Home loan basics
The mechanics of an Australian home loan, explained once, properly — so the rest of the process makes sense.
Bridging visas and home loans: what lenders accept while your PR is processing
Can you get a home loan on a Bridging Visa A or B while PR is processing? Which lender categories consider it, the deposit they wa…
What is a comparison rate, and when does it mislead you?
A comparison rate folds fees into one rate on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. What it captures, what it misses, and why it can poin…
HECS-HELP debt and your home loan: how it cuts borrowing power
A HECS-HELP debt cuts home loan borrowing power because compulsory repayments come off your income. How lenders treat it and when …
How lenders assess self-employed income for a home loan
Lenders read self-employed income differently from payslips. How add-backs, one versus two years of returns, ABN age, BAS and alt-…
Buying property with parents or siblings: structure, servicing and exit plans
Co-buying with parents or siblings in Victoria can double borrowing power. How tenants in common, joint liability, servicing and a…
Pre-approval expired: what happens now
Home loan pre-approvals usually last 90 days. What re-verification involves, how rate changes shift your figure, and how to renew …
How credit card limits cut your borrowing power (even if you never use the card)
Lenders count about 3.8% of your credit card limit as a monthly expense, so a $20,000 limit can cost $90,000 of borrowing power. W…
Why your home loan was declined, and what to do next: a former credit officer's view
The real reasons lenders decline home loans, seen from the credit officer's desk, and the steps Melbourne borrowers can take to ge…
Lenders mortgage insurance explained with real numbers
What LMI costs at 85%, 90% and 95% LVR on $600,000 and $800,000 purchases, what capitalising it costs over 30 years, and five ways…
How much can I borrow on a $100k salary? Realistic numbers for 2026
Realistic home loan borrowing power on $80k, $100k, $120k and $150k salaries in Melbourne, single vs couple, with the 3% buffer an…
The two years of tax returns myth: how self-employed borrowers actually get home loans
You do not always need two years of tax returns for a self-employed home loan. One-year returns, add-backs, low doc options and ho…
What does a mortgage broker actually do?
A mortgage broker assesses your finances, compares loans across many lenders, lodges your application and manages it to settlement…
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