Buying a property is a huge financial undertaking, but sometimes there are ways for the property to give a little back.

A hobby farm can grow things to sell at the local farmers’ market, a parking space in an inner city suburb can be rented out, power from a solar system can be sold back to the grid and city dwellers love a B&B in the country.

We’ve found some homes around the country that may contribute something to the mortgage.

330 Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction, Vic

4 beds 2 baths 8 cars
$1.95 million-$2.1 million

If ponies are your passion, one of the Yarra Valley’s finest properties has an immaculate stable complex with tack room, tie-up areas, round yard with walkways to the seven paddocks, each with dam access, a full-size menage plus a second floodlit, rubber-based menage. Just right for teaching others to ride, possibly.

The luxurious home is ringed with verandahs and also has a pool, library, kitchen with Neff, Highland and Bosch appliances and a butler’s pantry and theatre room with surround sound.

47 Hesse Street, Queenscliff, Vic

4 beds 2 baths
$2 million-$2.2 million

The majestic old post office in pretty, historic seaside town of Queenscliff has a securely leased section of the ground floor delivering an income of $33,000 a year.

The rest of the building is an exquisite home of Victorian grandeur. The magnificent bluestone cellar holds 700 bottles, there are marble fireplaces in several rooms, deep ornate cornices and Victorian flourishes, views to Port Phillip Bay and Swan Bay, chandeliers and a garden flanked by pencil pines.

39 Cusacks Road, Green Gully, Vic

4 beds 1 bath 1 car
$435,000

Close to Castlemaine, with its gold rush history, eclectic arts scene and burgeoning foodie culture, this refurbished home operates entirely off the grid, offering an economical lifestyle and the opportunity for a level of self-sufficiency with its land area of about 4046 square metres.

Views to Mount Franklin and a light-filled interior add to the appeal.

14/7 Beach Street, Cowes, Vic

3 beds 2 baths 1 car
$435,000

Just 100 metres from the beach and close to the cafes and shops of Cowes, this spacious two-storey apartment has holidays and ease of renting written all over it. It’s in the Sails on the Beach complex, with a shared solar-heated pool.

119/420 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, NSW

1 bed 1 bath 1 car
$615,000

Parking spaces are like gold in the inner suburbs of Sydney and, if you don’t own a car, there is always someone who would be happy to rent your little rectangle of basement.

This renovated Crows Nest apartment is immaculately presented and has a pool, gym, spa and sauna and a barbecue on the rooftop. It’s also close to transport.

1312 Pacific Highway, Turramurra North, NSW

6 beds 3 baths 2 cars
$2.1 million-$2.3 million

Zoning allows this lovely old three-level home to be used for commercial purposes.

Brampton House is grand and distinctive, with a cellar, storage and laundry on the lower ground floor, living areas with cherished period flourishes and an impressive kitchen on the ground floor, and bedrooms on the first.

4/96 Onslow Street, Rose Bay, NSW

1 bed 1 bath
$500,000-$550,000

With the rise and rise of short-term rentals, it’s hard to ignore the return on investment that they can offer. One-bedroom apartments in a popular location offer endless possibilities.

70 Kent Street, New Farm, Qld

7 beds 5 baths 4 cars
$1.75 million-plus

Move the extended family in or continue to operate this property as a bed and breakfast.

The classic, beautiful old Queenslander is extremely flexible. At ground level, three bedrooms with en suites have outdoor access.

On the first floor, three of the four bedrooms open to the outdoors, the kitchen and living areas open to a large deck and lush gardens, and the house is air-conditioned throughout.

L4/38 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley, Qld

1 bed 1 bath 2 cars
$420,000-plus

The tandem car park here brings in a weekly return. The vibrant colours of the building are repeated in the decor of the apartment and it has double glazing and polished floors. Shared facilities include a rooftop entertainment area with views over Brisbane.

11 Mann Street, Mount Barker, SA

4 beds 1 bath 3 cars
$775,000

This stone cottage was built about 1860, and the town of Mount Barker, 33 kilometres from Adelaide, grew up around it.

Because of the central location, the property would be suitable for consulting rooms, a restaurant, a B&B, or offices. The land area is about 1278 square metres, with a garden of stone fruits, citrus trees and roses.

5 Lock Road, Renmark, SA

6 beds, 3 baths
$850,000

Holiday homes with rental appeal don’t come much better than a big, buxom houseboat. Drift has six bedrooms, an eight-person spa, electric gangplank, a fully appointed kitchen with double fridges, a gas pebble fireplace and air-conditioning.