Guides · Editor-reviewed
Mortgage Guides
22 plain-English guides covering Australian home loans, first-home schemes, property investing, and SMSF lending.
Mortgage Basics
Category indexPre-approval process & documents
What pre-approval actually is, how long it takes, and the exact documents an Australian lender will ask for before issuing one.
6 min readInterest rate vs comparison rate
The interest rate is what you pay on the loan. The comparison rate is what ASIC requires lenders to publish so you can see the true cost — fees included.
4 min readLoan to Value Ratio (LVR)
LVR is the loan amount expressed as a percentage of the property value. It's the single biggest driver of rate, LMI, and which lenders will look at your file.
5 min readOffset accounts vs redraw facilities
They look similar — both let you reduce interest by parking spare cash against the loan — but tax treatment, accessibility, and speed differ.
5 min readRefinancing to access equity
How equity release works, what lenders need to see, and when to use it (renovations, deposit for an investment) vs when to leave it alone.
5 min readThe perfect home loan application
What lenders are actually looking for, the common reasons applications get declined, and how to fix your file before submission.
6 min read
First Home Buyer
Category indexSteps to buying a house
The sequence from first thinking about it to having keys in hand. Roughly 6-12 months for most Australian buyers — this is what each stage looks like.
7 min readHow much do I need for a deposit?
The headline number is 20% — but most first home buyers settle with 5-10% plus LMI or a Home Guarantee Scheme spot. Here's what each path looks like.
5 min readLenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) explained
LMI protects the lender, not you — but you pay for it. Here's how the premium is calculated, when it's charged, and how to legitimately avoid it.
5 min readHome Guarantee Scheme
The federal scheme that lets eligible buyers skip LMI with a small deposit. Three streams, 50,000 places per year, and price caps that vary by region.
5 min readFirst Home Buyer Grants
Federal Home Guarantee Scheme + state-by-state First Home Owner Grants and stamp duty concessions. What's available where.
6 min readHome Loan Hindsight Survey
What 1,000+ Australian homeowners would do differently if they were getting their loan again. The free report covers rate negotiation, lender choice, and broker experience.
3 min read
Property Investing
Category indexPros & cons of investing in property
An honest look at the benefits — leverage, capital growth, rental yield, tax — alongside the costs that don't get the same airtime.
6 min readPrincipal & interest vs interest only
P&I pays down the loan; IO doesn't. Interest-only is cheaper short-term but costs more across the loan life — and APRA regulates how much IO is in the market.
5 min readCapital gains tax 101
When CGT applies, how the 50% discount works, the main residence exemption, and the 6-year rule that lets you keep the exemption while renting.
5 min readWhat is negative gearing?
When deductible expenses on an investment property exceed rental income, the loss can offset other taxable income. The mechanics, the maths, and where it actually pays off.
5 min read
Construction & Renovation
Category indexChoosing a renovation loan
Cosmetic reno, structural reno, knock-down rebuild — three reno types, three lending paths. How to pick the right one.
5 min readUnderstanding home equity
Equity is the gap between what your home is worth and what you owe. How to calculate it, how to access it, and how it grows.
4 min readHow to increase your home's value
Renovations that consistently lift valuation and ones that look great but don't pay back. A broker's view of what valuers actually reward.
5 min read
SMSF
Category indexEstablishing your SMSF fund
Setting up a self-managed super fund — trustees, deeds, ABN/TFN, bank accounts, and the audit obligations that come with running your own super.
6 min readProperty investment through SMSF
Using super to buy property is legal but tightly regulated. LRBA structure, restrictions on related-party use, and the trade-offs vs personal-name investing.
6 min readInvesting in commercial property
Commercial property differs from residential in lease structure, tenant pool, and lender terms. A primer for owner-operators and investors.
6 min read