When you own an investment property and the rental income it earns is less than the costs of owning it, such as mortgage interest, property management fees, council rates, and maintenance, you are said to be negatively geared. The shortfall between what you earn and what you spend is a net rental loss, and in Australia, that loss can generally be claimed as a deduction against your other taxable income, such as your salary.
For rentvesters, negative gearing is a concept worth understanding before you commit to a property purchase. As a rentvester, you rent the home you want to live in while owning an investment property in a location you can afford. If that investment property is negatively geared, you will have an ongoing out-of-pocket cost each week or month. However, that cost may be partially offset by the tax deduction you receive at the end of the financial year.
At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we work with people who are actively building a rentvesting strategy and want to understand how the structure of their loan affects their cash flow and tax position. Negative gearing is one piece of that puzzle, and understanding how it interacts with your borrowing structure is important before you take out an investment loan.
Negative gearing is not inherently good or bad. It simply describes a financial position where costs exceed income. Some rentvesters accept a negatively geared property because they believe the long-term capital growth of the property will outweigh the short-term cash shortfall. Others prefer to seek out properties that are closer to neutrally or positively geared to reduce ongoing costs. The right approach depends on your personal financial position, your income, and your broader goals.
The tax benefit of negative gearing works by reducing your assessable income. If your investment property produces a net loss of $8,000 in a financial year, that amount is deducted from your taxable income. If you are on a marginal tax rate of 37 cents in the dollar, you would receive a tax saving of around $2,960. This does not eliminate the loss, but it does reduce the real cost of holding the property. A qualified tax professional can calculate the exact benefit for your situation.
Negative gearing is often discussed alongside depreciation deductions on investment properties. Depreciation allows you to claim a deduction for the wear and tear of the building and its fixtures over time, without any actual cash outlay. When combined with negative gearing, depreciation can increase the total deductions available on your investment property, which may reduce your tax bill further. Again, a tax professional or quantity surveyor is the right person to advise on what depreciation you can claim.
At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, our role is to help you structure your investment loan in a way that suits your goals. The type of loan you choose, whether interest-only or principal and interest, will affect how negatively geared your property is. An interest-only investment loan keeps your repayments lower in the short term, which can increase the tax-deductible portion of your expenses, since interest on an investment loan is generally deductible. A principal and interest loan reduces your debt faster but may lower the deductible interest component over time.
It is also worth noting that negative gearing applies to the investment property only. The rent you pay on your own home as a rentvester is not deductible, and neither is the principal portion of your investment loan repayments. Keeping your loan structure clean and clearly separated between your personal and investment finances is important for tax purposes. This is something Rentvesting Mortgage Broker can assist with when setting up your loan.
If you are considering rentvesting and want to understand how capital gains tax interacts with negative gearing when you eventually sell, that is another area worth exploring with a tax professional. The two concepts are connected, particularly if you sell a negatively geared property at a profit after holding it for more than 12 months.
Talk to our team Today
If you are exploring negative gearing as part of your rentvesting plan, Rentvesting Mortgage Broker can help you understand how your loan structure affects your cash flow and tax position. Reach out to our team using the form below.
Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a conversation about your property goals - whether you're purchasing a home, investing, refinancing, or seeking another type of loan. Our Finance & Mortgage Brokers explain the overall loan application process, assess your financial position, and begin identifying suitable loan options from a wide panel of banks and lenders across Australia.
Financial Assessment
Your broker conducts a detailed review of your finances, including income, expenses, assets, liabilities and savings. They determine your borrowing capacity and explain key terms like loan-to-value ratio (LVR), lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), and any government schemes or discounts you may be eligible for.
Loan Comparison & Selection
With a clear understanding of your financial situation, our Finance & Mortgage Brokers research and compare a range of loan options. These may include fixed or variable interest rate loans, products with offset accounts, or flexible repayment features. Our brokers help you weigh the pros and cons of each loan, ensuring you choose the one that aligns best with your needs and preferences.
Loan Pre-Approval
Securing loan pre-approval provides a clear idea of how much you can borrow and strengthens your position in the property market. Your broker prepares and submits the required documents - such as payslips, tax returns, and bank statements - to the lender for assessment. Pre-approval also gives you confidence to make offers when you find the right property.
Formal Loan Application
Once you've chosen your preferred loan, your broker completes and submits the formal application to the lender. They manage all required documentation, respond to any queries from the lender, and keep you informed throughout the process to avoid unnecessary delays.
Loan Approval & Settlement Preparation
After your loan is formally approved, our brokers review the loan agreement with you and confirm that all terms - such as interest rate, fees, and repayment schedule - are clear and understood. They also help you set up your loan account and arrange any necessary insurance, such as mortgage or home loan protection.
Settlement & Ongoing Support
At settlement, the lender advances the funds and ownership of the property is transferred to you. Our brokers coordinate with your solicitor or conveyancer to ensure everything runs smoothly. After settlement, our Finance & Mortgage Brokers remain available for ongoing support - whether it's managing repayments, exploring refinancing opportunities, or helping with future property plans.
How we can help
The way your investment loan is structured has a direct impact on how negatively geared your property is. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we help rentvesters choose the right loan type, loan term, and repayment structure to suit their situation. Whether you are looking at a standard investment loan or considering a split arrangement across multiple properties, the structure matters.
