Australian property finance for Hong Kong-based investorswith local time-zone coverage
Built for Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai based investors and offshore entities financing Australian property. The usual sticking points — banks restrict lending to non-residents, firb approval adds time and uncertainty, time zone makes communication difficult, currency and remittance complexity — are the ones our lender panel is chosen to solve.
- Representative offices in your marketWhat we bring
- FIRB-aware process from the startWhat we bring
- Time-zone-matched communicationWhat we bring
Indicative terms in three minutes
Business-purpose and investment finance only. No credit check at this stage.
“Australia is closed to foreign buyers”
We hear this constantly. The honest answer is that it depends on security, exit and documentation — which is exactly what the enquiry form asks — and that the lenders on our panel — banks, private lenders and specialist funds alike — price those three things, not the label on the borrower.
“The process takes too long from overseas” — a fair concern, and one we address in writing before any application is lodged.
“We won't get a straight answer from a bank” — a fair concern, and one we address in writing before any application is lodged.
Typical pain points: Banks restrict lending to non-residents; FIRB approval adds time and uncertainty; Time zone makes communication difficult; Currency and remittance complexity. What we bring: representative offices in your market, firb-aware process from the start, time-zone-matched communication.
Hong Kong–based investors, including Hong Kong nationals, Australia-linked expatriates and family offices, typically buy Australian property and business assets for portfolio diversification, education-driven relocation and long-term residency planning. Sydney and Melbourne residential and commercial property attract the most consistent demand. Financing typically covers established property purchases, construction of new residences, and business acquisition or expansion for Hong Kong-linked business owners relocating operations to Australia.
Hong Kong typically runs two to three hours behind the Australian Eastern seaboard, varying with Australian daylight saving, which supports same-day contact with Australian lenders. Certified identification and income documents are usually required, and borrowers should plan FX and fund transfers around Hong Kong's banking and remittance processes; borrowers should seek local advice on the tax and currency implications in their home jurisdiction.
Solara Global Capital Partners arranges business-purpose and investment finance for assets and projects in Australia and abroad, including the Middle East and Asia, through banks, private lenders, non-bank lenders and specialist funds. Our Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong offices are representative offices: every facility is documented and settled with the lender, on the lender’s terms, through a lender licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Nothing on this site is an offer of credit in any jurisdiction where Solara is not permitted to make one.
Foreign persons may need approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board before acquiring an interest in Australian land or an Australian business. This is general information only. Solara does not provide Foreign Investment Review Board advice, and independent legal advice should be sought on your obligations.
Finance foreign investors actually use.
Foreign investor & expat loans
Australian property and business finance for non-residents, Australian expats and offshore entities, arranged with lenders who accept foreign income and guarantees.
Commercial property loans
Purchase or refinance of income-producing office, industrial, retail or mixed-use property, through private, non-bank or bank lenders.
Private first mortgages
A first mortgage from a private or non-bank lender, used when speed, structure, credit history or documentation call for an alternative to the banks.
Construction finance
Progress-drawn funding for residential and commercial builds, from land and early works through to residual stock, with or without pre-sales.
Australian markets we finance for Hong Kong clients.
Sydney
Sydney's finance, professional-services, technology and property-development economy makes it the deepest and most liquid private-lending market in the country. Lenders will fund the widest range of security here, from CBD commercial towers to inner-ring residential and construction sites, with banks, private lenders, non-bank lenders and specialist funds all active.
Commercial property loans in Sydney →Melbourne
Melbourne's finance, manufacturing, education and construction sectors drive strong demand for development, bridging and second-mortgage funding, particularly around the inner and middle-ring suburbs. Lenders favour well-located commercial and residential security but are more selective on high-density apartment and off-the-plan stock.
Commercial property loans in Melbourne →Questions we are asked.
Can a foreign investor get finance for Australian property?
Yes, though the lender panel is narrower than for Australian residents, and terms are typically more conservative on loan-to-value ratio and documentation. Lenders on our panel specifically work with offshore borrowers and offshore entities rather than treating every application as an exception.
Do I need FIRB approval before applying for finance?
⚠ In most cases, yes, if you're a foreign person acquiring Australian property, FIRB approval is a separate legal requirement from the finance itself. This is a legal question specific to your residency and entity structure, and you should confirm your position with a qualified Australian lawyer before proceeding.
How does financing work across different time zones?
We structure calls and documentation around your local business hours from Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, using representative offices in those markets rather than expecting you to work entirely to Sydney time. Most of the process can run by email and video call regardless of the time difference.
Can an offshore company or trust borrow directly, rather than an individual?
Yes, offshore entities are a normal borrower type in this category, though lenders will want the entity structure, its beneficial ownership and its jurisdiction clearly documented before assessing the loan. Individual directors or trustees are usually still required to provide a personal guarantee.
Is construction finance available to foreign investors developing in Australia?
It's available through a narrower panel than for local developers, generally requiring a stronger pre-sale position, more conservative loan-to-cost terms, and clear documentation of the entity and funding source. We work through what's realistic before submitting to lenders. Engaging early, before a site is committed to, generally produces better terms.
Should I get local tax or legal advice before borrowing in Australia?
⚠ Yes — foreign investment, tax residency and structuring rules are complex and specific to your circumstances, so we'd always recommend independent Australian legal and tax advice alongside arranging the finance itself, rather than relying on the loan process to cover that ground.
Not quite the right product? Every loan type we arrange.
Most scenarios can be structured more than one way. Browse the alternatives, or tell us the situation and we'll recommend the structure.