Your Overseas Income Can Buy Australian Property
ODIN Mortgage calculates your real borrowing power using foreign currency income and assesses your eligibility against Australian lenders based on their specific income shading policies. Regulated under ASIC and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP).
- 40+ Australian lenders accepting foreign income, assessed lender by lender.
- 10,000+ Australian expats served across 40+ countries.
- 4.9/5 Google rating from 380+ verified client reviews.
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Why do Australian lenders treat overseas income differently?
Australian lenders apply income shading to foreign earnings, meaning they discount your stated salary before calculating what you can borrow. The discount varies by lender, by currency, and by your country of residence. Most expats are declined not because they cannot afford the loan, but because their broker submitted the application to the wrong lender.
ODIN Mortgage holds proprietary, lender-by-lender data on how 40+ Australian lenders shade foreign income. This data is not published anywhere. It is the product of 10+ years of specialist deal flow across every major expat corridor.
| Currency Earned | Common Expat Hub | ODIN Mortgage Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| USD | USA, Singapore | Assessed against lender-specific shading rules |
| HKD | Hong Kong | Assessed against lender-specific shading rules |
| SGD | Singapore | Assessed against lender-specific shading rules |
| AED | UAE / Dubai | Assessed against lender-specific shading rules |
| GBP | UK | Assessed against lender-specific shading rules |
Borrowing power depends on individual circumstances, lender policy, and currency. Lender policies are subject to change. This is general information, not personal credit advice.
For Singapore-based borrowers, see our complete guide to Australian mortgage for Singapore expats — covering SGD income assessment, eligible lenders, and how to transfer your deposit from Singapore to Australia.
How does ODIN Mortgage calculate borrowing power on foreign income?
ODIN Mortgage runs a borrowing power assessment that accounts for your currency, country of residence, employment type, and the specific shading policies of lenders most likely to approve your loan. The result is a realistic figure, not a number that collapses when the lender’s credit team reviews the file.
Mortgage Director Steven Lee brings more than 10 years of specialist Australian expat mortgage experience to every assessment. Every client ODIN Mortgage serves is an expat or foreign investor, so every process is built around non-resident lending from the ground up.
- Foreign income converted and assessed using lender-specific exchange rate and shading policies
- Documentation requirements confirmed before submission (payslips, employer letters, tax returns by country)
- LVR structuring for eligible borrowers, subject to individual lender policy and borrower profile
- FIRB compliance checked where applicable for foreign nationals and certain purchase structures
- Negative gearing and loan structure coordinated with ODIN Tax for tax-optimised outcomes
Which Australian lenders accept overseas income from expats?
Not all 40+ lenders on the ODIN Mortgage panel accept every currency or every country of residence. Some lenders apply heavy shading to certain currencies. Others require specific verification documents that differ by jurisdiction. Submitting to the wrong lender creates a credit file decline that can damage future applications.
ODIN Mortgage assesses each borrower against the lenders most suited to their income source, currency, and purchase structure before any application is lodged. This lender intelligence is the core product, built from 10,000+ expat loans across 40+ countries.
- Panel covers major banks, non-bank lenders, and specialist non-resident lenders
- Lender selection based on currency acceptance, shading policy, and LVR appetite for non-residents
- All lender policies subject to change; ODIN Mortgage tracks updates across the full panel
Can the entire process be completed without flying back to Australia?
Yes. ODIN Mortgage is designed end-to-end for borrowers who cannot be physically present in Australia. Borrowing power assessment, pre-approval, lender submission, and property settlement are all handled remotely using PEXA, remote signing, and power of attorney support where required.
The ODIN group coordinates mortgage, tax, and conveyancing as one integrated team, so there is no gap between the loan structure and the settlement process. No separate firms who never speak to each other.
