Home loan guides
Know what to check, what to prepare and which questions to ask before your next home loan decision.
You might be working out what you can comfortably spend, wondering whether your current loan still fits, or planning a move around your career. Start with the decision in front of you. These guides explain the trade-offs and give you practical steps to discuss with your broker.
Start with your next decision
- Buying your first home: work through your budget, purchase costs and assistance options, then use the pre-approval checklist to prepare your application.
- Reviewing your loan: compare the costs and benefits of refinancing, then check whether an offset suits the balance you usually keep.
- Buying or moving as a Defence member: start with how the housing schemes differ, then explore the DHOAS application steps or HPSEA expense and claim planning.
- Planning around a medical career: consider income evidence, career changes and profession-specific loan offers.
- Borrowing to invest: work through rental cash flow, holding costs and tax questions before comparing loans.
- Choosing a broker: understand what a broker does and what to ask about lender access, fees and recommendations.
All guides
Pre-Approval Checklist for First-Time Buyers
Prepare your income, spending and deposit records, and understand what still needs checking before you commit to a property.
5 Signs It’s Time to Review Your Home Loan
Compare staying and switching, allow for fees, and work out whether a lower repayment changes your total interest cost.
Investment Property Planning: Costs, Cash Flow and Risk
Build a budget beyond the advertised rent, allow for vacancies and repairs, and identify tax questions before borrowing.
First-Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid
Set a comfortable spending limit, allow for upfront costs, and separate grants, duty concessions, guarantees and shared equity.
Mortgage Options for Medical Professionals
Prepare for how lenders assess your income, compare the full cost of professional offers, and plan around changes to your work.
The Benefits of Using a Mortgage Broker
Know what support to expect from the first conversation to settlement, and what to ask about lender access and remuneration.
Understanding Offset Accounts
See how the interest calculation works, weigh fees against your usual balance, and understand how offset and redraw differ.
Defence Home Buying: DHOAS, HPAS and HPSEA
Separate DHOAS, HPAS and HPSEA, check how benefits interact, and plan your purchase around service and housing circumstances.
DHOAS: From Eligibility to Your First Subsidy
Follow the steps from checking entitlement to applying for a loan and starting subsidy payments, including occupancy requirements.
HPSEA: Plan Your Sale and Purchase Costs
Plan for eligible purchase or sale expenses, check your claim history, and prepare the records needed to confirm assistance.
Turn your reading into a plan
Tell us what you are trying to do and what remains unclear. We can help you identify the loan questions, documents and next steps relevant to your situation.
Ask about your next step