In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant speaks with Eva Loisance, principal at Finni Mortgages, about the pivotal role finance plays in property investment.

They explore the resurgence of 95 per cent lending, highlighting how major banks like Westpac are reintroducing high loan-to-value ratio (LVR) options after a period of restraint.

Tarrant emphasises that successful property investment relies on strategic financial planning, understanding lending policies, and staying alert to market changes.

Loisance explains that while January was quiet, February brought a wave of new policies, with 95 per cent lending offering lower deposit requirements and faster market entry.

She also warns that high LVR borrowing carries risks such as negative equity, making it essential to invest in growth areas and align loans with long-term strategies.

The discussion covers competitive interest rates, pre-approvals, and the importance of factoring in lenders mortgage insurance when considering high LVR loans.

For investors, 95 per cent lending presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring careful planning and professional advice to maximise benefits.

Overall, the episode highlights how staying informed and leveraging the right financial tools can help investors navigate the evolving property market successfully.

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In this episode of Inside Residential Property, host Liam Garman is joined by James Thompson, senior buyer's agent at Rethink Residential, and Grant, an investor who followed a structured pathway from residential growth assets into commercial property, to unpack the fundamentals of portfolio architecture – and why strategy matters more than arbitrary targets like "10 properties" or "$200,000 passive income".

Using Grant's real investment journey as a case study, the episode explores how investors can build a scalable portfolio by sequencing the right assets at the right time, balancing capital growth and cash flow, and making decisions based on equity, serviceability, and life circumstances – not hype or rigid plans.

Grant shares how he didn't initially set out to become an investor, but after being priced out of the Sydney home he wanted, he pivoted into residential investing with a clear long-term view. He explains how early purchases in Queensland, including a duplex and diversified residential holdings, helped him build an equity base quickly, and how a rentvesting approach allowed him to keep lifestyle flexibility while letting the portfolio do the heavy lifting.

The conversation then turns to the reality of scaling: how serviceability ceilings can start dictating what's possible, why investors often hit an equity or borrowing wall, and why transitioning into commercial property can be a strategic next step for those seeking higher monthly income.

James and Liam also unpack the bigger strategic lesson behind Grant's journey: markets shift, life changes, and portfolios need to evolve accordingly. They discuss why successful investors pivot rather than force purchases, how to think about exit strategies, and why the best portfolios quietly support lifestyle – without requiring constant transactions or unnecessary risk.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why portfolio architecture matters, and how arbitrary property goals can lead to poor decisions.
• How to sequence residential investments for growth before transitioning to cash flow.
• The difference between buying for capital growth versus buying for yield (and when each matters).
• How rentvesting can create flexibility while still building long-term wealth.
• Why serviceability and borrowing capacity often become the biggest scaling constraint.
• How and when moving into commercial property can improve portfolio stability and income.
• What a practical exit strategy looks like, and how to redeploy equity intelligently.
• Why the best investors pivot their plan instead of forcing the next purchase.

This episode is essential listening for residential property investors who want a clearer strategy for building a portfolio that can scale, adapt and ultimately support passive income – offering a practical, experience-led perspective on sequencing, serviceability, pivot points and long-term decision-making.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, hosts Arjun Paliwal and Jack Fouracre unpack the sweeping changes hitting Australia's lending landscape, what they mean for serious property investors, and how non-bank lenders are entering the void.

The duo breaks down why major banks are tightening trust and company lending, following regulatory pressure from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, and why longstanding strategies built on "endless borrowing" are rapidly disappearing.

They explore how lenders such as Macquarie Bank helped fuel aggressive trust lending in recent years, and why those policies are now being quietly wound back amid heightened scrutiny.

Listeners will also gain clarity on how new anti-money laundering rules will impact not just banks and brokers, but also investors, adding layers of administration, cost, and complexity to trust lending structures.

Paliwal and Fouracre then explain why non-bank lenders are stepping in as major banks retreat, how brokers now facilitate close to 80 per cent of Australian lending, and why having an investment-specialist finance team has become non-negotiable for portfolio builders.