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Benefits Of Using Your Super To Invest In Property SMSF property investment: the benefits as written in 2022, and what changed on 10 August 2026.

5 min readBy Greenline Home Loans

A model house beside a set of keys

It is a no-brainer that the affordability of housing has become a major challenge for Australians. It can be quite difficult for many first home buyers to get their foot into the property market. A great option available for potential investors to help them break into the increasingly difficult property market is through the use of a SMSF (self-managed super fund). It is important to keep in mind that you are unable to invest in and purchase property with a standard industry super fund.

Below we have outlined the various benefits that come with using your super to invest in property:

Provides Tax Advantages

Particularly if you have a high-yield property, it may be beneficial to purchase and invest in the property using your superannuation. Any income that you earn will be taxed at 15% as compared to your personal tax rate, which is usually much higher. The tax rate on capital gains can drop to just 10% after you have held your property for over a year. If you do plan on selling your property after you enter into your pension phase, you will no longer pay tax on capital gains.

In addition, the interest this is accrued is tax deductible for your SMSF. This can aid in reducing your SMSF’s tax obligations.

Aids in Saving for a Deposit

As the cost of living keeps increasing, it is becoming impossible for people to keep up with this trend, meaning it is very difficult for them to save up for their first home deposit. Using your superannuation to get into the property market sooner rather than later provides individuals with the extra leg up that they need to purchase their very first home.

Benefits are Enhanced for Business Owners

Business owners can hold their commercial premises under their SMSF and pay market-value rent to the SMSF. By purchasing your business premises in a SMSF, business owners can minimise the tax paid on rental income and can guarantee an asset for their retirement without the need to alter their business cash flow. In this case, your business is becoming a tenant of your SMSF and pays rent to it like it would to any other landlord.

Strengthens your Retirement Income

When it comes to your self-managed super fund, it can catch all of your income and capital gains from the property investment in your super. Plus, if there happens to be no loan on the property that your SMSF owns, you can utilise this rental income to help fund your pension account. This investment income is known as Exempt Current Pension Income (ECPI) and may be tax exempt.

Why Choose Greenline Home Loans For Your SMSF?

A self-managed super fund is a great way to leverage your superannuation into an investment property to secure your future. Greenline Home Loan’s self-managed super fund loans are designed to cater to a wide range of investors, and we can consider both residential and commercial properties on a loan term of up to 30 years. We understand that depending on the location of your property, you may find it difficult to obtain approval for your SMSF loan with other lenders. Rest assured, Greenline’s product caters for inner-city properties as well as high-density and regional properties.

Our competitive loans are ideal whether you a purchasing a property or looking to refinance. Here at Greenline Home Loans, we accept applications for both new SMSFs and established SMSFs. Unlike other lenders, Greenline’s unique product does not have a minimum balance required and accommodates for SMSFs without liquidity and a cash buffer. Greenline’s SMSF loans can be either variable or fixed, and investors can choose to make interest-only repayments or make both principal and interest repayments.

Our unique variable product allows you to make unlimited extra repayments and gives you access to a 100% offset account on all your variable loans. You will have the ability to be able to customise your loan to your own preferences by creating multiple splits with no extra costs. Plus, our market-leading and user-friendly platform provides you with full access to your SMSF loans and your transaction accounts, along with unlimited transactions on all your accounts.

Reach out to Greenline Home Loans today!

SMSF property investment: FAQs

Can I use my super to buy an investment property?

Only through a self-managed super fund, not a standard industry fund, and since 10 August 2026 not with a new loan for residential property: a new limited recourse borrowing arrangement can only be used to acquire business real property. An SMSF may still buy residential property without borrowing if it complies with the super rules and its investment strategy. So can you use super to buy an investment property? For commercial premises with a loan, yes; for a house or unit, only without borrowing, and with advice.

What are the benefits of SMSF property investment?

The article, written in 2022, gives three that still apply: a business owner can hold the business premises in the fund and pay market rent to it, turning rent into a retirement asset; rental income and gains accrue inside the fund for retirement; and the fund's tax treatment of that income, for which you should rely on your accountant or the ATO rather than the 2022 figures in the article.

Can my business lease its premises from my SMSF?

Yes. Business real property can be leased to a related party, your own business, at market rent on arm's-length terms, with the rent paid to the fund. The SMSF commercial property article explains the structure, the compliance points and what lenders assess.

What changed in August 2026?

From 10 August 2026 a new limited recourse borrowing arrangement can only be used to acquire real property that is business real property, so new residential SMSF borrowing ended. Existing residential SMSF loans continue, and refinancing them remains permitted subject to lender policy. See what changed for SMSF residential loans.

What are the SMSF property investment rules now?

For borrowing: business real property only, under a new LRBA. For buying without a loan: residential property remains possible if the purchase complies with the super rules and the fund's investment strategy. Beyond that, the usual compliance applies: arm's-length leases at market rent, the right trust deed provisions, liquidity, contribution limits and ongoing obligations, all of which need your accountant and an SMSF specialist.

Is SMSF property investment risky?

Leverage introduces risk and complexity as well as scale, and an SMSF property structure is not suitable for every fund. Proper structuring, professional advice and a lender whose policy fits the fund are the conditions the article's companion pieces set out.

Does Greenline still arrange SMSF loans?

Yes: SMSF loans for business premises through SMSF commercial property loans, and refinancing of existing SMSF loans. The product features this 2022 article describes are not a current offer; the SMSF loans page has the current position.

Is this article still accurate?

Its explanation of why business owners use super to hold their premises still stands. Its description of residential borrowing and its 2022 tax and product figures do not reflect the current rules, which is why an editor's note sits at the top. Rely on the SMSF pages and your adviser for anything you act on.

Keep going

Where to next

SMSF loans

Borrowing through a self-managed super fund under a limited recourse borrowing arrangement.

Explore

SMSF commercial property loans

Buying business premises through your SMSF.

Explore

SMSF residential loans after the 2026 change

What changed on 10 August 2026, and refinancing an existing residential SMSF loan.

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Articles are general information. A Greenline broker can look at your own situation and compare options from 50+ lenders, with no obligation.

This article was published on 22 August 2022 and describes the lending environment at that time. Rates, grants and lender policies change.

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