Specialist Mortgage are recognised as Australia’s number one mortgage brokerage for non-resident investors of Australian property since 1995.
For more than three decades we have refined our skills in securing the most competitive mortgage solutions for overseas home buyers, who typically don’t fit banks’ traditional lending model.
Many banks view foreign investor home loans as high risk. However, there are a select range of lenders that welcome mortgage applications from non-residents to invest in Australian property.
Our unrivalled knowledge of financial packages and policies for overseas buyers gives us the power to negotiate directly with lender’s credit teams. Benefit you with the most suitable mortgage options with the highest borrowing capacities, lowest interest rates, and most favourable terms and features.
Book a free consultation to see if you will qualify for an Australian home loan or discuss refinancing to better mortgage package.
Let us know your situation and one of our brokers may be able to provide a suitable mortgage solution.
Book a time to chat through your options with one of our friendly mortgage brokers.
Discover which one of our global offices is best to have a face to face chat about your home loan objectives.
Like many countries, Australia has laws regarding foreign investment in Australian property. Fortunately, Australia welcomes foreign investment, and the process isn’t that complicated.
If you are a non-resident, foreign corporation, or temporary visa holder you are legally required to obtain approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) before purchasing residential Australian property. There are some exceptions such as New Zealand citizens and certain temporary visa holders.
The FIRB application can be completed online and you will have to pay an application fee based on the property value. FIRB approval typically take up to 30 days but it could take longer.
Foreign buyers should also be aware they may incur additional costs including legal fees, stamp duty and taxes.
FIRB restricts foreign buyers to purchasing new properties to ensure Australia’s property market remains accessible and affordable for both domestic and overseas buyers, promoting a stable and thriving economy.
New properties include a new home build, under construction properties, off-the-plan properties, vacant land with the intention to build a new property within a time frame, and some types of established properties.
It’s important to understand FIRB’s rules around foreign property, including restrictions and exceptions to avoid complications.
You will need to engage a licensed conveyancer or solicitor to review your contract, perform checks on the title, draft the settlement documents, and carry out the process of transferring the property to you.
You should consider including a clause in your contracts that stipulates that the sale of a property is subject to the approval of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). A well written clause by a solicitor will give you the right to rescind the contract if FIRB approval is not granted.
It is also recommended that you obtain advise from a solicitor and specialised tax accountant before you sign a contract regarding the various ownership and co-investment buying structures as well as their benefits and downfalls.
If you are planning on leasing out your property, you should have a good understanding of the property management agency’s fee structure, service inclusions, payment processes and communication procedures.
A qualified buyer’ agent will represent you through your buying journey. They will provide research, search for suitable properties, assist with contract negotiations and guide you through to settlement. It is not essential to engage a buyer’ agent but it may be beneficial.
We are fully accredited and have more than 30 years specialised experience focused on foreign buyer home loans and refinancing. We are the number one Australian mortgage brokerage for expats. No other firm can match our history or expertise.
As the largest Australian mortgage originator operating internationally, we have the power, volume and relationships to negotiate with lenders to obtain special conditions and the most competitive loan packages.
Specialist Mortgage was the first and remains the largest mortgage originator operating in South East Asia providing all types of lending options to Australian property investors both here and abroad.
Carolyn and her team were excellent. Communication was open, and they gladly explained details when we had questions. Most of all, we felt supported throughout.
A professional service from start to finish.
It’s a pleasure to work with Helen and John from SMATS. They are extremely efficient and helpful. I strongly recommend them.
Helen and her team absorb so much of the difficulty and tediousness of organizing a home loan, thanks to her meticulous nature and her prompt and effective communication.
If you are an Australian and need a mortgage broker – someone who knows how to navigate this tricky area, then Specialist Mortgage will take wonderful care of you. They helped me purchase an investment property while abroad, and their level of service and attention to details were second to none.
Bridget & Gino are a winning combination. They provided great service, were highly responsive and most importantly were able to get the job done.
Highly recommend Specialist Mortgage and their hard working team. They were very professional and supportive, and persevered to prepare preapprovals and finalise finance over what was a very long and complex (French renumeration structure) and ultimately successful house search.
