Questions we get asked a lot.

Nothing up front, and usually nothing at all. We're paid a commission by the lender when your loan settles. That commission is disclosed to you in full before you proceed, and it's typically already built into the lender's pricing — going direct rarely saves you the difference. In some circumstances a fee may apply, and we'd tell you before you incur it.

No. We're independently owned and accredited with more than forty lenders. We're not owned by a bank, and no lender pays us to preference their product over another. If the best answer is to stay with your current lender, we'll tell you that.

Not on enquiry. Our initial conversation and comparison involve no credit check at all. A credit enquiry only occurs when a lender formally assesses an application — at which point we'll have already confirmed you're likely to qualify, so you're not accumulating declines.

No. Most of our clients never do. We handle the whole process by phone, email and secure document upload, and can arrange a video call if that's easier. If you'd prefer to meet in person, that's available too.

It depends on your situation, but for a standard PAYG application it's usually photo ID, recent payslips, a few months of bank statements, and details of any existing debts. Self-employed applicants typically need tax returns and notices of assessment. We'll give you a checklist specific to your scenario before you start gathering anything.

Once lodged, a straightforward application is often formally approved within three to ten business days. That depends on the lender's queue, how quickly the valuation is completed, and whether they raise queries. Complex scenarios can take longer, and we'll give you a realistic expectation rather than an optimistic one.

Some lenders will consider as little as 5% for a standard home loan, though lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) applies below 20% and adds to your costs. First home buyer schemes and family guarantor arrangements can reduce or remove the deposit requirement entirely in some cases.

Yes — this is one of the most common scenarios we handle. Options range from standard full doc lending using your tax returns, through to low doc products that use alternative income evidence. Which one suits you depends on what you can document and how your business is structured.

There's no universally right answer — it depends on your risk tolerance, your budget flexibility and where rates sit. Fixing buys certainty for a set period but can carry break costs if you exit early. Variable offers flexibility and usually an offset facility. We'll talk through the trade-offs for your particular situation rather than pushing one option.

An offset account is a transaction account linked to your loan. The balance in it reduces the amount of interest you're charged, without you having to lock the money into the loan. They suit people who hold cash savings. If every dollar goes to the mortgage each payday, a redraw facility may serve you just as well at lower cost.

When the benefit clearly outweighs the cost of switching. A lower rate is the obvious reason, but you also need to account for discharge fees, establishment costs and any break costs on a fixed loan. We'll model the real numbers for you — and if the sums don't work, we'll say so.

Annually at minimum. Lenders rarely reduce your rate automatically when you become a long-standing customer, so a loan that was competitive three years ago may not be now. We review our clients' loans every year at no cost and refinance when it's genuinely worthwhile.