Artarmon splits at the railway: Federation homes and bungalows in the conservation area to the east, apartment blocks toward the Pacific Highway to the west. Which side you buy on changes the lender.
Yes, but the lender depends on the side of the line. East of Artarmon station the Federation homes and Californian bungalows of the Artarmon Conservation Area are valued on land and condition, with heritage controls limiting what you add later.
West of the line the apartment blocks bring internal size, the number of units in the building and the strata report into play, and the light industrial pocket around Reserve Road can draw a valuer’s closer attention.
Apartments are just under seven in ten homes here (68.4%, against 21.7% statewide). Ask for the strata report early on any unit here: special levies and disputes change the loan conversation more than the rate does.
Half of the homes in Artarmon are rented, well above the state average. For an investor that means a deep rental market, and an agent’s rental appraisal is easy to get when a lender asks.
Separate housesTownhouses and semisApartments
apartments NSW 21.7%
separate houses NSW 65.6%
terraces and semis NSW 11.7%
rented NSW 32.6%
with a mortgage NSW 32.5%
private dwellings
Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburbs and Localities (SAL10091).
No LMI: an estimated $22,800 premium avoided (a broad guide; real premiums vary by lender and loan).
Stamp duty: $0 for eligible NSW first home buyers (saves $30,187).
Indicative only. The deposit excludes stamp duty, legal and inspection costs, and a participating lender, not this calculator, confirms 5% Deposit Scheme eligibility.
Confirm your numbers.
A huge thank you to Charlie for his exceptional support and expertise throughout the process of securing finance for my first home.
Had a really good experience with Charles at Links Property Finance. He was easy to deal with, always quick to respond and kept everything simple and clear throughout the whole process. You can tell he genuinely cares about getting the best outcome for his clients rather than just getting things done quickly. Really happy with the experience and would happily recommend Charles and Links Property Finance to anyone.
Had a great experience with Charles at Links Property Finance. He made the whole home loan process straightforward and easy to understand, kept me updated throughout and was always quick to answer any questions.
Charles Touma, Mortgage Broker.
A bungalow in the conservation area and a unit near the station can be a short walk apart and still be very different security. The unit is valued against other units, and the lender’s apartment policy sets the maximum loan and the deposit.
The house is valued on land and condition, with the heritage streetscape part of what buyers pay for and any unapproved extension noted.
Often, because many owners here have held for a long time, which means substantial equity and a rate set years ago. A repricing call to your current lender is tried first and costs nothing.
Once the loan-to-value ratio has fallen, pricing opens that was not available at purchase, and equity release for a renovation is a separate assessment from a straight reprice.
Units near the station let readily and the rental evidence is straightforward, so the lender counts about 80 per cent of the rent. The houses are usually bought by owner-occupiers, so comparable rents are thinner and some lenders shade the appraisal further.
Interest-only helps cash flow early but repayments step up when the period ends.
Not the loan itself. The house is valued on its land and condition like any other, and plenty of comparable sales exist. The controls affect what you can add or change later, which matters if the purchase depends on a renovation, so the planning certificate is read before you offer.
Yes, for eligible first home buyers under the $1.5 million Sydney cap, with no income caps and unlimited places.
The unit still has to pass the lender’s own rules on internal size, the number of units in the building and the strata report, which is why the block is checked first.
Many lenders want around 50 square metres of internal living area, excluding balconies and car spaces. Smaller units west of the line can still be financed with a few lenders, usually with a larger deposit, so the floor area on the strata plan is confirmed before the application.
Before you offer, not after exchange. It shows the sinking fund, levy history and any defects or planned works, which decide both the lender’s appetite and the levies you will pay. The lender’s valuer reads the same records once the contract is signed.
Both, with the land doing most of the work. The valuer compares recent sales of similar homes on similar blocks in the conservation area, then adjusts for the condition of the house and any extension, approved or not. Heritage streetscape is part of what those sales already reflect.
Bring your Artarmon plans to a free 30-minute call: your borrowing range, the lenders that fit the property and your next step.
Prefer a callback?Charles calls back within one business day. No documents needed yet.
General information only, not credit or financial advice. Lender policies and government scheme criteria differ and change over time. All lending is subject to individual assessment and approval.
