Topical pillar · Last reviewed
Deposit, LVR, and LMI in Australia
Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) is the size of your home loan as a percentage of the property's value. Borrowers at or below 80% LVR get the sharpest rates with no LMI; above 80% LVR triggers a one-off LMI premium that climbs from $7,000 at 90% LVR to $22,000+ at 95% LVR on a $500,000 loan. The federal Home Guarantee Scheme waives LMI entirely for eligible first home buyers, regional buyers, single parents and key workers.
What this topic covers
- Calculators (2): LMI estimator · Borrowing power calculator
- Guides (2): Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) · How much do I need for a deposit?
- Glossarys (8): Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) · Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) · Genuine savings · Gifted deposit · +4 more
Resource index
| Kind | Resource | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Guide | Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) | How LVR is calculated, why the 80% threshold matters, and the two legitimate ways to get under it without saving more. |
| Guide | How much do I need for a deposit? | The dollar figures behind a 20% deposit versus a 5% Home Guarantee Scheme path on a typical purchase. |
| Calculator | LMI estimator | — |
| Calculator | Borrowing power calculator | — |
| Glossary | Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) | — |
| Glossary | Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) | — |
| Glossary | Genuine savings | — |
| Glossary | Gifted deposit | — |
| Glossary | Guarantor (family pledge) loan | — |
| Glossary | Shared equity scheme | — |
| Glossary | Home Guarantee Scheme | — |
| Glossary | Home equity | — |
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Topic curated and reviewed by the Ratesniffers Editorial Team. Last reviewed 2026-06-02. General information only, not personal financial advice.