Negative gearing is influenced by the interest rate you pay, the amount you borrow, and the rental income your property generates. Rentvesting Mortgage Broker works with a panel of lenders to find investment loan options that align with your goals, whether you are comfortable with a negatively geared position or would prefer to minimise your out-of-pocket costs. We also help you understand how rental income is assessed by lenders when calculating your borrowing capacity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mortgage brokers in Australia are typically paid a commission by the lender when a loan is settled. This means that in most cases, you do not pay the broker directly for their services. There are two main types of commission: an upfront commission paid when the loan is first settled, and a trail commission paid on an ongoing basis for the life of the loan. As required by Australian law, we are obligated to act in your best interests and to disclose any commissions or fees we receive. We will always be transparent with you about how we are remunerated so you can feel confident that our recommendations are based on what suits your situation. If any fees do apply in your specific case, we will make this clear to you upfront.
A fixed rate loan locks in your interest rate for a set period, which means your repayments stay the same during that time regardless of changes in the broader lending market. This can provide certainty around your repayment amounts, which some investors find useful for budgeting purposes. A variable rate loan, on the other hand, has an interest rate that can move up or down over time in line with lender decisions and market conditions. Variable loans often come with more flexibility, such as the ability to make additional repayments or access a redraw facility. There are also split loans that combine both options. The right choice depends on your individual circumstances and goals, and at Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we help you weigh up the options available to you.
The time it takes to process a mortgage application can vary depending on the lender, the complexity of your financial situation, and how quickly all required documents are submitted. In general, you can expect the process to take anywhere from a few days to several weeks from initial application through to formal approval and settlement. Some lenders have faster processing times than others, and applications that are well-prepared and complete tend to move through the process more efficiently. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we work to ensure your application is thorough and accurate before it is submitted, which can help reduce unnecessary back-and-forth with the lender. We keep you informed at every stage so you always know where things stand.
In many cases, yes. If your investment property has increased in value since you purchased it, you may have built up equity that could potentially be used as a deposit or security for another property purchase. This is a common strategy used by property investors to grow their portfolios over time. However, the ability to access equity depends on a number of factors, including your current loan balance, the current value of your property, and your overall financial position. Lenders will assess your full financial situation before approving any equity release. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we can help you understand whether accessing equity is a realistic option for you and connect you with lenders who can accommodate this type of structure.
When you own an investment property, lenders may take into account the rental income generated by that property when assessing your borrowing capacity. However, different lenders treat rental income differently. Some lenders use a percentage of the gross rental income, while others may use a different calculation method. At the same time, lenders will also consider the rent you are paying for the property you live in as an ongoing expense. These factors can affect how much you are able to borrow. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we help you understand how your rental income and rental expenses are likely to be viewed by different lenders, so you can approach your application with a clear picture of your position.
When applying for an investment property loan, lenders will generally require documentation that verifies your identity, income, assets, and liabilities. This typically includes recent payslips or tax returns if you are self-employed, bank statements, details of any existing loans or debts, and identification documents such as a passport or driver's licence. If you are already renting, you may also need to provide your lease agreement. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we guide you through exactly what is required for your specific application and help you prepare your documents correctly before submission. Being well-prepared can make the application process smoother and reduce unnecessary delays.
Rentvesting Mortgage Broker works primarily with rentvestors, property investors, and renters who are looking to enter the property market through investment rather than purchasing a home to live in. Our clients come from all walks of life, including young professionals who want to live in inner-city areas while investing in more affordable markets, and experienced investors looking to grow their portfolios. Whether you are purchasing your first investment property or adding to an existing portfolio, we have the knowledge and lender relationships to support your goals. We take the time to understand where you are now and where you want to be, so we can help you find a loan structure that suits your needs.
Traditional home ownership typically involves purchasing a property to live in as your primary residence. Rentvesting takes a different approach. Instead of buying where you want to live, you rent in your preferred location and purchase an investment property in an area that fits within your budget and investment goals. This strategy can allow people who might otherwise be priced out of their desired suburb to still enter the property market. There are different tax and lending considerations that apply to investment properties compared to owner-occupied homes, which is why working with a mortgage broker who understands rentvesting is so important. We help you understand how these differences may affect your borrowing and overall strategy.
When you go directly to a bank, you only see the loan products that bank offers. A mortgage broker has access to a wide range of lenders, including major banks, regional banks, and specialist lenders, which means you have more options to consider. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we take the time to understand your specific circumstances as a rentvestor and match you with lenders whose criteria align with your situation. We also manage the application process on your behalf, saving you considerable time and effort. Our role is to advocate for you throughout the process and ensure you have the information you need to make a confident decision.
Rentvesting is a property strategy where you rent the home you live in while owning an investment property elsewhere. This approach allows you to live in a location that suits your lifestyle while building a property portfolio in areas that may offer stronger growth potential. A mortgage broker who specialises in rentvesting understands the unique financial structures involved in this strategy. At Rentvesting Mortgage Broker, we work with you to understand your goals, assess your borrowing capacity, and connect you with lenders whose products suit your situation. We handle the research and paperwork so you can focus on making informed decisions about your property investment path.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If negative gearing is part of your rentvesting plan, having the right loan structure in place is important. Book an appointment with Rentvesting Mortgage Broker and we can walk you through your investment loan options.
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