Impeccable service end to end. As a working expat living abroad in a time zone that makes it difficult to deal with in Australia, I found the team to be extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful. They managed the process from initial enquiry right through to settlement to the highest quality.
Bridget & Gino were super helpful during the process of purchasing an investment unit. Their communication & response time were above & beyond. Thank you
Specialist Mortgage/SMATS was recommended to us by other expats and we are very glad we took the advice. Highly recommend to all.
Bridget Bowman recently helped me lower the interest rate on my variable rate mortgage in Australia. The result was an over $100 reduction per month! As an existing customer with an ongoing relationship with SMATS, all it took was one email to Bridget and she was on the case, about 7 days later she sends me an email with the good news.
Bridget and Gino helped our family secure a competitive loan with minimal stress and clear communication every step of the way. They took the time to understand our needs, explained all our options thoroughly, and made the entire process smooth from start to finish. We couldn’t be happier with the service and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for expert mortgage advice.
Impeccable service end to end. The team managed the process from initial enquiry right through to settlement to the highest quality.
Big thank you to Carolyn & Michelle, they made what others said ‘impossible’ possible!!! Managed to get our pre-approval done in record time! Such a seamless experience all the way through to the loan settlement.
We had a great experience getting a new construction loan and mortgage with Grace and Gino at SMATS Group. We received excellent advice and communication at every step.
Carolyn is very responsive, communicates clearly, and is always available whenever I have questions. I have never felt hesitant to ask anything, and she always takes the time to explain things thoroughly.
Carolyn and Michelle have been fantastic to work with in the last two years. What I love is their professionalism, their communication and how they are so patient with all our concerns and questions. I could not have asked for anyone better to help us.
Highly recommend Specialist Mortgage if you’re looking at buying a property in Australia as an Australian expat living overseas. Bridget and Fanny were very professional and helpful in facilitating our financing of properties purchased in Brisbane.
Michelle and Carolyn at Specialist Mortgage made our expat loan process smooth and stress-free, negotiating with the bank and settlement agents. I highly recommend them for anyone seeking a loan while living abroad.
Grace and the team were great at helping me achieve my property investment loan goals. I am not experienced in this area and had many questions which were explained clearly to me.
I would recommend their services.
Great support from Helen and Gino throughout the process of buying my first home. I would be comfortable recommending them to anyone.
A remarkably supportive service. Very professional in all aspects of initiating, securing and settling our transaction. I would not hesitate in dealing with SMATS and especially Carolyn and Rozita.
Excellent service from start to finish. The team was attentive, communicative and always helpful with my queries. Highly recommended.
Even after the loan was approved, Helen worked with my conveyancer to ensure that final settlement was achieved without delay. I recommend Helen without hesitation and look forward to working with her again in the future. Thank you again for all your help!
Helen was invaluable in enabling me to secure my first investment property from Dubai. She matched me with a lender that was suited and could accommodate my personal circumstances, guided me throughout the application process and proactively liaised with the lender to make the process as smooth as possible over the holiday period.
Bridget has helped us get our loan sorted both while we were living overseas and now that we are back in Australia. Her team is professional, efficient, knowledgeable and able to get things done when others have said no. I highly recommend their service.
Grace continually maintains communication, ensuring her clients have the latest financial information and that they are receiving the best possible service.
We are overseas expats with good incomes and found challenges qualifying for home loans in Australia.
Grace and her team made the bank application painless.
I highly recommend using Specialist Mortgage to broker your Australian home loans.
Grace and her team were fantastic. Despite the overseas time zone challenges, the process was seamless from start to finish. Will happily use them again.
It’s been such a relief and pleasure having Grace as our personal banker for the past few years. She’s helped us to navigate a number of complex lending related issues, always providing professional, timely and friendly service.
Helen and John made buying our first property a dream, so seamless and professional. Will definitely be taking up their services again.
We are expats living in Dubai and have found it hard to find lenders to cater for our situation. That’s until we found Bridget & Fanny from SMATS. Not only are they knowledgeable but their response time is very fast and they always explain everything thoroughly. I would highly recommend them to anyone.
We are very happy with the service provided particularly from Grace and her team. They were very helpful with our loan application, keeping us updated and always available on short notice.
