SMSF Commercial Property Loans
Helping Australians purchase commercial property through a Self-Managed Super Fund
SMSF Property Loans Made Simple
What is an SMSF?
How Much Deposit Do I Need?
How do SMSF loans work?
A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) provides you with greater control over how your super is invested, including the opportunity to explore various loan options for purchasing property through your fund, such as home loans.
How do SMSF loans work?
How Much Deposit Do I Need?
How do SMSF loans work?
An SMSF loan, often referred to as a limited recourse borrowing arrangement, enables your fund to explore various loan options for acquiring commercial property while ensuring that your personal assets remain protected.
How Much Deposit Do I Need?
How Much Deposit Do I Need?
How Much Deposit Do I Need?
Most lenders require a 20–30% deposit within your super fund, along with extra funds for costs like stamp duty and legal fees. We’ll assist you in calculating what’s needed to explore your home loan options.
What is an SMSF?
The Basics
A Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF) is a private superannuation fund that gives you direct control over how your retirement savings are invested. Unlike traditional industry or retail super funds, you, as the trustee, make all the decisions about where and how your money is invested, including the option to buy property and explore various home loans.
An SMSF can have up to six members, typically family or business partners, who combine their super balances to build a larger investment pool. The fund’s assets are held in a trust structure and must comply with strict ATO rules around purpose, investment strategy, and reporting.
For many Australians, an SMSF offers flexibility, tax efficiency, and the opportunity to grow wealth through direct property ownership in offices, commercial or industrial property. Additionally, it provides various loan options for members looking to invest further.
The Australian Government announced major changes to SMSF Residential Property Borrowing in June 2026. Under the new legislation, new Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) for residential property will no longer be permitted from 45 days after the legislation receives Royal Assent. Existing SMSF residential property loans are expected to be grandfathered, meaning current borrowing arrangements can generally continue under the existing rules. See our Blog article on 26 June 2026 for further information.
💡 Tip: Our expert team works with your accountant and financial adviser to ensure your fund is correctly structured before you borrow.
How Do SMSF Loans Work?
SMSF Loans Explained
An SMSF loan, also known as a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA), allows your fund to secure a loan to purchase a commercial property while protecting your other super assets from risk.
Here’s how the process works:
1. Your SMSF establishes a special holding trust (referred to as a bare trust) to hold the property.
2. The loan is issued to the trust, rather than directly to the SMSF trustees. Over time, rental income and super contributions help in repaying the loan.
3. Once the loan is fully repaid, legal ownership is transferred entirely to the SMSF.
Lenders generally require the SMSF to maintain sufficient cash flow, a solid investment strategy, and a clear exit plan in case of retirement or changes in membership.
Our SMSF lending experts assess various loan options across a wide range of lenders to find a structure that ensures compliance and maximizes your borrowing capacity.
How Much Do I Need to Buy a Property in My SMSF?
Deposit Requirements and Other Costs
While every fund is different, most lenders require your SMSF to have:
- A 20–30% deposit for residential property or commercial property held within the fund, depending upon property value and loan size.
- Extra funds for stamp duty, legal costs, and ongoing liquidity requirements (usually 10% of the loan value).
- Stable contributions and rental income to cover repayments.
- The property must also meet ATO rules — it can’t be lived in by fund members or related parties, and any commercial lease must be at arm’s length market rates.
- Our SMSF finance team will assess your fund’s position, calculate your borrowing capacity, and identify which loan options can help you achieve your property goal — whether you’re purchasing a warehouse, office, or investment unit.
📊 Book a free consultation to find out exactly how much you can borrow through your super for home loans.
What Type of Property Can I Buy in My SMSF?
Commercial Properties
An SMSF commercial property loan allows your super fund to purchase business, retail, or industrial property — giving you the opportunity to own the premises your business operates from or to rent it out to an arm’s-length tenant.
This strategy is one of the most effective ways to combine property ownership with superannuation growth while exploring various loan options, much like assessing different home loans for personal use.
At SMSF Mortgages, we specialize in structuring compliant SMSF commercial loans, comparing banks and specialist non-bank lenders to identify the best product and terms for your fund.
Why Business Owners Love This Strategy
Purchasing your business premises through your SMSF allows you to:
- Pay rent directly to your super fund instead of a landlord
- Build wealth within a tax-advantaged structure
- Secure your long-term business location
- Diversify your retirement assets through property
It's important to note that rent must always be at market rates and paid on time to ensure the transaction remains at arm’s length for ATO compliance.
Commercial SMSF Loan Features
- Borrow up to 60–75% of the property’s value
- Flexible loan terms, with both fixed and variable rate options
- Suitable for offices, warehouses, retail, or industrial assets
- Structured as a limited recourse borrowing arrangement (LRBA)
SMSF Loans for Residential Property
In June 2026 the Australian Federal Government has confirmed that:
- New SMSF borrowing for residential property will be banned.
- The changes apply to new Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) entered into after the legislation commences.
- Existing SMSF residential property loans are expected to continue under grandfathering provisions.
- A transition period will apply for purchases already underway before the legislation commences.
Importantly, SMSFs will still be able to own residential property.
The key change is that they will no longer be able to borrow money through a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement (LRBA) to purchase future residential property.
Natloans | Expert SMSF Mortgage Brokers
Expert SMSF Mortgage Brokers
Flexible Solutions from an Award winning team
Expert SMSF Mortgage Brokers
We partner with Natloans - one of Australia’s most trusted mortgage broking and finance broking teams, who have experts in SMSF mortgages. The team at Natloans provides expert guidance for all your SMSF home loan and SMSF commercial loan options.
Why Choose Natloans?
Flexible Solutions from an Award winning team
Expert SMSF Mortgage Brokers
The team at Natloans are experts in SMSF lending, with extensive experience in both SMSF home loans and SMSF loans for commercial properties. Our dedicated team is committed to guiding you through the complexities of SMSF lending and helping you explore various loan options.
Flexible Solutions from an Award winning team
Flexible Solutions from an Award winning team
Flexible Solutions from an Award winning team
We understand that every client is unique, which is why our team of trusted mortgage brokers provide tailored SMSF loan solutions to meet your needs. Our personalised approach ensures that you explore various loan options and home loans to find the perfect mortgage product for your situation.