Investor insights
Private credit, explained by a lender.
Independent-minded, plain-English guides on where to put capital in 2026 — from redemption freezes and fund collapses to SMSF rules and the wholesale investor test. Written and reviewed by the team at HomeSec Business Finance, lending since 2004.
Pillar guide
Private credit in Australia: the 2026 investor's guide
Private credit in Australia explained: what it is, how big the market is, the main types and vehicles, returns vs risk, ASIC's 2026 scrutiny and how to choose.
Read the guidePrivate credit in 2026: risks, freezes and collapses
Is private credit safe? A 10-point test for 2026
What is a redemption freeze — and why did funds gate in 2026?
Can I get my money out of a mortgage fund? A practical guide
What happened to Shield and First Guardian — and what investors can learn
The Bathla collapse: what it means for private credit investors
From Banksia to First Guardian: lessons from Australian fund collapses
12 questions to ask any private credit manager (and our answers)
Private credit in Australia: the 2026 investor's guide
How mortgage investing works
Contributory vs pooled mortgage funds (and direct co-funding) explained
First vs second mortgage investments: risk, return and ranking
What happens if a loan goes into default? A step-by-step walkthrough for mortgage investors
LVR explained for mortgage investors: why 80% is our ceiling
How to read a loan due diligence pack
How private credit returns of 12–18% are generated (and what they pay for)
La Trobe 12 Month Account vs direct mortgage investing: a structural comparison
How far have Australian property prices ever fallen? A history for lenders
Where to put your capital
Alternatives to term deposits in 2026, ranked by risk
Where to invest $1 million in Australia: where secured lending fits
Short term investments for large balances (1 to 12 months)
Secured lending vs buying a business or franchise: which suits your $500,000?
Wholesale investors & SMSFs
Wholesale vs sophisticated vs retail investor: the tests in plain English
How to get an accountant's certificate for wholesale investing
Can an SMSF invest in private mortgages? How SMSFs lend, the rules and the tax
Can an SMSF be a wholesale investor? ($10m, $500k and what AFCA said)
Core guides
- Direct mortgage investment vs pooled mortgage funds: the real difference
- Getting your money back: repaid at maturity, with an early exit if you need it
- How direct mortgage investing works
- How resilient is the Australian property market?
- Investing in Australian private mortgages from overseas
- Investing in first and second mortgages: how ranking protects your capital
- Our lending rules: how we choose loans for investors
- Private credit for family offices and high-net-worth investors
- Private mortgage investment returns: where 12% to 18% p.a. comes from
- SMSF investment opportunities: co-funding secured mortgages from your fund
- The risks of investing in private mortgages, and how each one is managed
- Wholesale investor opportunities: who can co-fund, and how to qualify
- Private credit & mortgage investment glossary
Wholesale & sophisticated investors
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