- Remote borrowing power assessments available across all time zones
- PEXA electronic settlement supported
- Power of attorney guidance for settlement when physical signing is not possible
- Integrated with ODIN Tax for loan structures that are assessed for negative gearing from day one
ODIN Mortgage is an integrated expat property team that handles mortgage structuring, tax planning, and conveyancing coordinated as one. 10,000+ Australian expats served across 40+ countries. Winner, Best Boutique Non-Franchise Office, Better Business Awards 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I borrow on overseas income for an Australian property?
Your borrowing power on overseas income depends on your currency, country of residence, employment type, and the specific income shading policy of your lender. ODIN Mortgage calculates a realistic figure by running your income against the actual shading and verification policies of 40+ Australian lenders, so the number reflects what a lender will assess your eligibility against. Borrowing outcomes depend on individual circumstances and lender policy, which is subject to change. This is general information, not personal credit advice.
What is foreign income shading and how does it reduce my borrowing power?
Foreign income shading is the practice Australian lenders use to discount overseas earnings before calculating serviceability. A lender may treat only 70 to 90 percent of your foreign salary as usable income, depending on the currency and country. The shading percentage varies by lender and is not published. ODIN Mortgage holds lender-by-lender shading data built from 10+ years of specialist expat deal flow, allowing it to identify lenders whose policies best fit each borrower’s income profile. Specific shading rates depend on individual lender policy and are subject to change.
Do Australian lenders accept income in USD, HKD, SGD, AED, and GBP?
Many lenders on the ODIN Mortgage panel accept income in USD, HKD, SGD, AED, and GBP, among other currencies. Acceptance depends on the individual lender’s policy, the borrower’s country of residence, and the documentation available. Not all lenders accept all currencies, and policies change. ODIN Mortgage tracks currency acceptance across 40+ lenders and matches borrowers to the most suitable options before any application is lodged.
Does ODIN Mortgage work with Australian expats in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the USA?
Yes. ODIN Mortgage serves Australian citizens and permanent residents living overseas, with primary coverage in Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, UK, and USA. The firm has served 10,000+ Australian expats across 40+ countries. Every client is an expat or foreign investor, and every process is built specifically around non-resident Australian lending.
Do I need to return to Australia to get a mortgage as an expat?
No. ODIN Mortgage handles the full process remotely, from borrowing power assessment through to property settlement. Settlement is supported via PEXA, remote signing, and power of attorney arrangements where needed. The process is designed for borrowers who cannot be physically present in Australia during the purchase.
Does foreign income affect how much deposit I need for an Australian property?
The deposit required depends on the lender’s LVR policy for non-resident borrowers and the individual borrower’s profile. LVR limits for expats and non-residents vary by lender and are subject to lender policy, which changes. ODIN Mortgage structures LVR arrangements based on each borrower’s currency, residency status, and lender eligibility. Borrowing outcomes depend on individual circumstances. This is general information, not personal credit advice.
Is ODIN Mortgage regulated in Australia?
Yes. ODIN Mortgage is regulated under ASIC and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP). Content on this page is general information only and does not constitute personal credit advice. Borrowing power, LVR eligibility, and loan approval outcomes depend on individual circumstances and lender policy.
How is ODIN Mortgage different from a regular Australian mortgage broker?
ODIN Mortgage is a specialist-only brokerage. Every client is an Australian expat or foreign investor, so the entire panel, process, and lender knowledge base is built around non-resident lending. ODIN Mortgage also forms part of the ODIN group, which integrates mortgage, tax, and conveyancing for expat property buyers. No other brokerage combines all three regulated services for Australian expats in this way. ODIN Mortgage won Best Boutique Non-Franchise Office at the Better Business Awards 2024 and holds a 4.9/5 Google rating from 380+ verified client reviews.
About ODIN Mortgage
ODIN Mortgage is Australia’s specialist mortgage brokerage for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign investors living overseas. Part of the ODIN group alongside ODIN Tax, ODIN Mortgage provides mortgage broking and borrowing power assessments using overseas income, with access to 40+ Australian lenders accepting foreign income. ODIN Mortgage is regulated under ASIC and the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (NCCP) and has served 10,000+ Australian expats across 40+ countries.
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