Digital Hustlers
Updated September 2026
A creator can fund an investment property the same way any self-employed borrower does: the lender assesses your business income under its self-employed policy, adds a shaded portion of the expected rent, and lends against the combined figure at investment loan terms. High creator income makes investment lending very achievable, and it also makes the tax treatment of a negatively geared property more valuable. The decisions to settle first are the deposit source, the ownership structure and which lender’s policy suits your income, in that order.
- Lenders assess an investment loan on your creator income plus a shaded share of the expected rent
- Investment loans usually carry higher rates and tighter loan-to-value limits than owner-occupier loans
- Negative gearing offsets rental losses against your creator income, which lowers tax but not the cash you need each month
- Buying in your own name, a company or a trust changes tax, land tax and lender appetite
- Equity in your home is the most common deposit source; genuine savings rules still apply to cash deposits
In this guide
How lenders assess an investment loan for a creator
The income side has two parts. Your creator income is assessed exactly as it is for a home loan: two years of returns for full-doc, or BAS and bank statements for low-doc, with the lender’s method of averaging or capping applied. The how lenders assess OnlyFans income article covers that in detail.
The rent side is then added at a discount. Lenders typically count a percentage of the expected rent, commonly somewhere around 70 to 80 percent, to allow for vacancy and costs, and they use a rental appraisal or the existing lease as the source. Some lenders also count the tax benefit of negative gearing in the servicing calculation; many do not.
On the expense side, the lender includes the new loan’s repayments at an assessment rate above the actual rate, plus council rates, insurance, strata and management fees for the investment property, on top of your existing living expenses and any home loan.
| Item | Owner-occupier loan | Investment loan |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | Lender’s standard owner-occupier pricing | Usually higher |
| Maximum loan-to-value ratio | Often up to 95 percent with lenders mortgage insurance | Often lower, particularly for interest-only |
| Rent counted | Not applicable | A shaded percentage of appraised rent |
| Interest-only | Available with conditions | Common, but assessed on principal and interest repayments over the remaining term |
| Purpose test | Must live in it | Must be rented or available for rent |
Where the deposit comes from
Equity in your home. The most common source. If your home has grown in value, a refinance or a separate loan split can release equity to use as the investment deposit and costs, so no cash is needed. The lender assesses the total borrowing across both properties. The refinancing article explains equity release.
Cash savings. Genuine savings rules apply. Money held or accumulated over at least three months in your own account, with the tax set aside first. The deposit on irregular income article has the system.
Company funds. If your creator income sits in a company, using company money for a personal investment property is not a simple transfer. Paying it out as a dividend has tax consequences; lending it to yourself creates a company loan with strict repayment rules. Talk to your accountant before moving a dollar.
Some lenders will secure the new investment loan against both your home and the investment property. That can simplify the deposit but it ties the properties together and makes selling or refinancing one of them harder later. Ask for the alternative of a separate equity release split before agreeing.
Talk to a lender who understands creator income
National Accounts Lending works with creators every week. Tell us how you earn and we will tell you which lenders will say yes before you apply.
Negative gearing and creator income
A property is negatively geared when the rent is less than the deductible costs of owning it, including loan interest, rates, insurance, management fees and depreciation. The loss offsets your other taxable income, which for a creator means the loss reduces the tax on your platform income.
The higher your marginal tax rate, the more a rental loss is worth as a deduction, which is why negative gearing appeals to creators with strong income. The important thing to understand is that the tax saving is a fraction of the loss, not the whole loss. You still fund the shortfall every month from your own cash flow, and the lender’s servicing calculation assumes you can.
A positively geared property, where rent exceeds costs, adds to your taxable income and to your serviceability. Neither is better in the abstract; it depends on your income, your tax position and what you are trying to achieve. Your accountant should model both before you buy. The tax rules around rental deductions, depreciation and capital gains are covered by the National Accounts team, who handle creator tax and investment property together.
A property held for more than twelve months before sale currently receives a 50 percent capital gains tax discount for individuals. Structure, holding period and any period you lived in the property all affect the final tax position, and rules are subject to change, so plan the exit at the time you buy.
Which name to buy in
Your own name. Simplest, cheapest to set up, and the negative gearing loss offsets your own income directly. Land tax applies per state on your total holdings.
A company. Losses stay in the company and cannot offset your personal creator income. Companies do not receive the capital gains tax discount. Lenders will assess the company’s capacity and usually want personal guarantees. Rarely the right answer for a single investment property.
A discretionary trust. Losses are trapped in the trust and cannot offset your personal income, which removes most of the negative gearing benefit. Gains can be distributed flexibly, and some states apply land tax surcharges to trusts. Lender appetite is narrower. Occasionally right for asset protection or where the property will be positively geared and the family income split is valuable.
Most creators buying a first investment property buy in their own name. The exceptions are specific enough that they need advice, not an article. Get the structure settled with your accountant before you apply, because changing it after purchase means paying stamp duty again.
A sensible sequence
- Have your accountant confirm your income position, tax set-asides and the structure to buy in.
- Get a borrowing capacity assessment from a broker across your existing loan plus the new one.
- Settle the deposit source, whether equity or cash, and confirm it meets the lender’s rules.
- Identify the property and obtain a rental appraisal.
- Apply to the lender whose policy best fits your creator income and the property type.
- After settlement, order a depreciation schedule so every deductible dollar is claimed.
Common questions
Can OnlyFans creators get an investment property loan?
Yes. Lenders assess creator income under their self-employed policy and add a shaded portion of expected rent. Two years of returns unlock the most lenders; low-doc options exist for shorter histories.
How much rent do lenders count?
Typically a percentage of the appraised or actual rent, often somewhere around 70 to 80 percent, to allow for vacancy and costs. The exact percentage is lender policy.
Can I use my home equity as the deposit?
Yes, through a refinance or a separate loan split that releases equity. The lender assesses your total borrowing across both properties.
Should I buy an investment property in a trust?
Usually not for a first negatively geared property, because the loss is trapped in the trust and cannot offset your creator income. Trusts suit specific situations and need advice from your accountant before purchase.
Does negative gearing mean the property costs me nothing?
No. The tax saving is a fraction of the rental loss based on your marginal rate. You fund the rest of the shortfall from your own cash flow every month.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not credit advice or tax advice. Consider whether the information is right for you before acting on it. Lending criteria, fees and charges apply. National Accounts Lending Pty Ltd, ABN 82 694 226 483, Corporate Credit Representative Number 577557, authorised under Connective Credit Services Pty Ltd, ABN 51 143 651 496, Australian Credit Licence 389328. Level 2, 70 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide SA 5000.