Compare investment home loans for September 2024

Australians are huge fans of investing in property to grow their wealth. Investing in residential real estate can offer tax-friendly returns and long-term growth. Mozo’s expert guides and handy calculators can help you compare investment loan rates, including interest-only and low-rate mortgage deals.

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Last updated 8 September 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*

Investment property loan comparisons on Mozo

  • Unloan Variable

    • Investment
    • LVR <80%
    Interest rate
    6.29 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.20 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,092
    Go to site

    Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for investors. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply online in minutes.

  • Neat Home Loan

    • Investor
    • Principal & Interest
    • LVR <60%
    Interest rate
    6.24 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    6.26 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $3,075
    Go to site

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September Investment Home Loan Snapshot

If you’re a property investor who wants to maximise their income, it’s important to reduce as many of your expenses as possible. 

Your investment home loan repayments will be one of your larger expenses which, if you find the right one, can help shave down your monthly costs significantly.

For example, the average variable investor loan rate† in the Mozo database is 7.11% p.a., while the lowest rate is 6.04% p.a. (6.09% p.a. comparison rate*), from Easy Street.

On a $400,000 investor home loan over 25 years, this is a monthly difference of $268, highlighting why it’s so important to make sure you’re on a competitive rate.

Lowest investment loan rates in September 2024

Out of the offers we track, the lowest investment variable home loan rates (P&I, $400K, LVR <80%) are all well below the average rate in the database, as at 1 September 2024, and include: 

Variable investor loan rates

Fixed investor loan rates 

For more information on property investing, browse our home loan guides for tips and tricks, including why investors pay more for a home loan.

†Average investment home loan rate based on a $400,000 investment loan in the Mozo database, for a borrower with <80% LVR, making principal and interest payments, over 25 years. Correct as at 1 September 2024. 

Investment Knowledge Hub

What is an investment home loan?

Investment home loans are used to purchase properties that the borrower doesn’t intend to live in. 

Instead, investors borrow the money to buy a property, intending to rent it out and profit both from rental income and (ideally) from property value growth.

This type of home loan differs from the sort you’d apply for if you wanted to live in the property yourself. Those are known as owner-occupier home loans.

How to compare investment home loans

Investment loans aren’t one-size-fits-all, but a general guideline is to look for a loan that balances features and costs with your property investing aims. 

When you compare, look at: 

1. Interest rates 

The interest rate on your loan will determine partly how much you need to repay each month. The higher your interest rate, the more you will need to charge your tenants for rent. Charge too much, and no one will be able to afford your rental, or you’ll start paying for your mortgage out of pocket. 

Look for lenders charging lower than the average investment loan rate (see the monthly snapshot above for the latest figures). Typically, you’ll find lower interest rates from smaller lenders, rather than the Big Four banks. 

2. Fees

Another consideration to make when you compare investment loans is fees. Simply put, they’ll eat into your profits. So, try to minimise your exposure to ongoing fees, and be aware of how much application and settlement fees set you back. 

3. Loan features

Different investment loans have options that could help you save, like free extra repayments, redraw facilities, offset accounts, and interest-only periods. Look into which features could be helpful to you.

Investing in a second property

Investing in real estate can make it easier to finance a second property, such as another investment or your dream home. How? By using your home equity.

Your equity is the value of your ownership. If you own a property worth $1 million but have $200k left on your mortgage, then you have $800k in home equity. 

Equity ($$) = Property value - loan value

If your loan size decreases or your property value increases, your equity rises. 

Equity is a form of wealth you can use to fund projects, like a second property. How it works is you refinance your home loan to “borrow” from your equity, giving you some cash. 

However, this tactic has pros and cons, so read more in the button below.

What are the benefits of investment home loans?

Only some people find their dream home right away. And that’s okay! Investment home loans let you access the benefits of owning property without living there.

Some perks of investing in property include:

  • Capital gains when you sell.
  • Rental income from tenants. 
  • Home equity as your ownership share increases.

The right investment home loan can make your investment profitable by cutting down on extra costs and accelerating your property journey toward full ownership.

Australian property is a relatively low-risk asset since property prices generally increase over time (a phenomenon called “capital growth”), though this will vary by location and property. 

Property investors also get a host of tax benefits.

Hot Tip!

