually 20–30% plus costs), contributions, rent and how much cash remains as a buffer. We model scenarios with your accountant so the fund isn’t left short, whether you’re buying in Geelong, the Surf Coast or Bellarine.

Generally no for residential property — even if it’s “close to the coast” or you’re thinking about occasional use. If your SMSF buys a residential house/unit around Geelong, the Bellarine or Surf Coast, it must be held as a genuine investment: members and relatives can’t live in it, holiday in it, or rent it on favourable terms. Commercial property can often be leased to your own business at market rent (with the right documentation), but you’ll want your accountant/adviser to confirm the compliance side before contracts are signed.

An LRBA (limited recourse borrowing arrangement) is the SMSF borrowing structure where a holding/bare trust buys the property and holds legal title while the loan is in place. The lender’s rights are limited to that single property (not other SMSF assets), but the trade-off is documentation precision: the contract purchaser details, holding trust, trustee names and lender requirements must line up properly. We coordinate with your solicitor and SMSF administrator early so Victorian contracts and settlement timelines don’t get derailed by a “name mismatch” or trust reference issue late in the process.

Treat it as a team job. Most Geelong trustees will have (1) an SMSF accountant/administrator to confirm the deed, setup and ongoing compliance, (2) a licensed financial adviser to confirm suitability and strategy, and (3) an SMSF-experienced solicitor for the holding trust/LRBA docs and contract alignment — plus (4) a lending specialist who understands current SMSF lender policy. We run the lender process and structure conversation; your adviser team confirms the “should you” and the compliance requirements before you commit.

Borrowed funds are generally limited to repairs and maintenance. Major improvements, extensions or development often need to be funded from existing SMSF cash and can trigger additional rules. Always speak with your accountant, adviser and lender before signing any building or renovation contracts.

Property can concentrate risk if it becomes the majority of your fund. We look at your whole SMSF balance, age and plans, then your adviser can confirm whether the level of concentration and gearing suits your risk profile and retirement timeline.

Sometimes. Not all lenders accept SMSF refinances, and extra checks apply to the trust deed, bare trust and property. We review your current structure and loan, then outline which lenders may consider a refinance and whether the savings justify the costs.

Allow extra time compared with a standard home loan. From first chat to conditional approval can take one to three weeks depending on documents and your existing SMSF set-up. Bare trust, contracts and settlement timing often require 30–60 days or more. We’ll help you negotiate realistic finance and settlement dates.

We stress-test your scenario with higher rates and periods of vacancy so you can see the impact on cash flow and buffers before you proceed. If the fund can’t stay comfortably liquid under stress, we’ll say so and help you and your adviser adjust or reconsider the strategy.

Exit strategies matter as much as entry. We explain how selling, moving into pension phase or paying down the loan interacts with your LRBA and trust structure. Your accountant and adviser will model tax and retirement outcomes; we ensure the loan and lender process align with that plan.

In some cases yes, for example where unrelated SMSFs co-invest in a larger commercial property. Policy and documentation requirements are much stricter. If you’re exploring this, we’ll outline lender appetite and then work with your advice team on the right structure.

Start with a quick call or enquiry. We’ll run high-level numbers, outline which lenders may suit and give you a checklist to take to your accountant and adviser. Once everyone is comfortable with the strategy, we move to a full application and valuation so you can buy or refinance with confidence.