Is your SMSF loan still
working for your fund?
Rates have shifted. The lender landscape has opened up. If your SMSF loan was set up more than 12 months ago and hasn't been reviewed, there's a good chance something better is available. The calculator below gives you a starting point. A conversation with Charmain gives you the full picture.
- Specialist SMSF lender panel
- Bare trust & ATO compliance managed
- Honest — even if the answer is "not yet"
- 18+ years SMSF experience
See what a better rate
could mean for your fund
Enter your current loan balance, rate and remaining term. The calculator will show you the potential saving over that period — using a real comparison rate from Charmain's lender panel. It's a starting point, not a quote. A review with Charmain gives you the actual numbers.
Your current SMSF loan
Your refinance comparison
$200,000 · 20 years remaining
This calculator provides an estimate based on principal & interest repayments at the rates entered. It does not account for fees, break costs on fixed rates, or changes in interest rates over the loan term. Always seek professional advice before refinancing your SMSF loan.
Refinancing may not save you much here
Based on the numbers entered, the rate difference is small enough that refinancing costs (legal fees, establishment fees) may outweigh the saving. That said, there may be other reasons to refinance — better terms, releasing equity, or a lender better suited to your SMSF structure. Charmain can give you an honest assessment.
Get an honest assessmentSMSF refinancing works the same way — with a few extra moving parts
The concept is familiar: you review your current loan and move to something better. The difference with SMSF is the structure — bare trusts, compliance obligations, and a smaller pool of lenders. Done properly, the process is straightforward. Done without specialist knowledge, it can create problems.
Same concept, more documents
SMSF loans follow the same refinance process, just with a few additional documents due to the structure.
More lender options
You are no longer limited to older high-rate loans — there are now 30+ lenders in the SMSF space.
Slightly longer process
A few extra steps mean timing can be longer, but the process remains straightforward when handled properly.
Costs can be built in
Refinancing costs can often be included in the new loan, within lending and SIS Act guidelines.
This is your super. If there is an opportunity to reduce your rate or improve your structure, the savings stay working for you.
Kerry and Paul almost didn't make the call.
They'd been told their rate was competitive. It wasn't. One 30-minute conversation with Charmain revealed a $95,370 saving. She handled the refinance, discharge trust transfer, lender coordination and kept our accountant updated — start to finish.
Three situations where a
review makes sense
Most SMSF loans are set up once and left alone. That's not always a problem — but it can be. Here are the three most common situations Charmain sees that warrant a proper review.
📉
Your rate has drifted above market
SMSF loan rates vary significantly between lenders, and lender pricing changes over time. If your loan was set up more than 12 months ago and hasn't been reviewed, it's worth checking where your rate sits. Even a 0.5% reduction on a $500,000 loan saves over $2,500 per year — every year.
🔓
Your lender no longer fits your fund
Some lenders have tightened their SMSF criteria significantly in recent years. Others have exited the market entirely. If your lender's current policies don't align with your fund's strategy — or if their service has declined — there may be a better-suited option on the panel.
🏗️
You want to access the equity in your fund
As the property value grows and the loan reduces, equity accumulates inside the fund. Refinancing can allow you to restructure and access that equity — for fund diversification or other purposes. This needs to be done correctly within the LRBA framework. It's not a simple process, but it is achievable with the right structure.
There are layers here that
don't exist in standard lending
Refinancing an SMSF loan isn't complicated for the right broker — but it does require specific knowledge. Getting any of these elements wrong can cause delays, additional costs, or compliance issues that affect the fund's integrity.
The bare trust must transfer correctly
Your SMSF property is held in a bare trust while the LRBA is in place. When you refinance, the new lender needs to be noted correctly on the bare trust — and in some cases the documents need to be updated. This requires coordination between your broker, solicitor and SMSF accountant. A mistake here can invalidate the lending arrangement.
Not every lender does SMSF loans
The pool of lenders who offer SMSF lending is significantly smaller than the broader property loan market. Charmain's panel includes the specialist SMSF lenders — which means more options, more competitive rates, and access to lenders who offer LVRs up to 80% on residential SMSF property.
ATO compliance can't have gaps
The transition from one lender to another must not create any period where the arrangement falls outside the ATO's guidelines for limited recourse borrowing. Charmain structures the refinance to remain fully compliant throughout — not just at settlement.
Fixed rate break costs can change the maths
If your SMSF loan is on a fixed rate, there may be break costs involved in leaving before the term expires. Charmain reviews the full picture — break costs, establishment fees, rate differential, and the net saving — before recommending whether to refinance now or wait.
It all starts with a conversation.
One client was told by their bank that their rate was competitive. It wasn't — Charmain found a 3.09% gap. She handled all the required paperwork, transfer, lender coordination and ATO compliance from start to finish. The fund is better for it.
A clear process from
first conversation to settled
No surprises, no hidden steps. Here's how a typical SMSF refinance runs from initial review through to your new loan in place.
01
Loan Review
We look at your current rate, terms, remaining balance and structure — and run the numbers to confirm whether refinancing genuinely makes sense for your fund right now.
02
Lender Shortlist
We identify the most suitable lenders on the panel for your fund's specific situation, property type and LVR. The focus is on fit, not just headline rate.
03
Application & Coordination
We manage the application, coordinate with your SMSF accountant, and handle the bare trust transfer documentation with the incoming lender.
04
Settlement
Your new loan settles, the old one closes. We confirm the bare trust is correctly updated and your accountant has everything they need.
"Our SMSF loan had been sitting at the same rate for four years. Charmain reviewed it, found us a lender 1.1% lower, and managed the whole bare trust transfer process. We're saving $460 a month. I had no idea it was that straightforward with the right broker."
Give Charmain the full picture.
Get a real answer back.
Takes about 3 minutes. Share your loan balance, rate, remaining term, lender and fund structure — and Charmain will come back within one business day with a clear view of whether refinancing makes sense for your fund.
No obligation. If it doesn't stack up, she'll tell you that too.
Free · No obligation · 1 business day response
- Not sure where to start? Send through a quick message
Start your free SMSF rate review
Give Charmain the full picture and get a real answer back within one business day. Your calculator figures are pre-filled below.
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Robert & Diane M. — SMSF trustees, Cottesloe“Our SMSF loan had been sitting at the same rate for four years. Charmain reviewed it, found us a lender 1.1% lower.”