Latest posts
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Offset Account Vs Redraw – The Difference That Costs You Money
In the offset account vs redraw comparison, both reduce interest equally. The difference is access and tax. An offset keeps your savings as your own money in a separate account. Redraw means you have already repaid the loan and are borrowing the money back, which matters for investors and for access certainty.
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RBA Cash Rate Impact On Home Loans – What It Means For You
The RBA cash rate impact on home loans works through lender funding costs. When the Bank moves the cash rate, banks reprice variable loans within roughly two to six weeks. Fixed loans are unaffected until the term expires. Each 0.25 per cent move is worth about $132 a month on $800,000.
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The Home Loan Serviceability Buffer Explained For NSW Buyers
The home loan serviceability buffer is a regulatory requirement that lenders test your repayments at about 3% above the rate you will actually pay. It exists so borrowers are not left exposed when rates rise, and it reduces how much most Australians can borrow by roughly a quarter.
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First Home Guarantee Scheme Eligibility In 2026 – Full Guide
First home guarantee scheme eligibility now requires that you are eighteen or over, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, buying as an owner-occupier within the price cap for your area, with at least a five percent deposit. The government guarantees up to fifteen percent of the value, so no insurance premium applies.
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Stamp Duty Exemption First Home Buyer NSW – 2026 Guide
The stamp duty exemption first home buyer NSW offers is a full waiver of transfer duty on eligible purchases up to $800,000, tapering to no benefit at $1,000,000. At least one buyer must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and none of you may have previously owned residential property in Australia.
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First Home Super Saver Scheme – How To Use Super For A Deposit
The first home super saver scheme allows first home buyers to salary sacrifice or make personal contributions into super, up to $15,000 a year and $50,000 in total, then withdraw those amounts plus deemed earnings for a deposit. The tax treatment is the advantage, not the investment return.
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How Much Is LMI In Australia? Real Cost Examples By Loan Size
How much is LMI depends almost entirely on your loan to value ratio. At 85% the premium is modest. At 90% it becomes significant. At 95% it is frequently the largest single cost of buying after the deposit itself. Loan size then multiplies whatever tier you land in.
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How To Avoid LMI In Australia – Six Legitimate Ways
How to avoid LMI comes down to six options: save a full deposit, use a family guarantee, qualify for a professional waiver, use a government scheme, buy at a lower price, or restructure using existing equity. Most buyers qualify for at least one of them.
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How Much Can I Borrow Home Loan Guide For Australian Buyers
Lenders take your gross income, subtract tax, living expenses and existing commitments, then test whether the remainder covers the new repayment at an assessment rate about 3% above the real one. Whatever is left over determines the answer to how much can I borrow home loan applications will support.
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Does HECS Debt Affect Home Loan Applications In Australia?
The short answer is yes. Does HECS debt affect home loan applications? It does, but not in the way most people assume. Lenders do not care about the balance nearly as much as they care about the compulsory repayment coming out of your pay.