Thank you to Bridget, Fanny and the SMATS team for helping us secure the loan for our dream home They clearly know what they are doing and are well versed in every stage of the process. We just provided information, they took care of the rest. I definitely recommend SMATS for expats wanting a mortgage in Australia.
Carolyn & Michelle assisted us with a rather complicated mortgage and refinance application, while we were living abroad. We felt fully supported throughout the process, saving us a lot of stress. We strongly recommend them!
Carolyn went above and beyond to assist me in finding the perfect mortgage for my needs. Carolyn had extensive knowledge and understanding of the mortgage industry, and she took the time to comprehend my financial goals and personal circumstances.
Once again, Bridget & Gino were fantastic at getting us the best mortgage for our situation. Thank you, highly recommend Specialist Mortgage.
Great assistance from Bridget and Gino with mortgage preparation and processing.
We’ve been using Specialist Mortgage for mortgage approvals and renewals for the past 2.5 years and they have dealt with my endless questions very quickly, professionally and tirelessly which is super impressive.
I highly recommend Carolyn. From the beginning, she has taken the time to help me understand the entire mortgage process and the financial details involved, which made what can often feel overwhelming much easier to navigate.
I was extremely pleased with the outcome and look forward to continuing the relationship with Specialist Mortgage.
Bridget was instrumental in securing us our forever home as Expats. Communication was excellent, answers prompt, feedback was incredible.
We recently purchased our first investment property with the help of Specialist Mortgage, and the experience was fantastic.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again for future loan needs and have already recommended them to friends and family.
Thank you for the outstanding job you did in refinancing our home loans. Your team truly understood our home loan requirements and provided us with specialist advice that not only met our current needs but also allowed us to plan for future growth.
Everyone I worked with on this purchase was fantastic. Helen helped me to find a mortgage when my existing bank said no.
Thank you to Grace Neo and Gino Lugto from Specialist Mortgage for all their help with our loan application. I highly recommend them to Aussie expats or anyone with foreign income wanting to buy property in Australia.
Helen Avis did a really outstanding job pushing our formal approval through in 4 days. She was also very helpful in advising me of the risks around unconditional vs conditional exchange which was much appreciated.
EXCEPTIONAL customer service from the Specialist Mortgage team. My housing loan process in Australia was so smooth.
In the end, I went with a non-bank lender Specialist Mortgage recommended—and it’s been a great experience so far.
Helen is completely client focused, she was able to take our exact requirements and circumstances into account when searching for and procuring a lender to suit us.
I have now gone through the arduous process of purchasing an Australian property four times. On the last three occasions, Helen Avis has been my first and most important point of contact in the process.
Bridget & Fanny are really specialists in their field, and they have a good knowledge of the expat situation. We used their service whilst living in Qatar and UAE and they were able to understand and cater for our unique situation at every step.
The Specialist Mortgage team provided continual professional care and attention as we worked through some of the challenges faced when remotely purchasing and financing property investments in Australia.
Carolyn was there every step of the way, taking our call even after hours to make sure she was available to answer whatever questions we had. Carolyn went above and beyond, and we are forever grateful for her help and support during this important milestone for our family.
Helen’s intimate knowledge of the market and pricing of various loans (investment, owner occupier, interest only etc) has made loan selection a breeze and enabled us to have confidence in our decision making.
My experience with Specialist Mortgage was fantastic, they are extremely knowledgeable.
They pointed out important factors in my settlement which lead me to saving a lot of money.
I highly recommend Specialist Mortgage and I will be using their services again.
I would highly recommend this service to any expats thinking of returning. My advice would be to start the process as early as possible.
We appreciate your hard work and complex understanding of our situation. We will definitely recommend you to our friends and family.
As an Aussie expat living in London, I struggled with six other brokers before finding Specialist Mortgage. They were the only ones who got it done.
Your expertise and dedication have made a significant difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your support throughout the refinancing process. Thank you once again for your exceptional service. A very happy customer!
Helen has helped us with multiple loans and refinancing and has made the process so simple and easy. With Helen’s advice we have always felt like we have been able to find the best product in the market for us.
Bridget and Gino at Specialist Mortgage have been fantastic to deal with these past three months. Highly recommended and exceptional communication throughout.
