Your private getaway
A place for family holidays and weekends away, whenever you want it.
YOUR GETAWAY, FINANCED
Holiday home loans in Queensland.
A place to escape to.
Possibly one that pays its way.
A holiday home loan helps you buy a getaway in your favourite destination, often using equity in your current home so you don’t drain your savings. Whether it’s for family use, holiday letting or both, we compare loans that suit how you’ll use it. Personal guidance from Ausfirst Lending Group’s mortgage brokers on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane.
Excellent · 35 Google reviews
Your own getaway.Let’s find the right loan for it.
ESCAPEand earn,
maybe both.
maybe both.
40+Lenders on our panel
30+ yearsRichard’s broking experience
$0Broker fee for home loans
Local careSunshine Coast & Brisbane
HOW HOLIDAY HOME LOANS WORK
Lifestyle and investment,
in one property.
A holiday home loan funds a property in a holiday destination, for your own use, for rental income, or a mix of both. How you plan to use it shapes how lenders assess the loan.
Seasonal rental income
Renting it out in peak periods can help cover repayments and running costs.
Growth potential
Areas with steady tourism and limited supply may grow in value, though it’s never guaranteed.
Using equity in your current home? We’ll check how much you could access and what it means for your repayments.
Start with a free chatHOW YOU’LL USE IT MATTERS
Your plans shape
the loan.
Lenders treat a family getaway differently from a short-stay rental. Being clear upfront helps us match the right lender and structure.
Personal use
A second residence for your own holidays, assessed on your income and existing commitments.
Use and rent
Enjoy it yourself and rent it out in between. Lenders may count part of the rental income.
Mostly holiday letting
Short-stay rentals are often assessed as investments, sometimes with a larger deposit and evidence of expected income.
Holiday park properties
Often classed as commercial, with stricter criteria. Some specialist lenders fund them.
A QUICK COMPARISON
Getaway, or holiday rental?
| What you compare | Personal getaway | Holiday rental |
|---|---|---|
| Lender view | Second residence | Investment property |
| Rental income | Not counted | Partly counted, often seasonal |
| Tax deductions | Generally none | For genuine rental periods |
| Deposit | Varies | Often larger |
Lender treatment and tax outcomes vary. Confirm tax with your accountant.
Compare my optionsKNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Could bookings
cover the costs?
Holiday rental income is seasonal. Peak periods can carry the year, while quieter months may not cover the repayments. It pays to plan conservatively.
We look at realistic occupancy, running costs and your other commitments before recommending a loan.
- A conservative nightly rate
- Realistic booked nights per year
- Management, cleaning and platform fees
- Rates, insurance and maintenance
YOUR GETAWAY, AT A GLANCE
What could it cost to hold?
$50k$2m
Illustrative yearly shortfall$23,000
Rental income$28,000
Interest (interest-only)$39,000
Illustration only. Assumes interest-only repayments and steady bookings. Running costs should include management, cleaning, platform fees, rates, insurance and maintenance. Excludes tax.
Check my actual optionsCHOOSING WHERE TO BUY
Location drives
demand and value.
The best spots usually have year-round appeal. Coastal towns, national parks and mountain retreats within about two hours of a major city tend to attract weekend and holiday bookings.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Check demand, rules and costs.
Look at seasonal demand, the local economy and what similar properties earn. Some councils regulate short-stay letting, so check local rules before relying on rental income.
Factor in ongoing maintenance, which can be higher for coastal properties exposed to salt and weather.
Deductions for genuine rentals
Costs like maintenance, rates and depreciation may be claimable for periods the property is genuinely available for rent. Personal use reduces what you can claim.
Confirm with your accountant.
A specialist area
Many lenders classify holiday park properties as commercial, with stricter criteria, higher rates and larger deposits. Specialist lenders may help.
Market conditions, council rules and tax treatment vary. Capital growth is not guaranteed.
Let’s test your plan. We’ll look at your equity, borrowing capacity and how lenders will view the property.
Check my next stepsYOUR BORROWING CAPACITY
What lenders assess
for a holiday home.
Lenders also consider your job stability, savings history, LVR and existing assets.
Income
Salary, bonuses and other regular income, plus any rental income they’ll count.
Repayment history
How consistently you’ve met obligations, including your current mortgage.
Other debts
Personal loans, car loans and credit cards affect how much more you can borrow.
Living costs
Household bills, rates, transport, school fees and insurance.
