Home loans

Good mortgage broker works in your best interest — helping you find the right loan, with the right lender, and often a better deal than going it alone. Whether you’re a first home buyer needing guidance, self-employed with tricky income, or just too busy to deal with banks, a broker can simplify the whole process and save you time, stress, and potentially a lot of money. And if you prefer to do it all online, there are great digital options too.

Once you know how much you’ve saved for a deposit, the next step is figuring out what kind of loan amount you might qualify for. Your borrowing power depends on a few things — your income (and how consistent it is), relationship status, number of dependents, credit history, and how much you spend each month.

As a rough idea, someone earning around $80K a year, with modest expenses and a low credit card limit, might be able to borrow between $400K and $500K. A couple earning $200K with two kids, higher monthly costs, and more credit could be looking at something closer to $1M–$1.25M.

Want a clearer picture? We’ll walk you through it.

In Australia, you’ll generally need to have around 10% of a property’s price saved up before most lenders will consider your home loan application. So, if you’re looking at something in the $600K range, expect to need at least $60K in savings. Having more can definitely work in your favour, for a bunch of reasons we’ll break down shortly. But before anything else, start by narrowing down where you’d like to buy. Do some homework on local property prices, and chat with a few agents to see what homes are actually selling for — it’ll help you figure out if your dream spot is realistically within reach.

• Clean credit — Steady, on-time repayments over the past 6 months go a long way.

• Strong asset position — Based on your income, age, and what you own.

• Stable job — Ideally 6+ months in your current role (but there can be wiggle room).

• Low personal debt — Keep it under 5% of the property’s value if you can.

Genuine savings — At least 5% saved up shows the bank you’re ready — and helps cover upfront costs.

If your deposit is less than 20% of the property’s value, most banks will ask you to pay something called Lenders Mortgage Insurance. It’s not to protect you — it’s to protect the lender in case you can’t repay the loan. How much it costs depends on things like how much you’re borrowing, your loan-to-value ratio (LVR), and who the lender is — but as a rough guide, it can add anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to your upfront costs.

Stamp duty is one of those upfront costs that can really sting — especially for first home buyers. It’s a government charge based on the property price, and it usually adds thousands to your budget. On top of that, there’s a small transfer fee and a mortgage registration fee — but those are usually just a few hundred bucks. The good news? Most states offer stamp duty discounts or exemptions if you’re a first-time buyer, which can take a big chunk off the total.

That’s our specialty. We’re qualified accountants, so we know how to present your financials in a way lenders understand — and which lenders are flexible.

Yes, and it’s a great idea. It helps you shop with confidence, knowing exactly what you can spend. We’ll guide you through that process too.

A guarantor loan is when a close family member — often a parent — uses the equity in their own home to help secure your loan. It’s a common way for Aussies to get into the market sooner, especially if you don’t have a big deposit saved. The guarantor doesn’t give you money or make repayments — their property just backs part of your loan as extra security. Done right, it can help you avoid lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) and buy with as little as 5% deposit. We’ll guide everyone through the process and make sure the setup protects both you and your guarantor.

It could be — Refinancing simply means swapping your current home loan for a new one — either with a different lender or just a better loan. While it might seem complicated, a smart refinance at the right time could save you serious money by lowering your interest rate, giving you better loan features, or helping you consolidate debt. It can also help with life changes like separation or give you access to equity for investing, renovating, or starting fresh.

Why people refinance:

• Lower interest rates
  If rates have dropped or your financial situation has improved, refinancing could mean smaller monthly repayments — or thousands saved over the life of your loan.

• Better loan features
  Want an offset account? Flexible repayments? Split between fixed and variable? Refinancing lets you switch things up to better suit how you manage money.

• Consolidating debt
  Roll higher-interest debts (like credit cards or personal loans) into your mortgage to reduce interest and streamline your repayments — just be sure to manage it wisely.

Get in touch and we can do a review. It might be a phone call that saves you thousands.

Refinancing can be a great move — but there are a few traps people fall into:

• Jumping at the first offer
  Not all loans are created equal. Comparing lenders, rates, and fees can save you a heap over time.

• Using equity without a plan
  Pulling out equity can be smart if there’s a clear goal — but if you’re just winging it, it can land you in more debt than you bargained for.

• Only looking at the interest rate
  A low rate’s great, but don’t ignore the fine print — fees, charges, and loan features can make a big difference.

• Extending your loan too far
  Stretching out the term might lower your monthly repayments, but it can cost you more in the long run. Make sure it’s a fit for your finances.

• Going it alone
  Refinancing can be fiddly. Getting advice from someone who knows the system (like us) means fewer surprises — and better results.

Yes, absolutely. If you’ve built up equity in your home, you might be able to use it as a deposit for your next place — without needing to dip into cash savings. We’ll help you work out how much you can access and make sure the loan structure makes sense long term.

Ideally, you’ll want 20% to avoid lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), but some lenders will go lower. The right amount depends on your goals — we’ll show you what’s doable without stretching you too thin.

You can — and for investors, it can make sense. It keeps repayments lower upfront and can improve cash flow. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all move. We’ll look at your strategy and make sure it stacks up over time.

That depends on your setup — but we often look at using interest-only loans, splitting loans across lenders, or creating offset accounts for flexibility. Our accounting background helps here — we’ll set it up with tax and long-term planning in mind.

It can either help or hinder, depending on rental income and your overall financial picture. The key is finding the right lender who looks at your investment income the right way — and that’s where we come in.

Definitely — but it takes a bit more care. We know how to present self-employed income properly, and we work with lenders who understand business owners. It’s about packaging it the right way — and that’s our bread and butter.