In simple terms, a lifetime mortgage is a loan that lets you release equity – that is, access some of the value of your home as cash – while you continue living in it. It’s essentially a type of equity release product that’s quite popular in the UK, and in Australia it’s very similar to what’s known as a reverse mortgage. You usually need to be around retirement age (typically 60 or older) and own your home outright (or have
Between making an offer and getting the keys, there are plenty of extra costs along the way outside of just handing over the price on the tag. There’s a lot more involved than just the agreed purchase price. From the obvious outlays to the subtle add-ons, every little piece can add up until the total feels much bigger than you initially expected. If you’re preparing to purchase property, you’ll definitely benefit from thinking beyond what that initial price tag you
There are plenty of people who move to Australia from overseas, but have you ever thought about leaving Australia to live somewhere else in the world? You definitely wouldn’t be alone – over half a million Australians now live abroad. But how exactly does that dream of moving abroad compare with reality? Let’s unpack some of the more common assumptions Aussies have about expat life and see what really happens once the plane lands and you’re left to your own
Buying an empty block of land was probably not the first idea that came to your mind when you decided you wanted a property investment. For many Australians, property investments usually involve a house with tenants or a shiny apartment in the city. But there’s another side of the properties investment that you should think about: land. If you’ve ever looked at a patch of earth and imagined what could be built there, you already understand the appeal of property
We get how getting on the property ladder feels at first. It’s obviously exciting, but the sheer number of steps and unfamiliar terms is complicated and you’re not going to find it easy. Looking at property listings and dreaming about locations is the fun part, but it won’t be long until you hit a wall of financial jargon. One of the first and most important terms you’ll encounter is the ‘mortgage in principle’. So, what is a mortgage in principle?
So, can you get a mortgage with bad credit? Obviously, it’s everybody’s goal at some point to own a home, but we get that not everyone’s been blessed with a smooth financial life and may have made some poor financial decisions over the years that have resulted in bad credit. Fortunately, the reality is that you can, but it usually takes a bit more effort and creativity since it’s definitely not going to be as easy. In Australia, lenders will
Regardless of the reason, we can all appreciate that interest rates have been surging throughout Australia for a bit too long now, but are mortgage rates going down at last? Some of the early signs we’ve had in 2025 this far would indicate that they genuinely are. For instance, on the 20th of May 2025, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%, which was actually its first reduction in years. The
We get that buying an investment property can be exciting – it’s a whole different process to buying somewhere to live and your mindset is completely different – but it still raises a few practical questions. In Australia, lenders generally expect a larger deposit on an investment home loan than on an owner-occupied loan. Typically, you’ll need around 20% of the purchase price as a deposit (an 80% loan-to-value ratio) if you want to avoid paying lenders mortgage insurance (LMI),
Just as anywhere else in the world, you’re not going to be able to secure the loans necessary for purchasing a property in Spain if you have a poor credit score. But how exactly does that system work in Spain? Is it basically just the same as back here in Australia? Overview The truth is, Spain doesn’t really use a FICO-style credit score like in Australia, the US or the United Kingdom. Instead, Spanish banks take a look at your
Does Italy have credit scores? We get this question quite a lot but the short answer is always “not in the Aussie sense.” In Australia, we’re used to a numeric credit score from bureaus like Equifax or Illion. In Italy, creditworthiness isn’t summed up by a single number. Instead, the Bank of Italy runs a Central Credit Register (Centrale dei Rischi) that collects detailed information on loans and debts. This means if you search for “credit score in Italy” or
Are you thinking of getting an investment property, or just want to know how equity works when buying a second home? In simple terms, equity is the part of your existing home that you actually own and not just what you’re borrowing. So it’s market value minus what you owe. For example, if your home is worth $800,000 and you owe $450,000 on the mortgage, your equity is $350,000. You can use that equity as part of the deposit on
Both property investors and regular people who live in their homes refinance their home loans so they’re able to have a better mortgage situation. We get that it’s one of those things that can sound a bit complicated, though. A refinance home loan is essentially just a new loan that replaces your existing mortgage. You could opt for a home refinance if you’re looking for a lower interest rate, or even just to access equity for other purposes. It could
Mortgage broker vs bank for home loan – which option is best? Both have pretty similar roles so we’re definitely not surprised by how common a question this is by most Australians, from first home buyers to property investors. On one hand, working with a mortgage broker can generally just be quite convenient. Not to mention that it gives you the ability to compare loans from multiple lenders. On the other hand, walking into your local bank feels straightforward and
If you’re living in Australia on a temporary visa and want to own a home at some point in the near future, you’re certainly not alone. That’s where a lot of international students and skilled other workers are at now, but the good news is that it is actually possible to purchase a house or apartment before you become a permanent resident. However, it’s naturally not as straightforward as it is for citizens or PR holders – there are extra
