Owning investment property in a single name

Some general advantages:

• You get to make all the loan and property decisions
• Option to have up to 10 offset accounts linked to one loan.

Some general considerations:

• You’re solely responsible for the loan repayments
• Only you have access to your loan accounts and any linked offsets
• Ownership structure could be different from the loan structure: chat with a lender and your tax adviser.

Ask a lender about your borrowing power

Investing with a co-owner

You could share ownership with a trusted partner, friend or family member.

Some general advantages:

• Could afford a higher value property, or multiple investment properties
• Lower costs per individual, as they’re shared between investors
• Two minds can be better than one
• Option to have up to 10 offset accounts linked to one loan.

Some general considerations:

• Disagreements, relationship breakdown
• Less share of the income/capital growth
• Both parties have access to the joint loan accounts and any linked offsets in joint names
• Change of plan or an unforeseen event: you can’t sell half a property, so you may need to sell or have one party buy the other out
• If your investment includes a gearing strategy, speak with your tax adviser
• Independent legal advice can be a smart idea for both parties.

Ask a lender about your combined borrowing power

Owning investment property as a group

Westpac group lending offers 2-9 property investors a way to split the cost of buying and co-owning a property. Talk with your lender, tax adviser and legal agent about the added complexities of structuring ownership this way. ​

• All parties on the loan are joint borrowers. ​
• All parties are responsible for the entire debt.

Ask a lender about your combined borrowing power

Owning property within a trust

A family trust is a legal structure allowing one or more family members to manage property for another family member’s benefit. Due to their complexity, you should, of course, look at getting legal and tax advice.

Some general advantages:

• Potential to protect family assets from bankruptcy
• Ownership isn't tied to an individual and can be passed onto other family members
• Possible flexibility when sharing income and capital gains between family members.

Some general considerations:

• Up front and ongoing tax adviser and solicitor fees
• Ongoing personal admin
• Can only distribute profits, not losses
• You'll need a trust deed to set one up.

Ask a lender about the trust's borrowing power

Owning property in a company name

Weigh up the tax pros and cons with your tax adviser. Your local Westpac business Property Specialist can walk you through your site finance and business growth options.

Buying property through your business

Buying property when you're self-employed

• If you're buying property in your personal name, you can apply for the same Westpac residential investment home loans, offers and rates as salary-earners.
• And if you qualify for our Fast Track assessment, all you need to provide is your two most recent personal ATO Notices of Assessment.

Home loans for business owners

Investing through a self-managed super fund

There are strict rules, costs and risks involved with investing in residential property through a self-managed super fund. For example, assets in super funds can’t be used for personal use. Weigh up the pros and cons with your tax adviser.

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