Can I get FHB Guarantee for an investment property?

No — FHB Guarantee owner-occupied only.

How much extra deposit needed for investment vs owner-occupied?

Investment 20-25% deposit (vs 5-20% OO). Rates 0.2-0.5% higher.

Will my rent payment reduce borrowing capacity?

Yes — rent payment counts as expense; some lenders reduce serviceability further.

Best cities for rentvesting from Sydney?

Brisbane (growth), Perth (catching up), regional NSW (yield/growth mix).

Should I rentvest or wait to afford Sydney?

Often rentvesting builds wealth faster than waiting for Sydney affordability. We model.

Buying Property Refinancing

Who this guide is for

Australians wanting to rent in their primary city (typically Sydney) while buying investment property elsewhere — often regional NSW, Brisbane, or Perth.

Sydney professionals priced out of their preferred suburbs
Investors targeting Brisbane/Perth growth while staying in Sydney
FHBs choosing investment over owner-occupied due to budget
South Asian families pooling income for investment elsewhere

The local picture

Rentvesting is a valid strategy but has tradeoffs. You miss FHB schemes (designed for owner-occupiers). Lender serviceability calculations include your rent payment as expense. Tax treatment is different from owner-occupied.

How Mortgagefy helps locally

Mortgagefy works with rentvestors regularly. We model the strategy properly, identify lenders flexible with rentvesting, and coordinate with accountants for tax structure.

Free advice.

How it works — 4 simple steps

Free rentvesting chat

20-minute call about your situation and target investment city.

Compare lender options

We identify lenders flexible with rentvesting strategy.

Application support

We coordinate the investment loan and rental documentation.

Acquire the investment

You build wealth via investment while renting.

Frequently asked questions

We use offer letters and vesting schedules to value RSUs conservatively. We present current vesting value + projected future vesting as a 3-5 year income average. This gives lenders confidence in your income stability while accounting for market volatility.

Both. We work with W2 employees, 1099 contractors, and consultants. For contractors, we use 2 years of tax returns plus business financials. We have lenders who specialise in contractor income—they understand the variability.

Unvested options have zero value for refinancing. We count only vested equity. If you have a 4-year vest, we use 25% of the grant value (what's vested) plus a conservative projection of future vesting.

If you've been in your new role 6+ months, most lenders will refinance. We'll use your offer letter plus 6 months of pay stubs. If less than 6 months, it's harder but possible with specialist lenders.

Yes, if you have 2+ years of bonus history. We average the past 2 years and present it conservatively. Some bonuses get counted at 50% to be conservative with variable compensation.

ESPP is counted as deferred compensation. If your company matches or you have a discount, we value it as part of total compensation package.

Talk to us about rentvesting

Free 20-minute call about your strategy.

Start Your Free Assessment Call 0432 634 648

Get your personalised answer in 2 minutes

Free, no obligation. We'll match you with the right lender for your situation.

Model your scenarios: Use our free home loan calculators to estimate borrowing capacity, repayments, and savings.

Buying Property While Renting in Another City: Rentvesting Strategy