Questions we
get asked.

We work out what you can comfortably carry, build a structure around that, then go looking for the lender whose rules happen to suit it. The alternative, fitting you to whatever product is nearest, is how people end up in the wrong loan.

Day to day, that means writing the submission, arguing it with credit, and keeping the valuation, paperwork and settlement moving so you're not the one chasing people.

No. A rough sense of what you earn, what you owe and what you're hoping to do is plenty to start. Paperwork comes later, and we'll tell you exactly what's needed rather than sending you a generic checklist.

No. A credit enquiry only appears when a formal application goes to a lender, and that doesn't happen until you've seen what we recommend and said yes to it.

No. Our office is in Hawthorn, Melbourne, but much of our work is in Sydney and Brisbane, and we work with clients in Perth and Canberra too. We meet over video wherever you are, or in person by appointment.

It depends on the type of finance and how quickly the documents come together. Once a home loan application is complete, approval commonly takes days to a couple of weeks; commercial and development take longer. See the full process.

No. You're not committed to anything by talking to us or by seeing our recommendation, and nothing is lodged until you say yes.

There's no single figure; it changes with whoever you ask. Every lender adds its own buffer when stress-testing you, and they all read rent, bonuses, commission, overtime and trust income differently. That's why it's worth checking across lenders before you apply anywhere.

It depends on the lender and the loan. Borrowing more than 80% of the property value usually means paying lenders mortgage insurance, and some lenders will go to 95% with it. A guarantor, or a government scheme you're eligible for, can sometimes reduce the deposit or the LMI.

Fixing gives certainty for the fixed period, but it usually limits extra repayments and offset, and breaking it early can cost you. Variable keeps that flexibility. Many people split the loan to get some of each.

Only if the saving outweighs the cost of switching: discharge and government fees, any break costs on a fixed rate, and LMI again if you'd be borrowing above 80%. The costs, worked through.

No. It's conditional. Formal approval still depends on the property, the valuation and confirming what's in your application, so it's best to avoid new debts or job changes in the meantime.

Lenders generally lend against the lower of the purchase price and the valuation, so a short valuation means a bigger contribution, a different structure or a different lender.

More than you would for a home, and how much more depends on what you're buying. Standard office, retail and industrial sit at one end of the range. Specialised property such as childcare, service stations or hospitality usually needs more.

One where the rent coming off the property covers the repayments on its own, which can remove the need for full financials if you're not borrowing heavily against the value. You're trading paperwork for how much you can borrow.

Often yes, within superannuation rules and with the lenders that still write SMSF loans. The structure needs to be right before finance is arranged, and the fund's compliance is a matter for your accountant and licensed adviser.

Far more depends on whether the file is complete than on which lender you use. Missing documents cause most delays, which is why we set out everything needed at the start.

It depends who's funding it and what you're building. Some structures work with few presales or none at all, usually at a higher cost, because the lender carries more of the sales risk. Your contribution, your builder and your track record all count too.

They check your development budget independently before funding starts, then sign off progress as the job goes on. Lenders release each drawdown against that sign-off rather than the builder's invoice.

Usually as two facilities, sometimes from two different lenders. The trap is arranging the site funding on its own and then finding nobody will fund the build on top of it, so we plan both together.

A loan that refinances finished but unsold dwellings, which takes the pressure off a construction loan coming up to its term. It's much easier to arrange before practical completion than after.

When speed matters more than the rate: a settlement about to fall over, something that won't wait, or a case where you can clearly see the way out but the usual serviceability test doesn't.

On the security and the exit, rather than your full serviceability. The lender's real question is how they get paid back: a refinance across to a bank, a sale, or a project reaching completion.

More than a bank. That's the trade-off for speed and flexibility, and it's why the exit has to be settled before you draw the money. We'll say plainly whether the premium is worth paying in your case.

Covering cash flow, buying equipment or vehicles, funding growth, or backing an acquisition or a buy-in to something existing.

It depends what you're after. Equipment finance is usually secured by the equipment. Working capital might be secured against property or business assets, or unsecured at a higher price.

Trading history, the financials, whether your tax is up to date, and whether the cash flow really covers the repayments. How that's presented matters more than people expect.

Yes. We look at everything you owe and work out the options, which may mean consolidating several debts into one loan, refinancing against property you own, or restructuring business and tax debt. Where none of those would help, we'll tell you. More on debt advice.

No. A lower rate over a much longer term can cost more in total, so we show the full cost of each option before you decide. When it helps and when it doesn't.

We arrange the finance. Payment arrangements with the ATO are made by you or your registered tax agent, so we work alongside your accountant.

Contact your lender early and ask for a hardship arrangement. It's free to ask, and the lender has to consider it. Free, independent financial counselling is also available through the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

Usually not, and the alternatives are worth looking at first. Bankruptcy generally lasts three years and one day, stays on your credit report for at least five years, and your name stays on the public insolvency register permanently. The options worth looking at first.