19/06/2026
Stopped a client from buying an investment property through his SMSF last week.
Not because he couldn't. Because he shouldn't.
On paper, everything checked out. Borrowing capacity was there, the bank was ready to lend, and the property looked solid.
Dig a bit deeper, though, and the fund didn't have enough cash buffer for ongoing costs like maintenance and rates — costs the rental income wouldn't fully cover.
That's the part most people miss with SMSF lending. Getting the loan approved is the easy bit. The harder question is whether the purchase still supports retirement goals once those running costs hit the fund.
That went back to him and his financial planner. Landed on a no — for now, not forever.
SMSF lending looks simple from the outside. It rarely is.
If your situation feels complicated, it might just need a different approach.
(General information only — not financial advice.)