Mortgage Basics

6 editor-reviewed guides in this category.

• Pre-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 read

• Interest 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 read

• Loan 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 read

• Offset 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 read

• Refinancing 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 read

• The 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