Renovating your home is an exciting journey—one that can transform a mere structure of bricks and beams into your dream sanctuary. However, beyond the Pinterest boards and design inspirations, lies the nitty-gritty world of finance. While your vision is priceless, actualising it comes at a cost, often a steep one. Enter home renovation loans, a
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Plenty of Australian retirees are asset-rich and cash-poor. The house has done well over thirty years. The income to run a life in it has not followed, because there is no salary any more and the
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Find My Loan MatchBorrowing Power Calculator Pre-approval is a lender telling you, in writing, roughly what it is prepared to lend you before you have found a property. It is the difference between guessing at your
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Find My Loan MatchRBA Rate Prediction Index The Reserve Bank has held the cash rate at 4.35% since May 2026, and the next decision is due on 29 September. Every move it makes, up or down,
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Find My Loan MatchRepayment Calculators A split rate home loan is one loan divided into two parts: a portion on a fixed rate and a portion on a variable rate. You choose the proportions. The fixed
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Find My Loan MatchRepayment Calculators A redraw facility lets you take back money you have paid into your home loan above the minimum repayment. Pay $10,000 extra over a year, and the redraw is the $10,000
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Part of our complete first home buyer guide, which walks the whole journey from saving the deposit through to settlement day. Find My Loan MatchRepayment Calculators The fixed or variable question is really a question about
Last reviewed October 2026 by Megan Birot, Content Editor, OurTop10. Figures checked against the sources named in the article. Part of our complete first home buyer guide, which walks the whole journey from saving the deposit through to settlement day. Find My Loan MatchBorrowing Power Calculator Borrowing capacity is the most a lender will let
Part of our complete first home buyer guide, which walks the whole journey from saving the deposit through to settlement day. Find My Loan MatchBorrowing Power Calculator Pre-approval is a lender telling you, in writing, how much it is prepared to lend you before you have found a property. It is not a loan. It
When buying a property, it’s important that you understand what lenders mortgage insurance is and how it could alter your purchase cost and process. Affecting your loan fees, lenders mortgage insurance can make a big difference in your buying journey. It can influence your loan amount and even play a deciding role in helping you
The Federal Budget 2026 has delivered one of the most significant shake-ups to Australia’s tax system since the introduction of the GST in 2000, particularly for property investors, who are facing major reforms to Capital Gains Tax, negative gearing, and long-term wealth-building strategies. Here’s a roundup of the major changes announced in the 2026 Federal
One of the most important factors to understand when buying a home is your loan-to-value ratio (LVR). It’s a measure lenders use to assess how risky it is to lend you money, based on the size of your loan compared to the value of the property you’re buying. Whether you’re a first-home buyer or a
Income annualisation is one of the most common and least understood parts of a home loan assessment. We see it every day with clients who earn overtime, commission, casual income or contract income or who have recently changed roles. It also comes up frequently for people paid irregularly or partway through the financial year. In
Choosing when to secure your home loan interest rate can significantly impact what you repay over time. In Australia, interest rates can change between loan application and settlement, and without a rate lock feature, borrowers receive the rate available on the day their loan settles, not the rate they applied for. That gap is exactly
If you’ve been watching Australia’s property market closely, you’ve likely noticed a significant shift – investors are making a strong comeback. New data reveals investor activity is growing at nearly four times the rate of owner-occupiers, signalling a major change in market dynamics. As a property investor myself, I find these trends fascinating. Let’s dive
Taking out a home loan is a substantial financial commitment, so most people want to find ways to pay it off faster and reduce the interest they owe. Two popular features that can help are offset accounts and redraw facilities. At first glance, they seem similar, but they work in different ways. The right choice
The three main types of home loans you can choose from when buying a home are fixed-rate, variable rate and split-rate loans. Each comes with its own pros and cons, and the choice you make can have a significant impact on your financial future. Fixed-rate mortgage loans give you stable repayments, while variable loans offer
Navigating through the process of discharging a home loan in Australia is an essential part of the journey for homeowners and potential homebuyers. Understanding this process is critical, whether you are considering selling your property, refinancing your loan, or concluding your mortgage. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the process, highlighting key steps and the
The journey to homeownership is riddled with complexities, especially when trying to find the best mortgage broker or professional financial advisor. Amid the maze of mortgage terms and conditions, one pivotal concept with a significant impact on your path towards acquiring your dream home is Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) and its associated premiums and fees.
The process of purchasing a home is both exciting and complex, requiring cautious planning and financial preparation as well as thorough consultation with mortgage brokers or financial advisors. The payment of a deposit, which serves as a guarantee to the seller that the buyer is committed to the transaction, is an essential aspect of purchasing
Porting or refinancing a mortgage allows homeowners like you to take control of your property goals. This can help you get better value for your money while making the most of the chance to live in your dream home, especially with the help of your local mortgage broker or financial advisor. You can plan to
When planning to purchase a new home, you might feel concerned about the potential for economic downturns to stand in your way. It’s important to be aware on how to recession-proof your home buying strategy alongside consulting a mortgage broker or financial advisor. Where are we in the economic cycle? In economic terms, a recession
Table of Contents What is an offset account, How will this help my financial circumstances? One of the most important decisions you need to make after you have a pre approval for your loan from your bank, is whether you should have an offset account attached to your home loan. This is one of the