Thank you Helen for all the great work you do!
Both Bridget and Fanny are incredibly hard workers and generate value for their clients. They achieved the given deadlines and always strive to enhance their service.
I would highly recommend them.
Grace took the time to understand our needs and our capabilities and tailored a loan that suited us and our requirements. I thank you Grace for your commitment to client satisfaction over a long period.
Our broker Carolyn, and her assistant, Michelle, were excellent from day one. No fuss approach and knowledgeable, they understood our needs and got us the best deal possible. Who knew that refinancing your home loan could actually be enjoyable!
There was no gain for SMATS in doing this, Bridget just wanted to do what is best for their customer, and we are so grateful for their help and support over the years. I would 100% recommend SMATS for their excellent service offering and customer service, always putting their customers first.
As an American expat based in Singapore, I had a very positive experience with Specialist Mortgage. Grace and her team assisted us each step of the way to successfully obtain a mortgage to purchase a property in Brisbane. We were very satisfied with their professionalism and expertise.
My experience with the Specialist Mortgage team was fantastic; they are extremely knowledgeable. The Specialist Mortgage team pointed out important factors in my settlement, which led me to save a lot of money.
I highly recommend Specialist Mortgage, and I will be using their services again.
Thank you to the SMATS team for arranging finance for my new Australian property. Not an easy task given my China working location and a tightening banking environment for foreign based workers.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Grace over the last 2 years. Grace has the ability to build strong customer relationships as she genuinely cares for her customers, she is a very experienced, who is selfless with her time and is always willing to assist her peers.
Michelle and Carolyn have both been brilliant, guiding us through the loan process, being so patient when the settlement was delayed and finally getting us to the end game.
Mick, Bridget and the team all stand out for continued excellent customer service.
Helen and her team were awesome, assisting with a new property purchase and re-finance of existing loans in record time, all with improved overall pricing. Very professional and highly recommended.
Don’t waste your time and look no further than Specialist Mortgage! They made the impossible possible for me as an Aussie expat trying to secure a mortgage back home.
If you are looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and supportive mortgage broker, I highly recommend Carolyn.
Bridget and Gino were fantastic to deal with in my latest investment in Western Australia. They are consistently communicative, professional, and genuinely helpful throughout what can often be a complex and stressful process.
I had the pleasure of working with Carolyn. She explained all the intricate mortgage details in a manner that was easy for me to grasp. Carolyn conducted herself in a professional manner and was always available to address any questions or concerns I had. Thanks to her, the entire process was effortless and free of stress!
We cannot thank Specialist Mortgage and Bridget enough for all their support in our most recent property purchase. They managed everything for us and we were able to do everything needed from right here in the UAE. We will 100% use their services again!
I used the Specialist Mortgage broking team to secure lending in Australia at a time when Australian banks were imposing tight controls on expat lending.
The team were impressively responsive and helpful throughout the whole process and able to secure me a great outcome. I would highly recommend using their services.
If you are living in Singapore and want to buy a property in Australia then you’ll need a top notch mortgage broker. Helen and John at Specialist Mortgage did a fantastic job for me when they helped me secure a mortgage in Australia. The service, follow ups and general support were very good.
We used Specialist Mortgage for several investment house loans as expats. They were easy to work with, responded promptly and made it a stress-free process.
I refinanced and obtained a new, appropriately sized loan within weeks, while living in India. Carolyn and Gino were prompt, thorough, and professional. Excellent job by an outstanding team.
Grace and Gino were amazing! They were able to answer all my questions and so accommodating when I requested to have calls or meetings. It took me a bit longer then I thought to purchase my property, but they were with me every step of the way. I look forward to working with them in the future.
The application process was straightforward, the guidance was clear, and the support never wavered. It was such a relief after so many false starts.
Thanks to Helen and Gino for helping us refinance our investment property and get a construction loan for our new build. We had no luck with our primary bank (despite their best efforts). Specialist Mortgage were able to work with us on different options, and manage my ever changing pay structure, to get us over the line.
Helen delivers. She is practical, responsive, efficient and caring.
Helen has helped us many times with our finance over the years. If something can’t be done, Helen will tell you straight – but she will always offer alternatives and solutions.
