Investment property loans are the single largest category of mortgage inquiry we see — accounting for 33% of all inquiries reviewed through Best1 Melbourne Brokers, ahead of refinancing (28%), owner-occupier loans (15%), and construction finance (8%). The remaining 16% were mixed-purpose or unclear at first contact. This tells us something the generic “how to get an investment loan” content online doesn’t: Melbourne borrowers reaching out for finance help right now are more likely to be investors and refinancers than first-time buyers.
Why we’re sharing this
Most articles about investment loans are written from a lender’s product page or a generic finance blog with no visibility into what borrowers are actually asking for. We see the real mix of inquiries coming through our own channel before any broker has shaped or steered the conversation — not a theoretical breakdown, but genuine borrower intent at first contact.
How this data was gathered
This breakdown comes from website enquiry form submissions, covering 250 enquiries in June 2026. Each enquiry was categorised by its primary stated purpose at first contact — investment property loan, refinance, owner-occupier purchase, or construction finance — with a residual “mixed/unclear” bucket for inquiries that didn’t cleanly fit one category (for example, someone refinancing an existing loan specifically to fund an investment purchase, which touches both categories at once).
We’re not a lender and we don’t originate loans ourselves — we connect borrowers with licensed mortgage brokers. That’s exactly why this data is useful: it reflects genuine borrower intent, not a broker’s framing of the conversation.
The enquiry breakdown
| Enquiry type | Share of total enquiries |
|---|---|
| Investment property loans | 33% |
| Refinancing | 28% |
| Owner-occupier loans | 15% |
| Construction finance | 8% |
| Mixed / unclear at first contact | 16% |
Combined, investment loans and refinancing made up 61% of all enquiries — well over half.
What surprised us
Refinance enquiries at 28% suggest a meaningful share of people contacting us aren’t chasing a new purchase at all — they’re re-assessing an existing loan, often with an eye on equity release to fund an investment purchase. In practice, “investment loan” and “refinance” enquiries often overlap more than a simple category split suggests.
Construction finance, at just 8%, was the smallest clean category — consistent with construction loans being a more specialised, lower-volume product borrowers only look into once they’ve already committed to a build.
What this means if you’re considering an investment loan
- You’re not a niche case — investment borrowers are the largest single group contacting brokers in this market right now.
- Consider whether refinancing is part of the picture — accessing equity via a refinance may be a more efficient path to your next investment purchase than a fresh standalone loan.
- Lender appetite for investment lending varies — comparing across multiple lenders rather than going direct to your existing bank has a measurable impact on borrowing capacity for investment purposes.
- Start the conversation early, even before you’ve found a property.
FAQ
What percentage of mortgage enquiries in Melbourne are for investment loans?
Based on enquiries reviewed through Best1 Melbourne Brokers, investment property loans made up 33% of all enquiries — the largest single category.
Are investment loans harder to get than owner-occupier loans?
Investment loans are generally assessed with stricter servicing criteria, since lenders factor in rental income differently and often apply a higher assessment rate.
Is refinancing a good way to fund an investment property purchase?
Refinancing to access equity is a common path into investment property purchases, and our enquiry data shows meaningful overlap between borrowers asking about refinancing and those asking about investment loans.
Why are construction loans a smaller share of enquiries?
Construction finance made up 8% of enquiries in our data — likely because it’s a more specialised product borrowers typically look into only after committing to a build.
This article was contributed by Best1 Melbourne Brokers, a referral service connecting Melbourne borrowers with licensed mortgage brokers.