Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we fund purchases or refinances of Commercial properties up to 80% LVR. We accept standard commercial properties such as warehouses, factory units, office suites, retail shops, childcare centres, and serviced apartments. We would not accept vacant land, farming, stables, hotels, storage units, or more specialised securities. 

Please refer to the income assessment policy update.

Please refer to our helpful checklist document.

Yes, we do. It is optional, so if you want one, please request it upfront within your LoanApp submission via the TICK box under Product Features.

Servicing is done wholly within the SMSF and does not involve external servicing. We calculate servicing based only on confirmed SMSF contributions over the last two years, including the rental income and the SMSF’s outgoings. 

Yes, where all SMSF Easy Refinance qualifying criteria are met. Please refer to the SMSF Easy Refi checklist.

Yes. Please refer to the SMSF Offset Facility Guide.

SMSF trustees are required to comply with several key obligations when using an SMSF Offset Facility, as governed by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act (SIS Act): 

• Sole Purpose Rule: All transactions must serve only to provide retirement benefits to fund members or their dependents in case of death. Any personal or non-SMSF usage is strictly prohibited. 

• Preservation of Funds: Withdrawals from the SMSF, including through the offset sub-account, are not permitted unless a valid condition of release has been met (such as retirement, reaching age 65, or terminal illness). 

• No Financial Assistance: SMSF funds cannot be used to directly or indirectly provide financial help to members or related parties. 

• Arm’s Length Transactions: All transactions, even those with related parties, must be conducted on commercial terms (for example, rent or property management fees). 

• Audit & Documentation: Every transaction must be documented and consistent with the fund’s investment strategy. Trustees are responsible for keeping proper records to support annual audits and ATO reviews. 

No. SMSF Easy Refinance applications require all qualifying criteria to be met. Please lodge a Full Refinance application where your client does not meet one or more of the SMSF Easy Refi qualification criteria. Please refer to the SMSF Checklist.

No, we are a full-doc lender.

Yes. A minimum fully comprehensive credit score of 600 is required.

We require clients to be off probation for SMSF loans.

No, as we need to be able to identify the members and guarantors. When you submit the SMSF Trust Deed, please ensure the deed is certified by an Accountant, Financial Planner, Lawyer, or JP only (cover and signature pages). 

Can I still submit the loan? Yes, you can—make an exception in LoanApp via the “Create an Exception” tab and note in the comments box that the deed will be provided when your client(s) have confirmed the property they will purchase. 

Yes, we do. If the qualification documentation is in a foreign language, please also provide an English-translated version. (Tip: unlike other lenders, we do not require professional body registrations; we only ask that your client works in the professions we approve.)

Yes, it is. We make exceptions for IT professionals (programmers, designers, analysts, software engineers, etc) who need a degree. We accept a diploma or TAFE certificate equivalent.

No. Please refer to the Rates page for fees and charges.

No, these LVR bands are only permitted for established owner-occupied properties.

Yes, if they are the primary income earner.

No, the product is available for all qualifying borrowers to purchase their second, third or more homes.

Unfortunately, no. The university degree applicant must be the primary borrower based on income.

A degree-qualified client working in their profession in the following broad industries and roles: medical and allied health, legal professionals, accounting, engineering, IT, and senior manager and executives.

Yes, your client can get the lower rate as they pay the loan progressively down to the respective LVR band; or, do a new valuation (at the client’s cost) if the property has increased in value /equity. We can reprice to the new LVR band.

Our Lender Paid LMI is only for P&I repayments.

Lender Paid LMI is only available for established properties. We can consider an off-the-plan property if it is nearly complete.

Please complete our EASY REFI calculator and attach it to your application. It is more like a qualifying calculator, but we require this as part of our Credit process.

For owner occupied loans, the maximum loan term is capped so the oldest borrower will be no more than 85 years old at loan maturity. Where the oldest borrower would exceed 85 at the end of a 30-year term, the loan term will be reduced accordingly (e.g. an applicant aged 60 may be eligible for a maximum 25-year term).

For investor loans, the loan term adjustment based on age does not apply.

A signed exit strategy letter needs to be provided with owner occupied and investor loans if any borrower attached to the loan is greater than 55 years of age.

Please use the ‘Over 55 Exit Strategy form’ found within our Application Document.

Please order the valuation and attach it to your submission so it is one touch to Formal Approval.

Only input the liability linked to the asset your client(s) seeks to refinance. There is no need to input other assets and liabilities (such as the client’s other investment properties). However, you are required to provide the client’s personal and employment details.

