The Australian Loan.

The Australian Loan. Home loan advice, budgets and calculators, fun with finance, residential loans, commercial loans, leasing and personal loans. Credit Licence 385490

Revealed - the secrets to buying property with confidence.Getting the right property at the right price isn't good luck....
13/01/2026

Revealed - the secrets to buying property with confidence.

Getting the right property at the right price isn't good luck. Its all about being prepared and taking the right steps at the right time.

Read this article - "Buying with Confidence" - for a number of quick tips to playing the home buying game on your terms.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/buyingpropertywithconfidence.pdf

Are you ready to purchase a new car but don't want to get hit with high interest rates from expensive car dealerships? O...
11/01/2026

Are you ready to purchase a new car but don't want to get hit with high interest rates from expensive car dealerships? Our team can help you secure fast, low-rate car finance to get you on the road.

Our partners also offer conditional approval for up to 60 days, giving you time to shop around and find your dream car.

In today�s new car market, we are seeing low rate finance deals being offered by an ever increasing number of car dealer...
11/01/2026

In today�s new car market, we are seeing low rate finance deals being offered by an ever increasing number of car dealers. Rates as low as 0% have been available in recent times.

Before you rush out and sign on the dotted line, it�s important to understand what is happening behind the scenes.

Click here to download my inside scoop on "Low interest car finance - is it really what it seems?"https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/lowinterestcarfinance.pdf

Is 50 sneaking up on you or has it arrived for someone you know?The biggest question on most people's minds (in the age ...
10/01/2026

Is 50 sneaking up on you or has it arrived for someone you know?

The biggest question on most people's minds (in the age group 50 to 65) is... "Will we outlive our savings?"

There are plenty of options available to properly fund your retirement, as long as you start early enough.

For more details, read our "Is 50 quickly approaching" guide.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/is50quicklyapproaching.pdf

A wise person once said: failing to plan is a plan to fail. As probably the most significant purchase of your life, savi...
09/01/2026

A wise person once said: failing to plan is a plan to fail. As probably the most significant purchase of your life, saving for a home definitely takes prior preparation and planning!

- How much can I afford?

You may have a dream home in mind but you first need to work out if you can afford it. There are many factors that feed into our decision around what to buy and where - proximity to work and family and our stage of life are just a few - but the single biggest decider is nearly always what we can afford.

It's really a case of looking at the big picture and working your way back from there. Consider your household income and what you realistically can afford in loan repayments, taking into account all of your expenses.

As a guide a mortgage calculator can be a great place to start, but it won't take into account all of your personal circumstances or eligibility for a loan so talk to your local Mortgage Broker to get your plan underway.

https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/

- How much do I need for a deposit?

Ideally, you should start with a 20% deposit to avoid paying lenders mortgage insurance (LMI). This is a one-off insurance payment charged by lenders to those borrowers who are considered a higher financial risk.

Your risk is determined by your loan to value ratio (LVR), which is the amount you wish to borrow divided by the lender's valuation of the property you wish to buy.

Lenders generally like to have at least a 20% buffer so if you have to default on the loan, they stand a good chance of recouping the loan amount through the sale of your property..

Although LMI can add several thousand dollars to property purchase costs, many borrowers consider it a worthy investment to help secure a loan with a lower deposit.

The critical factor is whether your income can support the higher loan repayments. Ask your broker for an LMI estimate based on your financial situation before deciding how much you need for your deposit.

- Saving for a deposit:

Working out how much you need for a deposit can be fairly easy compared to actually saving for it. Sacrifices are generally in order!.

?Budget cuts

The best place to start is a budget. Review all of your expenses, including day-to-day costs like lunches, coffees and transport, and your bigger bills, such as rent and electricity.

Don't forget to also include any annual bills such as car insurance and registration, which can sabotage your savings. Then it's times to get a little ruthless and look for ways to cut back on costs.

Here are just a few ideas:

- Make your lunches.
- Dine in, not out, with friends.
- Ditch the gym membership and start exercising outdoors.
- Make a list for your groceries and stick to it.
- Save, don't spend, your tax return and/or salary bonus. https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/tools-and-resources/calculators-and-tools/mortgage-calculator

Are your plant and equipment looking a little tired?New equipment is one of the most common reasons to get finance. An ...
09/01/2026

Are your plant and equipment looking a little tired?

New equipment is one of the most common reasons to get finance. An equipment or vehicle loan can be structured to preserve cash flow and also leverage any tax benefits your accountant or tax adviser may suggest.

And because the equipment is the security, you may not need to use other assets, either personal or business, as collateral.

With lots of options out there, talk to us today.

Is your old equipment slowing you down?Old tech? Outdated machinery? Vehicle breakdowns? Will the purchase of new as...
07/01/2026

Is your old equipment slowing you down?