THE RIGHT STRUCTURE MATTERS
Flexible loan
structures.
The right features depend on whether you’ll rent it out and how you manage cash flow.
Equity as deposit
Fund the deposit from your home’s equity without draining savings.
Interest-only
Lower repayments for a set term, useful if rental income is seasonal.
Offset accounts
Hold peak-season income to reduce interest through quieter months.
Fixed, variable or split
Balance repayment certainty against flexibility.
Already own a holiday home? Refinancing could improve your rate or features.
Talk about refinancingFROM FIRST CHAT TO SETTLEMENT
Six steps.
One team beside you.
We explain each stage, prepare the application with you and keep you informed through to settlement.
UNDERSTAND
Talk through your plans
Where you’d like to buy and how you’ll use it, whether personal, rental or both.
GATHER
Check your equity and capacity
We collect income documents and loan details, and estimate your usable equity.
ANALYSE & PLAN
Match lenders to your use
We compare lenders on how they treat holiday homes and rental income.
APPLY
Lodge your application
Once you’ve found a property, we finalise the application and liaise on valuation.
FINALISE
Manage settlement
We coordinate with your lender and conveyancer through to settlement.
SUPPORT
Review over time
We review your loans as rates, values and your plans change.
Richard LukeFounder · Ausfirst Lending Group
WHAT MAKES AUSFIRST DIFFERENT
Your getaway is personal.
Your broker should be, too.
You’re looked after by someone who treats your financial success as his own.
Richard brings more than 30 years of hands-on broking experience. He takes the time to understand your finances, lifestyle goals and plans before comparing holiday home loan options from our panel.
Whether it’s your first getaway, part of a rental portfolio or funded with equity, you get clear advice, regular updates and support from application to settlement.
Personal attentionOngoing loan reviews2024 Sunshine Coast Business Awards finalist
Talk to a broker
More about RichardWHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Good people.
Great support.
ExcellentBased on 35 Google reviews
Google review
“I would describe Richard and Ausfirst Lending as friendly, insightful, prompt and diligent. A pleasure to deal with.”
Google review
“Debbie made the process of buying a new house frictionless, by providing excellent support throughout”
Google review
“I received very prompt responses to all of my questions and the team ensured that my application was processed in a timely manner. The service was brilliant!”
Excerpts from client reviews displayed on Ausfirst’s website. These reflect individual experiences.
LET’S CLEAR THINGS UP
Holiday homes.
Real questions.
The questions we’re asked most about holiday home loans. Your plans matter, so we’re happy to talk through the detail.
Ask about my plansCan I use my home equity to buy a holiday home?
Yes. A top-up, split or equity release can fund the deposit or more. It increases your overall debt, so make sure the higher repayments are comfortable.
Where are the best places to buy a holiday home?
Places with year-round appeal tend to perform best, such as coastal regions, national parks and mountain retreats, especially within about two hours of a major city.
Can I live in my holiday home full-time?
If it becomes your main home, tell your lender, as the loan may need to change to an owner-occupied loan. Using it differently from what you declared could breach your loan terms.
Is a holiday home a good investment?
In a well-chosen location, it may offer rental income and growth. Consider market conditions, seasonal demand, maintenance costs and the local economy before buying.
Can I get a loan for a holiday park property?
Possibly, but it’s harder. Many lenders treat these as commercial, with stricter criteria, higher rates and larger deposits. Some specialist lenders offer options.
How are short-stay holiday rentals assessed?
Often as investments, using projected rental income that may vary through the year. Expect a larger deposit and evidence of expected income with some lenders.
How do mortgage brokers get paid?
Lenders pay us an upfront commission at settlement and usually a smaller ongoing trail commission. Our home loan service is free for you, and we disclose what we’re paid.
LET’S MAKE A START
Your getaway starts
with a plan.
Tell us where you’d like to buy and how you’ll use it. We’ll look at your equity, borrowing capacity and the lenders that suit your plans.
Your usable equity worked out
Lenders matched to how you’ll use it
Personal guidance from an experienced team
Visit us in Caloundra
Suite 3/74 Bulcock St, Caloundra QLD 4551
Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm
YOUR FREE HOLIDAY HOME CHAT
Tell us about your getaway.
Send our team a little about your plans.
Your enquiry draft is ready.
Review and send it from your email app to share your details with Ausfirst. Your enquiry has not been sent yet.
Open my email draftNo email app? Use our online contact form