Consult a tax professional to see what you can claim on your taxes. Eligibility for deductions with vary by property investor.

Investment Home Loan Calculators

Can your investment turn a profit? Crunch the numbers with Mozo's free mortgage calculators. See more

Investment FAQS

How do you apply for an investment home loan?

The application process for investment home loans is similar to all other loans. Once you choose a property and demonstrate serviceability through supporting documentation, you apply and get it approved by a lender of your choice for the loan amount you need to borrow.

What documents do you need to apply for an investment home loan?

You must give a home loan lender identity, financial, and property information in your investment application. This can include mortgage documents such as:

  • Driver’s licences and passports. 
  • Property valuation reports.
  • Asset portfolios and dividend statements.
  • Mortgage reports on any other properties you own.
  • Income and bank statements.
  • Debts and liabilities. 
  • Credit reports.
  • Superannuation balances. 
How is an investment home loan different from an owner-occupied home?

The main differences between owner-occupied and investment loans are lending criteria and cost. 

Lenders consider investment mortgages financially risky because the borrower often relies on rental income. So, to protect themselves from missed or defaulted mortgage payments, lenders often slap investment loans with high interest rates and stricter lending criteria, such as a larger deposit.

Can I switch from an investment loan to an owner-occupier loan?

Yes, you can refinance your home loan from an investment to an owner-occupied mortgage. You must meet eligibility requirements for your new home loan, such as having a good debt-to-income ratio and credit score and meeting minimum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) requirements.

How often should I review my investment home loan?

How often you should review your investment home loan is up to you, but once a year is an excellent place to start. This way, you can check your interest rate to ensure it stays competitive, see if your mortgage repayments have changed, and calculate how much equity you’ve accumulated.

What is negative gearing?

Negative gearing is when an investor loses more money maintaining a property than they make. Essentially, they return a loss. 

Negative gearing can come with tax benefits since the interest payments lower the investor’s taxable income for the year while still accruing their wealth in home equity

However, negative gearing can be financially risky – the investor will need enough cash to cover the temporary shortfall. 

Too many negatively geared properties in one area can also tank property values, eroding the equity the investor needs to build wealth.

Jack Dona
Jack Dona
RG146
Money writer

Jack is RG146 Generic Knowledge certified, with a Bachelor of Communications in Creative Writing from UTS, and uses his creative flair to cut through the financial jargon and make home loans, insurance and banking interesting. His reader-first approach to creating content and his passion for financial literacy means he always looks for innovative ways to explain personal finance. Jack's research and explanations have been featured in government publications, and his work is regularly featured alongside major publications in Google's Top Stories for Insurance.

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Home loan customer reviews

Commonwealth Bank Home Loan
Overall 1/10
They are all about the bank

No ability to work with individual people, if you dont fit in their boxes they cannot help you. Even if you are a long term customer, the people you speak to are not able to resolve or assist outside of the tick boxes making it very frustrating as a human.

Read full review

No ability to work with individual people, if you dont fit in their boxes they cannot help you. Even if you are a long term customer, the people you speak to are not able to resolve or assist outside of the tick boxes making it very frustrating as a human.

Price
1/10
Features
1/10
Customer service
1/10
Convenience
1/10
Trust
1/10
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Nicole, New South Wales, reviewed 12 days ago
ME Home Loan
Overall 7/10
Kate

Great home loan rates and work with our families needs. Good loan products and enjoy having an offset account

Read full review

Great home loan rates and work with our families needs. Good loan products and enjoy having an offset account

Price
9/10
Features
8/10
Customer service
7/10
Trust
6/10
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Armstrong, Queensland, reviewed 12 days ago
Unloan Home Loan
Overall 10/10
Unloan has uncomplicated our lives!

Easy to navigate our home loan online and see current balance. Redraw is swift and easy. Unloan has a very competitive interest rate and we are overall very happy with the ease of use and customer service we have received to date!

Read full review

Easy to navigate our home loan online and see current balance. Redraw is swift and easy. Unloan has a very competitive interest rate and we are overall very happy with the ease of use and customer service we have received to date!

Price
10/10
Features
10/10
Customer service
10/10
Convenience
10/10
Trust
10/10
Less
Renae, New South Wales, reviewed 12 days ago

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