RBA Cash Rate: 4.10% · 1AUD = 0.64 USD · Inflation: 2.4%  

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Home Loan Variable: 5.68% (5.88%*) • Home Loan Fixed: 5.39% (5.77%*) • Fixed: 5.39% (5.77%*) • Variable: 5.68% (5.88%*) • Investment IO: 5.59% (6.66%*) • Investment PI: 5.55% (5.96%*)

Can Rent Be Used as Genuine Savings?

Getting into the property market is difficult when you’re paying rent because you’re still required to save a 5% deposit towards a new home. While the deposit is still usually required, many lenders will accept your rental history as a substitute for your ‘Genuine Savings‘, meaning that any required deposit may be non-genuine savings. This recognition of your timely rent payments equal to an amount of the 5% genuine savings deposit is limited to a number of banks on our panel (not all banks will accept rent as a means of demonstrating your genuine savings record).

You may be able to borrow up to 95% of the property price, and up to 97% in some cases (including LMI).

Qualifying

You may demonstrate your ability to save a 5% deposit (what would otherwise be ‘Genuine Savings’) by way of a Rental Reference Letter or Rental Commitment Letter. The letter will assist towards your character, your capacity, your repayment history, your creditworthiness as a good tenant with continuous long-term rental repayments over the last 12 months.

What Does A Rental Commitment Letter Need To Show? A Rental Commitment letter from your Property Manager or Real Estate Agent will be required to provide the following:

  • Full name of tenants as per tenancy agreement.
  • The Address of the tenanted property.
  • The Commencement date of tenancy (minimum 3 months term to apply).
  • The amount of rent paid per cycle, e.g., Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly.
  • Confirmation of 3 months satisfactory Rental payment History.

You will still be required to demonstrate your strong financial position by way of a good credit file.

Call us to Learn More

You should call us for a quick consultation to get a better understanding of your options.

Download our 40-page First Home Buyer Guide. The book includes a large amount of information that will guide you during the buying process, and it provides you with information on your various finance options. 
First Home Buyer, April 2025
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Related FAQs:

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Inflation is an increase in the level of prices of the goods and services that households buy. It is measured as the rate of change of those prices. Typically, prices rise over time, but prices can also fall (a situation called deflation).

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Owner Occ. (Selected P&I Rates)
Interest*
5.39%
Comparison*
5.77%
   
5.39%
6.30%
   
5.45%
5.94%
   
5.49%
5.71%
   
Selected Invest Products (P&I)
Interest*
5.55%
Comparison*
5.96%
   
5.59%
6.57%
   
5.64%
6.45%
   
5.64%
7.75%
   
Selected Multiple Lenders (Fixed)
Interest*
5.39%
Comparison*
5.77%
   
5.39%
6.30%
   
5.45%
5.94%
   
5.49%
5.71%
   
Selected Multiple Lenders (Variable)
Interest*
5.68%
Comparison*
5.88%
   
5.74%
5.76%
   
5.84%
5.87%
   
5.84%
5.88%
   
Selected BIg-4 Lenders (Variable)
Interest*
6.04%
Comparison*
6.05%
   
6.19%
6.20%
   
6.19%
6.23%
   
Selected Invest Products (IO)
Interest*
5.59%
Comparison*
6.66%
   
5.64%
6.44%
   
5.69%
6.14%
   
5.74%
7.77%