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Southbank is high density apartment living on the south bank of the Yarra, with towers along the river, Crown, and the arts precinct. Like the CBD it is almost entirely apartments, and the lending restrictions are similar.
Southbank sits alongside the CBD on most lender restriction lists. Reduced maximum loan to value ratios are common, building concentration limits are frequently reached given the size of the towers here, and minimum internal size thresholds catch a significant proportion of the stock.
Owners corporation fees are worth mentioning, because in buildings with pools, gyms, concierge and extensive common areas they can be substantial. Lenders count them as a commitment when assessing your capacity, so high fees genuinely reduce how much you can borrow.
Southbank also has a high proportion of investor purchases and non-resident buyers, both of which narrow the lender field further. Rental income is assessed conservatively and non-resident lending is restricted to a handful of options.
Similar treatment to the CBD. Reduced maximum ratios and frequently-reached building limits.
High fees in amenity-rich towers count against your borrowing capacity. They are not a minor detail.
Both narrow the field considerably. Lender selection determines whether it proceeds at all.
Whatever stage you are at, there is a path through it. Pick the one that sounds like you.
Yes. Lenders treat them as an ongoing commitment in the same way as any other regular expense, so high fees directly reduce your borrowing capacity. In Southbank towers with extensive facilities, annual fees can run into many thousands, which has a real effect on the numbers.
It is possible but restricted. Only a small number of lenders offer non-resident lending, maximum loan to value ratios are typically sixty to seventy per cent, rates are higher, and Foreign Investment Review Board approval is generally required. It is workable but the field is narrow.
Lenders typically use around eighty per cent of expected rent, and some are more conservative in high-supply areas. They also count owners corporation fees, rates and insurance against you. On an amenity-rich apartment those outgoings can consume a meaningful share of the rent.
Yes, generally. Above the fifty square metre threshold you clear the main size obstacle, and two and three bedroom apartments are viewed more favourably than compact stock because their resale markets are deeper. The postcode restrictions still apply, but the size issue disappears.
Book a free consultation and we will walk you through your options, what you can borrow, and what it will cost.
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Lydian Financial Services Victoria
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Copyright © LYDIAN FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD 2026. All Right Reserved.