It’s pretty exciting when you get to that stage in your life when you’re ready to buy your first home in Australia. That said, there is a lot more admin and finance preparation for this in comparison to just renting – especially for getting a home loan. You might have heard people talk about “first home buyer loans.” Technically, there isn’t a separate type of mortgage just for first-timers – banks mostly offer the same kinds of home loans to
Thinking of buying property in Sydney or a holiday home abroad but don’t know how much you can actually borrow? Your borrowing capacity – essentially the amount a lender might lend you – is made up of a mix of factors. Lenders assess your whole financial picture, which includes: You’ll have a much clearer idea of what a bank is realistically going to offer you if you know how these pieces overlap. While the same basic principles apply for a
You’ve probably seen the term GSA somewhere in the fine print if you’ve ever applied for a business loan in Australia. It stands for General Security Agreement. That sounds a bit dry and like vague legal jargon, but it’s actually a key part of many loan deals. In short, a GSA is an agreement that gives a lender rights over your assets as collateral for a loan. Don’t go into one of these agreements without properly knowing what a GSA
When you invest in property in Australia, one of the first questions is: what’s the rental yield? It sounds fancy, but it’s basically your annual rent as a percentage of the property’s value – essentially how much bang for your buck you’re getting from rent each year. We’ll break down how to calculate rental yield – it’s straightforward maths – using real examples from cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The formula works the same for a house in Sydney or
Your credit rating has a lot more influence over your financial life than you might realise. In Australia, mortgage providers and even some employers look at this score before they make a decision. A strong rating can land you a lower home loan rate and generally smoother approvals for major purchases. But a low score can mean higher interest or outright refusal. Ultimately, you get clear insight into where you stand and what steps to take next by regularly checking
Homeownership is great, but maintenance is time-consuming to you and costly to your budget. In Australia, harsh sunshine, extreme temperatures, and ocean salt all expedite deterioration. The silver lining is that there are logical ways to restrict home maintenance without sacrificing style or comfort. Whether you’re a new home builder, rebuilding, or just making over a house, these tips allow you to build a home that’s: Use Hardy Outside Material The outside of a house is exposed to everything harsh
Owner builder home loans are a preferred finance option for Australians wanting to take control of their home construction process. As the owner of the house and also the builder, you’re in control of every detail of your home’s construction. This route offers a sense of pride and potential cost savings, but it also brings extra responsibilities and unique financing considerations. If you’re considering going into owner builder finance, this guide explains: What Is An Owner Builder Home Loan An
Australia’s capital gains tax (CGT) is a sophisticated system, especially when you’re working with capital losses. Most investors wonder what happens when you’ve got a capital loss – do you lose that relief at year’s end or carry it over? See how it works throughout this article. What is a Capital Gain or Capital Loss? When you sell something at a price higher than its cost base, you’ve got a capital gain. In Australia, that is when a CGT event
Property investment is a go-to wealth creation strategy in Australia. Many investors enjoy “positively gearing” a property. With positive gearing, rental incomes pay for overall property and maintenance expenses, and monthly profit is positive. By positively gearing your property, you can maximise your cash flow, reduce your mortgage, and make your financial position a whole lot less stressful. It isn’t a speedy wealth creation scheme, but with careful planning and consideration for fundamentals, it can become a profitable wealth creation
Whenever you’re investing in real estate or starting to investigate property, you’ll run into the terminology “capital value.” In Australia, it’s a significant part of understanding a property’s value. But what is capital value, and why is it significant for homeowners, investors, and buyers? In this article, we simplify capital value, disclose why it’s significant in the property marketplace in Australia, and make an example of it in contrast with other forms of valuations. By the end, you’ll have a
Whenever one takes out a mortgage in Australia, lenders request a property valuation. This aids them in estimating the property’s value, lessening their risk in case any problem arises with the loan. Valuers – who are professionally qualified – assess a range of factors in deciding a property’s market value. However, what exactly do they search for? In this article, we unscramble the most important factors that have an impact on a valuer’s conclusion, so that you can understand and
A low doc home loan is a mortgage with fewer financial documents than a traditional home loan. It’s perfect for Australians who work for themselves and any individual who doesn’t have conventional payslips and financial statements preferred by lenders. As a sole proprietor and a freelancer, one doesn’t have to meet conventional lending requirements, which require two years of tax documents, detailed profit and loss statements, and a demonstration of consistent income. That’s when a low doc home loan comes
Interstate property buying can sound like a dream opportunity or a challenging ordeal. Every state in Australia comes with its own set of rules, laws, and trends, so you must do a little more work when searching outside your city. Nevertheless, with proper information and a little expert guidance, you can make a purchase that will serve your purpose. In this article, we will present everything you need to know about buying property interstate, starting with getting to know your
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