In short: GNT Finance is an Epping mortgage broker based 20 minutes north-west in Mickleham, serving one of Australia's largest Nepali communities in Nepali, Hindi and English. Epping offers 1970s to 1990s homes near the station plus newer homes in Epping North and Aurora, so we arrange first home buyer loans, loans for new migrants and visa holders, refinancing and investment loans. No cost to you in most cases.
Epping is the service centre of the City of Whittlesea, home to the Northern Hospital, Pacific Epping and the Melbourne wholesale market. For thousands of Nepali, Indian and Sri Lankan families, it is also the first suburb they called home in Australia.
Buying in Epping: what is different
Housing stock
Old Epping, south of Cooper Street and around the station, High Street and Dalton Road, is 1970s to 1990s brick veneer on 550 to 700 square metre blocks, with townhouse developments steadily replacing original homes. North of Cooper Street, Epping North, Aurora and Lyndarum were built from the mid-2000s onward with modern four-bedroom homes on smaller lots, and the newest releases push towards Wollert. Prices are mid-range for Melbourne's north: dearer than Thomastown and Lalor for the newer homes, more affordable than Bundoora or Mill Park for the older ones.
Transport
Epping station is on the Mernda line, about 40 minutes to the CBD. The Hume Freeway and Ring Road are reached via Cooper Street. The CBD is roughly 20 kilometres, or 30 to 40 minutes by car.
Schools, shops and community
Pacific Epping is the largest shopping centre in the corridor, and Epping Secondary College, St Monica's College and are the main secondary options, with primary schools throughout. Epping's Nepali community is visible on every shopping strip, and Gorakh Timilsina works with many local families in Nepali.
Loans and grants that matter in Epping
- First home buyers buying an established home under $600,000 pay no stamp duty, and the First Home Guarantee gives a 5% deposit with no LMI for citizens and permanent residents.
- New homes in Epping North and Aurora attract the $10,000 FHOG when the home has never been occupied.
- New migrants and visa holders: many Epping buyers are recent permanent residents or on 482, 485 or 491 visas. Lenders differ widely on which visas they accept and how they treat overseas employment history and income. See home loans for new migrants and home loans for visa holders.
- Refinancing: owners in Epping North who bought around 2015 to 2020 often have large equity and loans on uncompetitive rates.
Worked example: a permanent-resident couple buying their first home
A Nepali couple, both permanent residents, one an aged-care nurse earning $78,000 and one a chef earning $65,000, buy a three-bedroom 1985 home near Dalton Road for $598,000 with $36,000 in savings.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Land transfer duty | $0 (first home buyer exemption under $600,000) |
| Deposit under First Home Guarantee (5%) | $29,900 |
| Conveyancing, inspection and adjustments | about $3,500 |
| LMI | $0 |
| Loan | $568,100 |
| Repayment, for illustration at 6.00% p.a. over 30 years | about $3,406 per month |
Because the lender assesses servicing at the rate plus 3 percentage points, the couple's combined income needs to support repayments at 9.00% p.a., about $4,570 per month. See the borrowing power calculator.
How GNT Finance helps Epping buyers
Our office at 23 Astbury Crescent, Mickleham is about 15 kilometres from Pacific Epping, a 20 minute drive via Craigieburn Road East or Donnybrook Road. Gorakh meets Epping clients at the office, at your home in the evening, or by video, and he works around hospital and hospitality rosters.
As a former senior credit officer, Gorakh has seen the mistakes that stop migrant families getting approved: unexplained deposits from overseas, remittances a bank reads as a liability, and employment letters that do not match payslips. He fixes those before lodging. Our Nepali mortgage broker page explains how we work with the community.
Nearby suburbs we also serve
Epping borders Lalor and Thomastown to the south, Wollert to the north, Mill Park and South Morang to the east and Craigieburn across the freeway.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 485 or 482 visa holder buy a home in Epping?
Yes, several lenders will lend to temporary visa holders, usually with a 20% deposit and sometimes at a slightly higher rate, and FIRB approval and the 8% foreign purchaser additional duty may apply. Permanent residents are treated the same as citizens for loans and the First Home Guarantee.
Do lenders accept overseas savings as a deposit?
Yes, if the funds are in your Australian account and you can show where they came from. Lenders want a paper trail: the overseas bank statements, the transfer records and, for gifts from family, a signed gift letter. We help you prepare this so the deposit is accepted without delay.
Which is better in Epping: an older house or a new townhouse?
An older house near the station usually has a bigger block, no owners corporation fees and more scope to renovate or subdivide later. A new townhouse comes with the $10,000 FHOG if never occupied, lower maintenance and modern layout, but body-corporate fees and less land. We can compare the full cost of each option with you.
Can two families buy a home together in Epping?
Yes. Siblings or friends can buy jointly, and lenders will assess all applicants' incomes and debts. The important decisions are ownership shares (joint tenants or tenants in common) and an agreement about what happens if one party wants to sell. Our joint tenants vs tenants in common page explains the difference.
Talk to GNT Finance
We speak your language and we know the lenders that say yes. Call Gorakh on 0426 403 703 or Book a free consultation in English, Nepali or Hindi, at our Mickleham office, your home or by video.
Written by Gorakh Timilsina
Founder, CEO & Senior Mortgage Consultant at GNT Finance. Gorakh started as a broker assistant, spent years as a senior credit officer assessing loan applications, and now helps Melbourne families get the right loan approved. English, Nepali and Hindi spoken.