Home loan guides that give straight answers
Deposits, LMI, stamp duty, government schemes and the big decisions — explained with real numbers, no jargon.
Costs & Numbers
How Much Deposit Do I Need to Buy a House in NSW?
You may need far less than 20%. Here are the real numbers at every price point — including the schemes that get you in with 5%.
Read guide → · 5 minWhat Does a Mortgage Broker Cost in Australia?
For standard home loans, the answer is $0. Here's exactly how brokers get paid, and why the Best Interests Duty protects you.
Read guide → · 4 minLMI Explained: How Much Is Lenders Mortgage Insurance?
What LMI actually costs at 85%, 90% and 95% LVR — and the five legitimate ways to avoid paying it at all.
Read guide → · 5 minNSW Stamp Duty: What You'll Pay at $650k, $800k and $1M
First home buyers pay $0 up to $800,000. Everyone else — here's roughly what to budget at Sydney's common price points.
Read guide → · 4 minGovernment Schemes
First Home Guarantee NSW: Buy With 5% and No LMI
Since October 2025: unlimited places, no income caps, and a $1.5M Sydney price cap. The scheme that changes the maths for first buyers.
Read guide → · 5 minGuarantor Home Loans: How Parents Can Help You Buy Sooner
A parent's equity can replace your deposit entirely and eliminate LMI. Here's how it works — including the risks, honestly.
Read guide → · 5 minHelp to Buy: How the Government Shared Equity Scheme Works
The government contributes up to 40% of the price and takes an equity share — cutting your loan and repayments dramatically. Who it suits.
Read guide → · 5 minComparisons
Big 4 Banks vs Non-Bank Lenders: Where Should You Borrow?
The majors offer brand comfort. Non-banks often offer sharper rates and say yes where banks say no. The honest comparison.
Read guide → · 5 minRenting vs Buying in Western Sydney: The Real Maths
With first home buyer schemes stacking together, the deposit hurdle has collapsed — and the weekly gap between renting and owning in Western Sydney is smaller than most people think.
Read guide → · 5 minRefinance or Stay? How to Decide (With the Break-Even Test)
Refinancing isn't automatically smart. Here's the 3-step decision framework we use with clients — including when staying wins.
Read guide → · 4 minMortgage Broker vs Bank in Parramatta: Which Gets You a Better Loan?
A Parramatta bank branch can offer you one menu. A local broker brings 40+ menus and a legal duty to act in your interests.
Read guide → · 4 minHow to Compare Home Loans in Australia: What Actually Matters
The headline interest rate is just the start. Here is what to look at when comparing home loans — and why a broker compares more than just rate.
Read guide → · 5 minInterest-Only vs Principal and Interest: Which Is Right for You?
Interest-only lowers your monthly repayments but does not reduce your loan balance. Here is when each repayment structure makes sense.
Read guide → · 5 minCar Loan vs Dealer Finance: Which Gets You a Better Deal?
Dealer finance is convenient but rarely the cheapest. Here is how car loans arranged through a broker compare — and when dealer finance is actually fine.
Read guide → · 4 minBorrowing Guides
Home Loan Pre-Approval Explained
Pre-approval confirms your borrowing limit before you start searching. Here is what it means, how long it lasts, and why it matters at auction.
Read guide → · 5 minHow to Use Home Equity to Buy an Investment Property
You may already have a deposit sitting in your home. Here is how to calculate your usable equity and access it for an investment property purchase.
Read guide → · 5 minHow to Improve Your Borrowing Capacity for a Home Loan
Small changes before you apply can increase your borrowing capacity by tens of thousands. Here is what actually works.
Read guide → · 5 minFinance Tips
Home Loan Switching Checklist: Everything to Do Before You Refinance
Refinancing does not have to be complicated. Here is a practical step-by-step checklist for switching home loans in NSW.
Read guide → · 5 minBusiness Loans for New Businesses: Your Finance Options in the First 2 Years
Mainstream business loans require 2 years of trading history. Here are the real finance options available to new businesses — and how to access them.
Read guide → · 5 min