Frequently asked questions.

No — in almost all cases, brokers are paid a commission by the lender once your loan settles, not by you. You pay the same interest rate whether you go direct to a bank or through a broker; the difference is you get someone comparing 40+ lenders on your behalf instead of just one bank's own products.

A bank can only offer you their own products. A broker compares your situation against a panel of lenders and recommends whichever genuinely fits — sometimes that's a major bank, sometimes it's a smaller lender with better policy for your specific circumstances (self-employed income, a trust structure, a lower deposit, etc.).

It varies by lender, but a straightforward application can often get conditional pre-approval within a few business days once we have your full documentation. More complex situations — trust structures, SMSF, multiple income sources — can take longer since more needs to be verified.

Typically: recent payslips or tax returns (for self-employed), bank statements, ID, and details of any existing debts or assets. For trust or SMSF lending, we'll also need the relevant trust deed or fund documentation. We'll give you a specific checklist once we understand your situation.

Yes — this is common, and different lenders treat self-employed and variable income very differently. Some rely on your last one or two tax returns, others allow low-doc options with an accountant's letter. Part of our job is matching you to a lender whose policy actually fits how you're paid.

It depends on what's on file and how recent it is. Some lenders are more flexible than others with past defaults, missed payments, or a thin credit history — particularly relevant for newer migrants who may not have an established Australian credit file yet. Tell us the full picture upfront; it changes which lenders we'd approach.

No — we're based in Melbourne but work with clients across Australia. Most of the process (application, document collection, lender liaison) happens over phone, email and video call regardless of where you're located.

A variable rate moves with the lender's own rate changes (which often follow the RBA cash rate), so your repayments can go up or down. A fixed rate locks in your repayment for a set period (often 1–5 years), giving certainty but usually less flexibility — for example, fixed loans often have limits on extra repayments and can carry break costs if you exit early.

Yes, and it's worth checking regardless — lenders often price more competitively for new customers than existing ones. A quick comparison costs you nothing, and if your current lender genuinely has the best deal, we'll tell you that too.

It's the lending structure required when your self-managed super fund borrows to buy property. The lender's recourse in a default is limited to that specific asset, not the rest of your fund — which is why SMSF lending has its own rules, pricing and a smaller pool of willing lenders. See our SMSF lending guide for more detail.

It depends on the loan and whether you're eligible for a low-deposit scheme. Traditionally 20% avoids Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), but many buyers proceed with less — some government guarantee schemes allow eligible first home buyers to purchase with as little as 5% deposit without paying LMI. We'll walk through what applies to your situation.

No — we stay in touch. As your situation changes (a rate review, buying an investment property, restructuring into a trust or SMSF), we're already familiar with your history and can pick up from there rather than you starting again with someone new.