Self managed super fund loan

What can an SMSF still borrow for after the 2026 changes?

From 10 August 2026, a new SMSF loan can no longer be used to buy residential property. New SMSF borrowing is limited to commercial premises that qualify as business real property. Existing loans are grandfathered and can be refinanced, and an SMSF can still buy residential outright with the fund’s own cash.

Where we help now is refinancing existing SMSF loans and arranging commercial lending, comparing the lenders still active in this space across our panel, at $0 cost to you.

Refinancing an existing SMSF loan

Existing SMSF loans are grandfathered, and refinancing them is explicitly permitted under the 2026 changes. That is where most of our SMSF work sits now. You might refinance to a sharper rate, to better terms, or because your current lender has stepped back from the SMSF space. We compare the lenders still active and work out whether a switch leaves your fund better off.

One thing to check first: many SMSF loans are set up with a minimum term, often around three years, and refinancing earlier can trigger break or exit costs, sometimes several months of payments to the original provider. That can make an early refinance uneconomic, so the first thing we do is check where your loan sits against that term.

If you are past that point, or the saving outweighs the cost, refinancing can noticeably reduce what your fund pays. We run the numbers with you and coordinate with your accountant so the fund stays compliant through the switch.

Buying commercial property through your SMSF

Commercial lending inside an SMSF is not affected by the 2026 changes, as long as the property qualifies as business real property. For business owners, this is one of the strongest pathways still open: your fund can buy the premises your business trades from, and lease it back to the business at market rent on arm’s length terms.

The key is the definition. Business real property generally means real estate used wholly and exclusively in a running business, a warehouse, an office, a shopfront. Not everything qualifies. Mixed-use property, vacant land, or anything with a residential element may need careful review before an arrangement is entered into, and that review sits with your accountant and solicitor.

Where it fits, we arrange the lending, compare the active lenders, and coordinate the bare trust and structure alongside your advisers. Whether the strategy suits your fund is a decision for your licensed financial adviser and accountant, not us.