How We Helped an Australian Expat Build an Investment Property in Berridale From Across the World
Atlas Mortgage | Client Case Study
When you’re living and working overseas, building a brand-new home back in Australia can feel impossible. Most lenders see foreign income, a non-resident address and a construction loan and quietly put the file in the “too hard” basket. Our client — we’ll call him Tom — navigated exactly this situation, and we’re excited to share his story. The photo above is his completed new property build in Berridale, NSW, in the Snowy Mountains. He has kindly given us permission to share it.
The challenge: an expat with a complex income story
Tom is an Australian citizen based in Bosnia, working in a senior role for a major mining company. On paper he’s a strong borrower. In practice, his file had three features that make lenders nervous:
- Foreign-currency income. His salary was paid partly in US dollars and partly in a second foreign currency, with the AUD value moving as exchange rates moved.
- A non-resident living situation. He and his wife were living abroad, not in Australia.
- A construction loan, not a standard purchase. The property didn’t exist yet — it had to be valued “as if complete” and funded in stages.
When you stack these factors together, the average lender’s policy often rules out the application. Many banks heavily discount foreign income, refuse to offer construction loans to non-residents, and exclude currencies outside the major markets altogether.
What it actually takes to get this approved
This is the part most borrowers never see. Getting Tom’s expat construction loan — around $1.1 million, with roughly $300,000 of his own savings as funds to complete — over the line came down to a few things done properly:
- Presenting the income the way the lender’s policy reads it. That meant evidencing the base salary, bonus and foreign-currency components with payslips, the employment contract and overseas bank statements — and capturing what genuinely lands in the Australian account each month.
- Choosing a lender whose policy fit the file — one that accepts the right currencies, allows expat construction, and applies a workable shading rate rather than an automatic discount that kills serviceability.
- Structuring the construction loan and funds-to-complete so the valuation, progress payments and Tom’s own savings contribution all lined up.
- Building a clear exit strategy the lender could accept, given the borrowers’ ages and retirement plans.
Done right, a borrower who looks “too hard” to a branch becomes a perfectly bankable client.
The result of this case study
A new investment property, built from the ground up in regional NSW, financed while the owners were on the other side of the world. Tom is delighted with the project, and frankly, we are too. With the right team guiding you, you can achieve a property like the one in Berridale, even while living overseas.
Are you an Australian expat thinking about building or buying back home?
This is what we do every day. Atlas Mortgages specialises in Australian expats — foreign-income borrowers, non-resident structures, construction, refinancing and investment. We know which lenders say yes to your situation and how to present your file so the answer is yes the first time.
Contact Us
If managing your financial affairs across borders is starting to feel overwhelming, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a complex space, and having the right support can make all the difference. At Atlas Wealth Group, we specialise in supporting Australian expats with cross-border tax planning, superannuation, mortgages and wealth management. Contact us to arrange a consultation with a qualified adviser who specialises in Australian expat financial planning to get personalised guidance tailored to your circumstances.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Individuals should consult licensed professionals when seeking guidance regarding their financial circumstances.