Owner-occupier vs investor

The owner-occupier vs investor distinction matters because almost every cost in the property purchase chain is priced differently depending on which you are. Owner-occupier loans typically get the cheapest interest rate; investor loans carry an APRA-mandated premium. Stamp duty concessions and first-home buyer grants apply only to owner-occupiers (and usually only first-home owner-occupiers). Tax treatment flips: investor properties get interest, expenses, and depreciation deductions plus CGT on sale; owner-occupier properties get neither deductions nor (usually) CGT via the main residence exemption. Lenders also look at the intent at the time of borrowing - shifting a property from one use to another mid-loan can trigger reassessment and rate changes.