We trust her completely.
Bridget’s knowledge and experience in the refinancing and lending field was second to none. Utilising the best expat packages available she has saved me thousands of dollars per month with the refinancing and lending options she provided.
I had previous trouble securing finance from other brokers to purchase a property in Australia, however Grace and John were able to expertly guide me through the process and get me what I needed. Fast, responsive and overall a pleasure to deal with.
Bridget has been an amazing mortgage broker, she is always very accessible, follows through and thinks outside the box!
We have been using SMATS group for our mortgage needs since the early 2000s as both Australian residents and non-residents. Helen and her team are incredible. Effective, patient and leaders in industry trends. The mortgage deals they have achieved for us has saved us a significant amount of money.
We highly recommend them.
A big thank you to Bridget and Gino. Getting back into the very difficult Australian real estate market would not have been possible without their support.
Working with Specialist Mortgage has been nothing short of a pleasure. They went above and beyond what was expected of a mortgage broker.
Finding our forever home in Melbourne has been a years long journey for us, but through it all, Carolyn and the team has consistently and continuously supported us. Even when we took a house search pause, Carolyn was still checking on us.
Thank you to the Specialist Mortgage team for arranging finance for my new Australian property. Not an easy task given my China working location and a tightening banking environment for foreign-based workers.
What we appreciated the most is the response time and continuous support throughout the process of pre-approval all the way up to settlement. They are great professionals that explain everything thoroughly. We really trust them to help build our portfolio. Highly recommended to anyone!
Exceptional service! We’re based overseas and Grace and her team have made our Australian home purchase journey a breeze. Professional, thorough and supportive. We are happy to endorse them for anyone considering them for mortgage services.
Carolyn & Michelle were always helpful answering all questions we had as soon as possible. With Carolyn’s expertise and knowledge she was able to find us a way to achieve our goal of home ownership! Highly recommend the team! Can’t thank them enough!!
Highly recommended! As returning expats with self-employed income, traditional lenders just aren’t interested. After a failed attempt with another broker we had pretty much given up. Carolyn and her team’s tenacity got us across the line and we were able to borrow more at a better interest rate.
Bridget made it easy for me to choose a bank and she arranged special finance packages, pre-approval and final loan approval.
Carolyn and John have helped me to settle on the purchase of my second investment property. Being an overseas buyer comes with a few extra challenges. They have always been highly responsive, reliable, helpful and patient as they’ve guided me through the very detailed process. Wholeheartedly recommend!
I would have long been deterred from property investment in Australia had it not been for the hard work and high standard of service Helen offers.
I couldn’t be happier with the advice provided or the outcome achieved. Very good working with foreign clients, brilliant communication throughout. Highly recommend.
Specialist Mortgage provided continual professional care and attention as we worked through some of the challenges faced when remotely purchasing and financing property investments in Australia.
EXCEPTIONAL customer service from Specialist Mortgage.
My housing loan process in Australia was so smooth.
Grace is authentic, honest, and responsive. Grace makes it a priority to understand her client’s needs and her friendly and relaxed nature makes it a pleasure to liase with her.
Bridget has been an amazing mortgage broker, she is always very accessible, follows through and thinks outside the box!
Thank you for all the behind the scenes work you did to get us where we are today. It was a long process, but we got there in the end.
Fanny was a delight to work with and no issue was too difficult for her. Fanny was so helpful in the difficulties of borrowing as an expat, enabling me to send multiple documents at different stages and always responding with positive results.
We have been using SMATS Group for our mortgage needs since the early 2000’s as both Australian residents and non-residents. Helen and her team are incredible. Effective, patient and leaders in industry trends. The mortgage deals they have achieved for us have saved us a significant amount of money. We highly recommend them.
From the first Zoom call with Grace Neo, I knew I was in expert hands. Grace, Michelle, and Katherine were fast, diligent, and always clear. A truly professional team.
We’ll definitely be using Specialist Mortgage again in the future and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for expert advice and a smooth property investment journey.
Carolyn Xaftellis handled my purchase and I couldn’t be happier. She was organised, knowledgeable, efficient and responsive. The entire process was so easy. I would highly recommend her and her team at SMATS Group and would not hesitate to contact her again
in the future.
