Thanks for the replies grinma and finance shop

my girlfriend will be living with me and paying $300 a rent p/f as she does now which will help out alot.

yeah i lose the benefits of the army grant of $12k and DOHAS of $9k if its an investment property, plus ill have to pay stamp duty of $12k essentially

saving $40,000 on living in the property for 12 months.just have to live like  tightass haha

as a condition of these grants the army stipulates i must live in the property for 12 months before i can move out and lease it out.

im leaning towards the Owner occupier to get all the benefits, ill also have an offset account which all these benefits will go into so

ill have $28,000 sitting in the offset account reducing the interest i pay.

thanks for your help i appreciate it