Australian Expat Mortgage Broker — Singapore

Living in Singapore and thinking about Australian property? You’re not alone. Singapore is home to one of the largest Australian expat communities in the world. Whether you’re looking to invest back home, buy a property for your eventual return, or refinance an existing loan from overseas — we make the process straightforward. Everything is done remotely, on your schedule.

Expat Mortgage Broker, powered by hfinance, specialises exclusively in helping Australians living abroad secure Australian home loans. We understand the Singapore market, SGD income assessment, the lender restrictions that apply to non-residents, and how to structure applications that get approved — without you needing to fly home.

Why Australian Expats in Singapore Are Buying Now

The Australian property market continues to perform strongly. According to the Cotality Monthly Housing Chart Pack (March 2026), Brisbane dwelling values rose 17.3% over the 12 months to February 2026 and are at a record high. Sydney values rose 6.0% annually. For Australians earning SGD, the relative strength of the Singapore dollar against the Australian dollar has made Australian property increasingly accessible.

The RBA raised the cash rate to 4.10% on 17 March 2026 — the second consecutive hike in 2026 — which has moderated some of the competition from local buyers. For expats with a long-term view, periods of rate-driven softening in buyer sentiment can represent strategic entry windows, particularly in markets like Brisbane, Sydney, and the Gold Coast where supply remains constrained.

How Australian Lenders View Singapore-Based Borrowers

Residency Status

Australian citizens and permanent residents living in Singapore are generally treated more favourably than foreign nationals. If you hold Australian citizenship or PR, you are not subject to FIRB approval requirements when purchasing residential property in Australia. Read our FIRB guide for full details.

Income Assessment — SGD Shading

Australian lenders do not automatically accept 100% of your SGD income for serviceability purposes. Most lenders apply income shading — accepting a percentage of your foreign currency income, after converting to AUD.

SGD currency tier	Tier 1 — accepted by most major lenders
Typical income acceptance rate	80% of assessed AUD-converted income
Example	SGD 200,000 annual salary ≈ AUD 220,000 · after shading ≈ AUD 176,000 used for serviceability
Mitigation	Some lenders accept up to 90% for Tier 1 currencies with strong employment profile

Maximum LVR for Non-Residents

For Australian citizens and PR holders living overseas, most lenders cap the loan-to-value ratio (LVR) at 70–80%, compared to 90–95% for Australian residents. This means you will typically need a larger deposit.

Standard resident LVR	Up to 90–95% (with LMI)
Expat / non-resident LVR	Typically 70–80% maximum
$800,000 property — expat deposit required	Minimum $160,000 (at 80% LVR) + purchase costs
$1,200,000 property — expat deposit required	Minimum $240,000 (at 80% LVR) + purchase costs

How We Help Australians in Singapore

• Remote pre-approval — no need to fly home
• Compare 30+ lenders including those most favourable to Singapore-based borrowers
• Navigate SGD income shading to maximise your borrowing capacity
• Handle all paperwork, lender liaison, and settlement coordination remotely
• Free service — we are paid by lenders, not you

Ready to Start?

Book a free assessment with Expat Mortgage Broker. We’ll review your situation, confirm your borrowing capacity based on your SGD income, and recommend the most suitable lenders for your purchase.

🌐 expatmortgagebroker.com | ✉ [email protected] | 📞 +61 2 7252 5535

Sources: Cotality Monthly Housing Chart Pack, March 2026. RBA Monetary Policy Decision, 17 March 2026.