Yes, we can. You only need to show us either one year’s profitable financials/ tax returns OR a personal bank statement showing regular wages/ salary/ dividend deposits. Please always refer to our Checklist. We do not use this for servicing.

Yes, you can get owner-occupied pricing if your client has lived in it as a home (primary dwelling) for more than 12 months.

$3.5m for a Metro location.

No, but we can fund construction loans, so bring the property to use with a construction contract.

We can accept a strata unit with an internal living space of 30 square meters, excluding car space, balcony, and storage areas, if it is a proper one-bedroom (with a window in the bedroom).

No, only freehold, strata and ACT crown leasehold.

Yes.

Up to 10 hectares, if it has a liveable dwelling and is not used for farming.

We accept AVMs (automated valuation modelling vals) & Desktop valuations ordered from our system. Where it is an investment property, and an AVM is generated on our system, we may require you to give a secondary Agent Rental quote, as AVMs do not note a rental figure to confirm the rental.

As part of the compliance and settlement process, Green Mortgage Lawyers may ask for an updated paid levy notice to confirm recency and that payment has been made. The same policy applies to Council Rates notices.

Yes, up to 80% LVR where they come from an approved country of origin and have at least six months remaining on their visa (please contact your BDM with a visa number).

Yes. Please refer to the Postcode Matrix. 

Yes, we thoroughly assess pre-approvals across all products. Our pre-approvals are valid for up to 90 days.

120 days from the date of inspection.

Please order the valuation upfront from the Broker Portal. Go to Tools => Order a Valuation => Residential => Corelogic (please register). The client bears the cost.

OR,

Suppose you are doing an EasyRefi (whilst within LoanApp before pushing the submission button). In that case, you order the val within LoanApp during the application process but before submission. The “order valuation” tab will show as a grey tab on the left margin in LoanApp after you have loaded the application. Page 21 on the guide, as a reference. For all SMSF Resi Refi vals ordered this way, we cover the AVM/ desktop value fee. Otherwise, for all other scenarios, please go to the Granite Portal as above and order a Residential val at the client’s cost. Thank you.

Please go to the Broker Portal, Go to Tools => Order a Valuation => Commercial tab. It will open an online form for you to complete and upload all relevant information – please tick the appropriate scenario. After you click Submit, our Valuations Team will come back to you within 3-5 business days with three quotes where possible (based on valuer, turnaround time and cost). You present this to your client to choose from, then tell our team your choice, and then they will come back to you with a Valuation Invoice to pay upfront before it is ordered. When this returns, attach the val/ invoice/ receipt to your application, then click Submit (aeroplane icon) to send it to us fully packaged.

Yes, we accept AVMs ordered from our system. Where it is an investment property, and an AVM is generated on our system, we may require you to:

1. Get another agent quote as a secondary confirmation of the rental to back up the initial one (as AVMs do not note a rental estimate on them), or

2. Do a paid short-form valuation to confirm the rental figure.

Yes, we do.

If your client is purchasing an investment property and they advises that theylive with family or friends “rent free”, a minimal rental expense must apply based on the situation below:

(A) Single: $250 per week

(B) Couple (no dependents) or Single with dependents: $320 per week

(C) Couple with dependants: $400 per week

No. Our submission platform is LoanApp (managed by Simpology). Please register for LoanApp access via our Broker Portal home page, after you are accredited. You will also need to register for Simpology, via the ‘No Reply’ email, for all subsequent follow up and back channel messaging.

For all borrowers, negative gearing on investment properties may be considered, where allowed by the ATO, by adding back the interest expense of investment properties if the loan is negatively geared.

Property Eligibility:

a. Existing residential investment property held before 12th May; or

b. Newly constructed residential dwelling that has not previously been sold as residential premises or previously occupied.

For self-employed borrowers, there are some expense items that can be added back to net income for inclusion in debt servicing calculation.

These are:

(i) directors’ income/salaries where not already included in servicing calculations.

(ii) interest paid on debt being refinanced with proposed application (care to be exercised that interest relates only to debts being refinanced).

(iii) business depreciation (capped at 20% of the business taxable income plus directors’ income/salaries drawings).

(iv) instant asset write-off as allowed from time-to-time by the ATO; and

(v) non-recurring expenses.

c. Any other expense outside the allowable add-backs described above, are considered unacceptable.

12 months.

12 months, then annualise this over 46 weeks.