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Settlement delays are almost always finance delays. The property side — title searches, conveyancing, document preparation — tends to run to schedule. It’s the loan side that gets complicated, and usually only when the finance work wasn’t done early enough....
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Most Australians who reach $100,000 in equity do the same thing: nothing. They note it with quiet satisfaction, maybe mention it at a dinner party, and then carry on with their mortgage as if the number isn’t sitting there. That’s...
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The same applicant — same income, same deposit — can be approved for $100,000 more or less, depending on which lender assesses the file. That gap is real, and most people don’t know it exists. The national average sits around...
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Here’s what surprises most first home buyers: the purchase itself is actually the fastest part. Once you’re actively searching with finance in place, the time from offer to keys is typically 10 to 14 weeks. The part that takes years...
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Most people walk into this question thinking the answer is about their salary. It partly is. But for many borrowers, the bigger variable isn’t how much they earn — it’s what their existing debts are quietly doing to their borrowing...
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Every broker in Australia looks more or less the same from the outside. They’re licensed, they have access to a panel of lenders, and they don’t charge you directly. The difference only reveals itself when something gets complicated — when...
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Your parents don’t need to give you money. They don’t need to go on your mortgage. They just need to agree to let a specific portion of their existing equity do a job for two or three years — and...
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In October 2025, the maths changed for first-home buyers. A property worth $700,000 used to require $140,000 saved before you could even have a sensible conversation with a lender. Today, the same property may require $35,000. For most buyers, that’s...
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What Does It Actually Cost to Break a Fixed Rate Home Loan in Australia?There is no standard break cost figure. On the same loan amount, the cost can be $500 or $50,000 depending on how far rates have moved since...
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Is a Lower Interest Rate Always the Right Reason to Switch Lenders, or Are There Other Things to Weigh Up?A 0.2% rate saving on a loan without an offset account can cost you more than it saves — if you...
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I'm Self-Employed — How Do Lenders Assess My Income When Working Out How Much I Can Borrow?Two self-employed borrowers earning the same amount can be approved for very different loan sizes — purely based on how their income is documented....
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Most people let the broker run the meeting. They nod through the lender comparison, sign where they’re asked to sign, and follow up when they don’t hear back. A few targeted questions asked early tell you almost everything you need...
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The deposit for your next property is probably already sitting in your current one. Most homeowners with equity don’t realise how close they are to being able to act — because the calculation isn’t obvious until someone walks you through...
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With Rates on the Move in 2026, Should I Lock In a Fixed Rate or Stay Variable?Choosing a fixed rate isn't just about where interest rates may move. It's a decision to trade flexibility for certainty. Whether that trade is...
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Multiple Investment Properties and Borrowing Capacity — How Many Can You Actually Finance?There is no fixed number of investment properties a borrower can hold before lenders stop approving additional loans — outcomes depend on income, existing debt, serviceability and lender...
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Are There Ways to Reduce the Break Cost on a Fixed Rate Loan Before I Exit?Even a $10,000 reduction in your loan balance may lower the break cost because the calculation is applied to a smaller balance.Break costs are calculated...
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Can I Refinance While I'm on Maternity Leave or Between Jobs?Lenders typically assess serviceability based on current income, although some may consider confirmed return-to-work arrangements depending on their policy. That doesn't make refinancing impossible during parental leave or a career...
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How Do I Work Out Whether the Long-Term Benefit of Refinancing Outweighs the Break Cost Today?If your break-even is 8 months and you're planning to hold the loan for 5 years, the total benefit over that period is substantial. If...
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My Fixed Rate Expires in a Few Months — Is There Any Advantage in Breaking Early Rather Than Waiting?The difference between breaking 3 months early and waiting for natural expiry can sometimes be minimal, or it can be several thousand...
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How Much of a Rate Difference Genuinely Makes Refinancing Worth the Effort?On a $600,000 loan, a 0.4% rate reduction saves approximately $2,400 per year in interest. Switching costs are typically recovered in 3–6 months. The question isn't whether the saving...
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How Do I Know Whether It's Actually Worth Refinancing My Home Loan Right Now?A 0.5% rate reduction sounds compelling. Whether it actually is depends on how much you owe, how many years remain, and what it costs to switch. Those...
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Using Equity From a First Investment Property — What to Consider Before Buying AgainEquity in your first investment property can become the deposit for your second. Whether that's possible depends on your serviceability and how your loans are structured.Some property...
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What Expenses Can I Claim as Tax Deductions on My Investment Property in 2026?Investment property ownership may have tax implications. A registered tax agent or accountant can help ensure you understand what applies to your circumstances.Investment property ownership may have...
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Will Breaking My Fixed Loan Affect My Credit Score or My Ability to Refinance Elsewhere?The thing that damages credit scores isn't switching lenders — it's multiple credit applications in a short period. One well-timed application to one lender creates a...
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What Is Negative Gearing?Negative gearing is a term commonly used when an investment property costs more to hold than it earns in rental income. Understanding what it means is a starting point for any property investment conversation.Negative gearing is a...
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My Fixed Rate Period Is Ending Soon — What Are My Realistic Options Before It Expires?Your fixed rate expiry is often when lenders move the loan onto their standard variable rate. It's your natural opportunity to go to market and...
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