Yes, it’s possible for expat borrowers to obtain bridging finance in Australia, provided you have a viable financial plan. Bridging finance is a short-term loan that covers the gap if you purchase a new property before you have sold your current property. Australian banks and lenders do offer bridging loans to expats, but they will closely evaluate your situation. Typically, to get a bridging loan approved, you need to have substantial equity in your existing property and a clear exit strategy (usually the sale of the property). For example, if you still own a house or apartment in Australia that you intend to sell, a lender might give you a bridging loan to buy the next property, knowing that the sale of the old property will pay it down. During the bridging period (which is usually up to 6–12 months), you may only be required to pay interest on the combined debt. As an expat, the key considerations are similar to those for residents: your overall debt levels and the certainty of selling the existing property. Lenders may also require a slightly lower maximum LVR during the bridging period.AEXPHL can definitely assist with bridging finance for expats – we will structure the proposal to the lender to ensure they are comfortable. Keep in mind that bridging loans can carry higher interest or fees while they are in place (since they are short-term), but once you sell and revert to a standard loan on the new property, your rates would go back to normal. If you’re an expat considering buying a new home in Australia before selling your current one, we’ll help you crunch the numbers and work out if a bridging loan is feasible and advantageous in your scenario.