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SMSF Property Loans

Q: Can I refinance my existing SMSF loan?

The ATO says the new rules do not affect refinancing of loans that existed before 10 August 2026. Whether a lender will approve a refinance is a separate question, because each lender sets its own policy. Richard can compare the lenders who currently offer SMSF refinancing.

Q: Can I borrow more when I refinance?

The ATO says refinancing is not affected, but it does not set out detail on things like increasing the loan amount. Please confirm with your SMSF accountant or solicitor before you ask a lender for a higher amount.

Q: Why are SMSF loan rates often higher?

There are fewer lenders, the paperwork is more involved, and each lender prices the risk its own way. Rates on SMSF loans are often higher than standard investor loans, which is why comparing can matter.

Q: Will it cost me anything to talk to Richard?

Richard does not charge you a fee. He is paid by the lender if your loan settles. You will still have costs from your own accountant or solicitor for fund advice.

Already hold property in your SMSF? Check what you are paying with a broker who compares the lenders still doing this well.

SMSF Property Loans and Refinancing

Property in your SMSF? Check what you are paying.

New SMSF loans to buy residential property have stopped. But if you already hold property in your SMSF, refinancing is not affected by the new rules, so it can still be worth checking you are on the right loan.

Richard looks after the lending side and works alongside your SMSF accountant and solicitor, who look after the fund side.

Start my SMSF refinance enquiry

Older couple holding the keys outside their sold home

Your situation	What it means
New SMSF loan to buy residential property, entered into on or after 10 August 2026	Restricted by the new rules
SMSF loan that was already in place before 10 August 2026	Not affected
Refinancing an SMSF loan that existed before 10 August 2026	Not affected
Contract signed and exchanged before 10 August 2026	Covered, even if it settles later
New SMSF loan for business real property	Still allowed

The new rules limit borrowing, not ownership. Whether your fund can buy residential property without a loan depends on your trust deed and investment strategy, so ask your SMSF accountant or solicitor.

What changed on 10 August 2026

The Government passed new laws that change how self-managed super funds can borrow. Under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026, a new SMSF loan (called a limited recourse borrowing arrangement, or LRBA) can only be used to buy business real property, such as commercial premises. It can no longer be used to buy new residential property.

What this means for you

If you were planning to buy

A new SMSF loan to buy residential property is no longer an option under the new rules. Your SMSF accountant and solicitor can talk you through what your fund can and cannot do now.

If you already own property in your SMSF

Your existing loan carries on. You do not have to sell, and the ATO says refinancing a loan that existed before 10 August 2026 is not affected.

If you signed a contract before the date

The ATO says binding contracts exchanged before 10 August 2026 are covered, even if settlement or the loan comes after that date. Check with your adviser before you rely on it.

Not all lenders treat SMSF lending the same

Only a small group of lenders offer SMSF loans, and each sets its own rules. Policies can also change. That is why two lenders can look at the same fund and the same property and give very different answers.

What can differ from lender to lender

Interest rates and fees
How much deposit or equity the fund needs, and the maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR)
How much cash and other assets the fund must hold after settlement
How fund income is counted, including contributions and rent
Which property types they will lend on
Whether they will refinance an existing SMSF loan, and what they need to see
Fixed or variable options, and how quickly they process paperwork

More from Richard

SMSF lending is specialist territory, and I will not pretend otherwise. My job is to look after the loan side and compare the lenders who still do this well, while your accountant and solicitor look after the fund side.

If you tell me what you have today, I can tell you honestly whether a refinance is likely to help.

Already own property in your SMSF? It can be worth a look.

With fewer lenders in the SMSF market, a loan you took out a few years ago may not be the best one available today. A refinance review can show you where you stand.

What a review looks at

Your current rate, fees and loan features
Which lenders still offer SMSF refinancing, and how their rules compare
What it would cost to switch, and how long it takes to break even
An honest answer, including when it is not worth refinancing

Have these ready

The date your SMSF loan was set up
Your latest loan statement
Your trust deed and bare trust documents
Your fund's latest financials
Rental income and a rough property value

Get fund-side advice first

SMSF rules are strict and the penalties for getting them wrong are serious. Before you refinance, talk to your SMSF accountant and solicitor about your fund and your trust deed. Richard looks after the lending side and works alongside your advisers.

Other ways to invest through your SMSF (not a loan)

New SMSF loans to buy residential property have stopped, but a fund can still invest in property in other ways, such as property syndicates and unit trusts. Richard does not give advice on these investments and does not arrange them himself.

If you want to explore them

Richard can refer you to partners who work in this area and are able to give advice
You speak with them directly, and they explain the options, risks and fees
Your SMSF accountant or solicitor should be part of the conversation too

Good to know

The new rules apply to any loan used to buy residential property, so a lender cannot top up a shortfall. If your fund is short, talk to your accountant or SMSF adviser about your options.

Investments carry risk and returns are not guaranteed. To ask about a referral, call +61 431 405 405 or get in touch.

SMSF refinancing questions, answered

Straight answers to the questions we hear most about SMSF property loans and refinancing.

Can I still buy residential property with an SMSF loan?

Not with a new loan. From 10 August 2026, a new SMSF loan can only be used to buy business real property, not residential property. Whether a fund can buy residential property without borrowing depends on its trust deed and investment strategy, so check with your SMSF accountant or solicitor.

Can I refinance my existing SMSF loan?

Can I borrow more when I refinance?

Why are SMSF loan rates often higher?

Will it cost me anything to talk to Richard?

Sources, checked 19 October 2026: Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Act 2026 (Royal Assent 26 June 2026); Australian Taxation Office, "Changes to LRBAs for property from 10 August" and "Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA) provisions". Rules, rates and lender policies can change. This is general information only and is not financial, tax or legal advice.

SMSF refinance

Tell us what you have today

Answer a few quick questions and Richard will come back to you with a straight answer on whether a refinance is likely to help. No pressure.

Start my SMSF refinance enquiry