Investing for a home deposit

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How to invest for a home deposit. We’re here to help

Congratulations! You’re saving to buy a home, but it will take a while to get there. Investing in a conservative portfolio will reduce your risk of loss, while giving you a better return than cash over time.

Buying a home is exciting and expensive! It brings security for you and your family as well as tax-free capital growth. Investing well is the best way to build a deposit.

Alan Kohler, Founder-Eureka Report

Power-up your home deposit with InvestSMART

It takes 5+ years on average to save for a deposit. An InvestSMART diversified portfolio of ETFs may knock time off the saving process and keep you on track with your goal.

Exchange traded funds

Our portfolios invest in ETFs. ETFs provide access to a huge range of Australian and global shares and bonds. Most track an index (eg: the ASX 200), so you invest in hundreds of companies in one transaction.
Learn more about ETFs
Diversified investments

Diversified investments are important. It can reduce or increase the level of risk and return you’re comfortable with. Our portfolios are diversified across Australian, global, bonds and property investments.
Learn how diversification works
Low cost

Fees matter. Paying over 1% in fees could cost you $200,000 over 30 years on an initial $100,000 investment in a growth portfolio earning 6 to 8% returns. We have a flat admin fee of 0.11% and our management fees start at just $44 p.a. (for a $10,000 investment) and are capped at $880 p.a. for any investments over $200,000.
Learn more about capped fees

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InvestSMART property savings calculator

Calculate how much and how often you need to invest to reach your property deposit goal.

InvestSMART Portfolios

Ranging from conservative to high growth, we have a portfolio to help you meet your property purchase goal. We invest in ETFs, so you get best in class diversification.

InvestSMART

Conservative

Designed for those seeking a better return on their savings than the bank offers. It holds more defensive investments like bonds to buffer against share market dips, and some Australian and global shares provide some growth opportunity. Investment timeframe: 2 + years

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InvestSMART

Balanced

This portfolio lets your money work hard for capital growth while reducing risk as you save for a goal like a home deposit. Includes a mix of Australian and global shares, and a higher allocation of bonds to protect against market dips. Investment timeframe: 3 - 5 + years

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InvestSMART

Ethical Growth

Invest in a growth portfolio without sacrificing your ethical standards. Suitable for people with more time to ride out the highs and lows of investment markets. You can target more long-term capital growth. It holds fewer defensive assets like bonds. Investment timeframe: 5 + years.

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InvestSMART

Ethical High Growth

The Ethical High Growth Portfolio is all about helping you build long term wealth and achieve goals with a timeframe of 7-years-plus to ride out the ups and down of markets.

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InvestSMART portfolio planner

Not sure what investments are right for you? We can recommend a portfolio

Simply tell us about yourself, your goals, savings, any other investments, and how long you think you’ll invest. We’ll recommend a suitable InvestSMART portfolio for you.

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Investing for a home deposit insights

5 tips for co-investing in property with friends and family

Thinking of investing in property with friends or family? Here are five tips to help you invest safely, avoid disputes and protect your investment.

Will shares help me buy a home faster?

The first step onto the property ladder is the most difficult. We explore strategies for first-home buyers to supercharge their house deposit.

Interest Rates, Mortgages, and Surplus Income

Should people with a mortgage have a greater focus on making extra repayments?

Property vs Shares: My Debate with Owen Rask on the Great Australian Dilemma

Join Tom Wilson as he takes on Owen Rask in a spirited debate on the Rask Australia podcast, dissecting the age-old Australian investment question: Property or Shares? Tom champions the stock market, highlighting diversification and transparency. Discover why shares might just be the smarter choice.

5 tips for co-investing in property with friends and family

Thinking of investing in property with friends or family? Here are five tips to help you invest safely, avoid disputes and protect your investment.

How the Bank of Mum and Dad can help you buy your first home

The Bank of Mum and Dad is a popular way to get on the property ladder. Here are tips to make it work for everyone.

The trade off all investing is built on

Bill Sharpe is considered one of the great thinkers about investment markets, a Nobel Prize in Economics winner (1990) for his part in the research behind the capital asset pricing model, a model that helped describe the profound investment link between risk and return.

Is property still the Australian Dream? Rethink the dream so you can live yours

For generations we've looked on home ownership as 'the great Australian dream'. But times are changing, and goals are evolving. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

How home owners are coping with higher rates

Despite a succession of rate hikes over the past year, one in two mortgage borrowers say they are coping okay right now. Here's what they are doing to ease the repayment pain.

An inspection of two Property ETFs

The commercial property sector is currently experiencing its fair share of challenges. Despite this, its long-term performance has still been good. We take a look at two property ETFs.

Good news for super and first home buyers

Despite a shock rise in interest rates, we've seen some positive news on the financial front lately.

How to develop an investment strategy when you have different views on risk

Money has a well-deserved reputation for driving a wedge between couples. But aiming to find common ground for investments can bring its own rewards.

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