Thank you, Simon, Helen, and John, for supporting us on this investment and being an integral part in completing the purchase of our new home. We highly recommend and look forward to working with SMATS again.
Bridget has been an amazing mortgage broker, she is always very accessible, follows through and thinks outside the box!
We decided to return to Australia from Dubai and needed sound tax and financial advice. We approached the Specialist Mortgage team and they came up with realistic solutions to purchase a property back in Australia. It did not take long to get loan approval and we were able to buy in a subdivision.
As a working expat living abroad and in a time zone that makes it difficult to deal with Australia, I found the team to be extremely knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful.
We highly recommend Specialist Mortgage, especially Bridget for helping us secure our dream property. Bridget supported us with patience and wisdom, timely responses to questions, and we felt we had the perfect partner to navigate us through the process.
Over the past 10 years, Specialist Mortgage has supported me in securing finance for several of my property investments. They’ve made the process seamless, even while I was living overseas in Dubai and London.
The help that we received from Specialist Mortgage services was superb. Their guidance and support was spot on through the entire process. I have no hesitation in recommending them very highly.
Fantastic support throughout the purchasing process.
If you are looking for a knowledgeable, trustworthy, and supportive mortgage broker, I highly recommend Carolyn.
During the Covid-19 pandemic our purchase and settlement process was handled remotely via phone and emails, Helen and Fanny were very responsive to our questions, the process and acquisition of all the paperwork was very clear.
Bridget’s tireless work to finally find a lender for me with competitive terms was exceptional.
As an Australian citizen, Australian Non Tax Resident and UAE resident, finding a home loan can be challenging and a daunting task. On two separate occasions we have used the Specialist Mortgage team to secure a loan and have found them to be extremely professional, responsive, knowledgeable and have a true partnership approach.
A sincere thank you to the Specialist Mortgage team for your dedication, professionalism, and getting me across the line. I honestly thought I’d have to sell my Sydney property before I found you.
Carolyn and Michelle were absolutely amazing throughout the entire mortgage process. Carolyn truly knows her stuff, and I can’t recommend her enough. I’ll definitely be using them again!
Bridget and Fanny were efficient, excellent at communication and found us a competitive product that met our requirements. They walked us through each step of the process, making our mortgage application go as smoothly
as possible. Thank you!
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for Michelle, who provided support throughout the mortgage process. Michelle ensured that everything proceeded smoothly and that my application was completed on time.
We recently used Specialist Mortgage again to obtain home loan finance and received the same high level of fast, efficient and reliable service as previously experienced. Great service and great communicators. Highly recommended for finance services.
The loan Grace provided was a unique package that I have never seen before but was perfect in challenging times. This would not have been possible if Grace had not understood us and pushed, challenged, and changed internal process’, standards and procedures.
Grace has played a major role in supporting my financial investments over the past 16 years. She is a true professional and a wonderful person to work with. I will contribute to work with Grace and cannot recommend her highly enough.
Through Bridget Bowman we were able to structure our home loan in order to secure a second property. Bridget was excellent in her service and advice rapidly securing loan approvals.
Bridget made sure that I had the best rate and promptly provided me with clear answers for all my questions. She supported me through every single step in a professional and efficient manner.
We would definitely recommend the Specialist Mortgage team to anyone needing a mortgage broker who knows the ins and outs of borrowing.
We required quite a complicated loan including land and a new build which was handled so smoothly that we then decided to go with Helen for our next purchase and the refinancing of an existing loan away from a bank I had been unhappy with for years.
We have now used Helen Avis twice in procuring suitable Home Loans for our two investment properties. Helen and the team at SMATS have a deep understanding of the nuances of being an Australian Expat and we have always had great advice, high value offers and top notch service from her and the team.
Great customer service and always available to clarify and respond.
Specialist Mortgage is part of the SMATS Group of companies who are international leaders in providing taxation, finance and property services to Australian expatriates, non-residents, and intended migrants to Australia since 1995.
Our team can assist you with:
We will assist you every step of the way to increase your knowledge through education and maximise your opportunities through tailored strategies and continuous support, so that you can achieve your financial goals.