Headstart Financial Services

15/10/2026

🔑 Settlement day isn’t the end of our relationship.

Life changes—and your home loan needs can change with it.

Whether you’re considering a renovation, buying an investment property, moving to your next home or simply checking whether your existing loan still suits you, the Headstart Financial Services team is here to help.

We believe good mortgage broking is about ongoing support, clear communication and being available for the next chapter—not just the first one.

Already a Headstart client? You’re always welcome to get back in touch.

🌐 www.headstartfs.com.au

14/10/2026

🤔 Offset account or redraw facility—what’s the difference?

Both may help reduce the interest charged on your home loan, but they work differently.

💰 An offset account is a transaction account linked to your loan. Its balance is generally offset against the amount on which interest is calculated.

🏦 A redraw facility may allow you to access eligible extra repayments you’ve already made on your loan.

Features, fees and access rules vary between lenders and products, so the right option will depend on how you manage your money.

Want help understanding your home loan features? Let’s talk.

🌐 www.headstartfs.com.au

13/10/2026

💼 Self-employed and thinking about a home loan?

Running your own business doesn’t automatically put property ownership out of reach—but your application may require a little more preparation.

Different lenders can assess self-employed income in different ways. We’ll take the time to understand your business, review your financial information and explore lending options suited to your circumstances.

The earlier we talk, the more time we have to help you prepare.

📩 Contact the Headstart Financial Services team
🌐 www.headstartfs.com.au

12/10/2026

🏠 House hunting? Start with a clearer budget.

A home loan pre-approval can help you understand your potential borrowing position before you begin making offers.

It can give you:

✅ A more realistic property price range
✅ Greater confidence at inspections
✅ Time to identify potential lending issues
✅ A stronger starting point when you’re ready to buy

Pre-approval isn’t a guarantee of final approval, but it can make your property search much more focused.

Thinking of buying? Let’s help you get prepared.

🌐 www.headstartfs.com.au

11/10/2026

Thank you so much, Jane. We are so glad we found a lender who could take on your situation, which was a little outside the box. We can't wait to see the finished photos of your place!

08/10/2026

More Australians are using mortgage brokers than ever before – highlighting the growing value borrowers place on comparing lenders and loan options.

Brokers facilitated a record 81.6% of new home loans in the June quarter, according to Cotality data commissioned by the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia.

That market share has increased by 27.7 percentage points over the past eight years.

Why borrowers are changing how they shop

For consumers, the appeal often comes down to choice and convenience.

Different lenders can have different:
Interest rates.
Borrowing policies.
Serviceability calculations.
Loan features.
Eligibility requirements.
That matters even more when rates are elevated and household budgets are under pressure.

With lenders offering different rates, policies and features, a broker can help you compare your options and make a more informed choice.

Buying or refinancing? I can compare lenders with you and help you understand which options may suit your circumstances.

07/10/2026

More homes are hitting the market while prices fall across most capital-city suburbs – giving buyers more negotiating room.

According to SQM Research, the number of properties listed for sale in August was 12.8% higher than a year earlier.

Distressed listings also increased 10.0%, although they remain relatively low.

At the same time, Cotality says 93% of capital-city suburbs recorded price declines over the three months to August.

More power – not unlimited power

Those trends clearly favour buyers more than they did previously.

More listings can mean:
Greater choice.
Less urgency.
More scope to negotiate on price or terms.
But this still isn’t a market where every seller is desperate to deal.

Good properties can attract strong competition and distressed listings remain relatively uncommon.

So buyers should use the softer market to negotiate confidently – without assuming every vendor will accept a steep discount.

Knowing your borrowing limit before negotiations begin can make that easier. Get in touch before you start making offers and we can establish your budget and finance options.

06/10/2026

Another cash rate increase isn’t guaranteed – but borrowers may be better off preparing for one than hoping it won’t happen.

The Reserve Bank has already lifted the cash rate by 0.75 percentage points in 2026.

Meanwhile, trimmed-mean inflation has remained above the RBA’s 2–3% target range since June 2025, while recent economic growth, employment and household spending data suggest demand remains surprisingly resilient.

What borrowers can do now

Rather than passively waiting for the RBA’s next cash rate decisions on November 3, consider:
Stress-testing your budget at a higher repayment.
Building a bigger cash buffer.
Reviewing whether your current rate is still competitive.
Using an offset or redraw facility strategically.
Cutting discretionary spending before you’re forced to.
For prospective buyers, it can also make sense to calculate repayments at a rate above today’s level before deciding what you can comfortably afford.

Another rate rise may or may not happen, but you can prepare for one now. Get in touch and I’ll help you review your loan and borrowing position.

05/10/2026

Falling property prices and rising rents are improving the income equation for property investors.

Australia’s median property price has now declined for five consecutive months, falling 3.6% over that period, according to Cotality.

At the same time, rents continue to rise. The national median rent increased 5.7% over the year to August.

Together, those trends have pushed the national gross rental yield to 3.8% – its highest level since 2019.

What higher yields mean

Gross rental yield measures annual rent as a percentage of a property’s value.

A higher yield can improve cash flow and help offset some of the pressure from higher mortgage rates.

But yield is only part of the equation. Investors also need to consider:
Loan repayments.
Property management costs.
Maintenance.
Vacancy risk.
Potential capital growth.
In other words, a high-yield property isn’t automatically a good investment.

Thinking about buying an investment property? We can look at how different loan structures and repayments could affect your cash flow.

04/10/2026

"Lara and her team are fantastic! Lara has helped us a number of times now and we will definitely contact Lara again to help us next time we buy. Fast, professional and help remove a lot of the administrative burden. I have no hesitation in recommending Lara and her team if you are looking for a broker." says Rebecca on Google

★★★★★ Lara and her team are fantastic! Lara has helped us a number of times now and we will definitely contact Lara again to help us next time we buy. Fast, professional and help remove a lot of the administrative burden. I have no hesitation in recommending Lara and her team if you are lo...