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Last Updated: 29th September, 2022

Island and water access only properties are specialty properties that are not connected to the mainland by a bridge.

Due to the unique attributes of these properties, they can often be difficult to use as security for a home loan.

How much can I borrow?

  • For land and houses in Tasmania we can finance up to 95% of the property value.
  • For houses on other islands we can finance up to 80% of the property value.
  • Borrow up to 105% of the property value with a guarantor.
  • Properties on rivers with no road access are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Are you wondering whether your property will be accepted by the banks?

Call us on 1300 889 743, or enquire online to see which one of our lenders will be best suited to your situation.


Will banks accept my property?

Banks are wary of lending for island or water access properties as fewer people are interested in buying these kinds of property.

Due to the lower demand, resale of the property can be prolonged and the banks are likely to make a loss if the property needs to be sold to recoup the debt.

In particular, vacant land is considered to be a very high risk and often cannot be financed without a substantial deposit and plans to build a house immediately.

Many island or water access properties are subject to flooding, which also increases the risk to the bank.

However, some of our lenders will consider these properties on a case by case basis.


What island and water access properties do banks accept?

Our lenders are able to finance island and water access properties throughout Australia. These areas include:

  • Berowra Waters, NSW.
  • Dangar Island, NSW.
  • King Island, TAS
  • Scotland Island, NSW.
  • Magnetic Island, QLD.
  • Stradbroke Island, QLD (restricted to Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout).
  • Lamb Island, QLD.
  • Macleay Island, QLD.
  • Hamilton Island, QLD.
  • Norfolk Island.
  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
  • Christmas Island.

Find out if the property you’re after will be accepted by a lender by calling one of our brokers on 1300 889 743 or enquiring online.


Is Tasmania assessed like other islands?

Tasmania is a much smaller property market than the other Australian states and many areas have properties that have been on the market for over a year. For this reason, some lenders assess Tasmania as a high risk area whereas others accept Tasmanian properties as security for a home loan.

Many lenders have restrictions on certain postcodes that they believe are a particularly high risk.

The banks tend to favour highly populated suburbs such as Hobart or Launceston.


Can I get a home loan?

Our brokers are experts in financing unique properties on islands or only accessible by river.

Call us on 1300 889 743 or enquire online to find out how you can get your home loan approved.