Buyer's agent for SMSF property
A buyer's agent can find, check and negotiate an investment property for your self-managed super fund (SMSF), the same way we do for any investor. Data Savvy Property does the property work. Your SMSF adviser decides if the purchase suits your fund.
A new SMSF loan can no longer buy a rental home
From 10 August 2026, a new SMSF loan for real property (a limited recourse borrowing arrangement) can only buy business real property. A home bought to rent out is normally not business real property. The fund can still buy one, but it pays with its own money.
Loans taken out before 10 August 2026 keep the old rules, and so do purchase contracts exchanged before that day. Ask your SMSF adviser and your broker what this means for your fund before you start looking. The ATO explains it on Changes to limited recourse borrowing arrangements.
Who does what
We do the property. Your advisers do the fund.
Data Savvy Property
- Takes the buying brief: price range, the rent the fund needs, timeline
- Chooses the suburb with sales and rental data
- Finds the property, on and off the market
- Checks building and pest, flood, zoning and title before the fund commits
- Negotiates against real comparable sales
Your SMSF adviser, accountant and broker
- Decide if the fund should buy property at all
- Check the trust deed and the investment strategy allow it
- Confirm how much the fund can spend
- Handle the tax, the audit and any loan
How we buy for an SMSF
Six steps, with the fund's rules in view at each one.
- Your adviser says yes first
Before we search, your SMSF adviser confirms that the fund can buy property and how much it can spend. Super law asks every SMSF to have an investment strategy, and the purchase has to fit it.
- The suburb
We start with every suburb in Australia and narrow it with data. See how we choose a suburb.
- The property
We look on and off the market. 16 of the 20 purchases on our home page were bought off-market.
- The checks
Building and pest, flood, zoning and title are checked before the trustee signs.
- The price
The ATO says an SMSF must buy at true market value, on commercial terms. Comparable sales set our walk-away price, never the advertised price.
- The contract
The property must be clearly owned by the fund. Your solicitor or conveyancer checks the buyer's name on the contract before anyone signs.
The rules an SMSF property must follow
A short summary of what the ATO and Moneysmart say. It is not advice.
- Sole purpose test. The property must be held only to provide retirement benefits for the members.
- No related-party sellers. The fund can't buy a home from a member or a related party, such as a relative or a business partner.
- No personal use. Members and related parties can't live in it, rent it or holiday in it.
- Market value. The purchase must be at market value, on commercial terms.
- Clear ownership. The fund must clearly own the property.
- Loans. Since 10 August 2026, a new SMSF loan can only buy business real property.
The rules in full: the ATO's SMSF investment requirements and SMSF investment restrictions, and Moneysmart's SMSFs and property. Last checked on 19 October 2026.
SMSF purchases on our home page
Real purchases. No names or street addresses. Home type is bedrooms x bathrooms x car spaces.
| State | Bought | Price | Home and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | April 2023 | $621,000 | 4x1x2. Renovated brick home. |
| VIC | September 2025 | $572,300 | 3x2x2. Bought off-market. |
| TAS | January 2026 | $550,000 | 4x1x1. Bought $70k under market value, off-market. |
| NSW | August 2026 | $531,000 | $28k off the price after the building and pest report. |
Past results do not predict future results. All 20 purchases are on the home page.
SMSF questions
Can a buyer's agent buy property for my SMSF?
Yes. A buyer's agent can find, check and negotiate a property for a self-managed super fund. The fund's trustee is the buyer and the fund pays. Your SMSF adviser decides first if the purchase suits your fund.
What rules must an SMSF property follow?
The ATO sets the rules. In short, the property must be held only to provide retirement benefits. It cannot be bought from a member or a related party, and members and related parties cannot live in it or rent it. It must be bought at market value on commercial terms, and the fund must clearly own it. The full rules are on the ATO's SMSF investment pages.
Do you give SMSF or financial advice?
No. We are buyer's agents, not financial advisers. We do not tell anyone to set up an SMSF, to move super into one, or to buy property in one. Your SMSF adviser decides if a property suits your fund. Your accountant handles the tax.
Can my SMSF borrow to buy a property?
Since 10 August 2026, a new SMSF loan (a limited recourse borrowing arrangement) can only buy business real property. A home bought to rent out is normally not business real property, so the fund pays for it with its own money. Loans taken out, and purchase contracts exchanged, before 10 August 2026 keep the old rules. Your broker and SMSF adviser can tell you what applies to your fund.
Can I or my family live in the SMSF property?
No. Members and related parties, such as relatives and business partners, cannot live in a residential property the fund owns or rent it. The ATO also says no one linked to the fund may get a present-day benefit from it, such as a holiday in the property.
Your adviser has said yes. Now find the property.
Book a 30-minute strategy call with Imran. Bring the price range your fund can pay and the rent it needs.