Old tech? Outdated machinery? Vehicle breakdowns?

Will the purchase of new assets or equipment speed you up, help you become more efficient and help you get ahead? Asset finance is often the answer.

Financing new equipment, instead of purchasing it outright, can be a good way to preserve cash flow and working capital while adding an asset that can begin to generate immediate income.
And, of course, there may be potential tax advantages that could also come your way.

We all know that interest rates are cyclical and that when rates go down they will eventually go up.As a result, lenders...
06/01/2026

We all know that interest rates are cyclical and that when rates go down they will eventually go up.

As a result, lenders have been assessing loan applications on the ability of borrowers to make repayments at interest rates approximately 2% higher than those currently available.

While lenders have been assessing your ability to make repayments at a higher interest rate, what is the reality of the fi nancial impact of your regular loan repayments?

To make sure you are ready, click here to read my "What goes down, must come up" article.https://www.mortgageaustralia.com.au/email/files/whatgoesdownmustgoup.pdf

Do you wonder what it must be like for people who don't have to worry about their household budget? How much different ...
06/01/2026

Do you wonder what it must be like for people who don't have to worry about their household budget? How much different would your life be if you didn't have that mortgage payment coming out every fortnight?
What if there was a way to pay your loan off sooner so that you can start enjoying the finer things in life?

Well, there are six steps you can take today, which will make an enormous difference to the time that it takes to pay your loan off.

You could be holding that title in your hand sooner than you think.

In the past weeks, we looked at Step 1: choosing the best loan, and Step 2: changing your repayment frequency. These are both excellent ways to reduce both the length of your loan, and the total amount that you pay over the life of your mortgage.

Today, we will discuss how a few small changes to your budget can make a huge difference to the time it takes you to achieve your financial goals.



Step 3: Pay more to pay it off early

It might seem strange, but in the first few years of your home loan, you usually just pay off interest, barely touching the amount that you borrowed in the first place. This means that the interest on your loan won't start to reduce for quite some time if you only make the minimum repayments.

If you can tweak your budget to pay just a little bit more each month, or each fortnight, you might be surprised at what a difference it can make.

For example, on a loan of $400k:

By paying an extra $50 each month, you could save around $36k on your total interest, and pay your loan off 1 year and 9 months sooner than expected.

Do you buy a takeaway coffee every day on the way to work? By saving $4 per day, and paying the savings off your loan now, you could save about $55k on your total interest, and pay your loan off about 2 years and 8 months early.

Try making a list of all the small things you spend money on daily or weekly, and see if there is anything you could happily do without. Just for fun, grab a calculator and multiply the item by 52 weeks, and then 25 to 30 years. You might be surprised what you find!

Want to pay your mortgage off sooner? Stay tuned for Step 4: the power of Offset Accounts and Redraw Facilities.

For many Australians retirement is an opportunity to down-size their homes and simplify their lives. For more than 138,0...
03/01/2026

For many Australians retirement is an opportunity to down-size their homes and simplify their lives. For more than 138,000 retirees*, that means opting for life in a retirement village.

Village living offers an appealing lifestyle, especially for those looking for a sense of community and to spend their new-found free time on recreation rather than maintaining a property.

But the process of taking up a spot in a retirement complex is very different to buying your own home. Haven takes a look at some of the pros and cons of shifting to a retirement village.

Not an investment decision

Retirees need to consider a retirement complex to be a lifestyle choice, not an investment decision. Rather than buying a physical appreciating asset, you are entering a contract to occupy a place in the village for an entry fee.

There are usually three types of contracts:

Strata title: You pay an agreed amount to a former resident or the operator, and then own the unit. You also usually need to enter into a service agreement with the operator.

Loan and licence: May be offered by not-for-profit organisations, such as churches. You usually pay a contribution in the form of an interest-free loan.

Leasehold: The lease is usually registered on the title deed, which protects you if the village is sold. You pay a lump sum for the leasehold.

Entry, ongoing and exit fees usually apply to all three contract types.

Rather than a sale price, you pay an entry fee, which varies greatly depending on the location of the complex and the amenities and services offered. On average, the entry fee for a two-bedroom unit is about 90 per cent of the median property price for the location.

You will also be charged ongoing service fees to cover the upkeep of amenities in the village, such as swimming pools, gardens, recreation areas and communal transport.

Don�t enter into any agreement without the advice of a specialist retirement lawyer. They can help you understand the fine print and guide you through the system based on your state laws.

Age pension

Your retirement advisor will also help you navigate your age pension eligibility. The amount you pay as an entry fee to a retirement village can affect whether you are classified as a homeowner for pension purposes or a non-homeowner.

It depends whether the entry contribution is higher than the extra allowable amount (EAA), as determined by Centrelink. The EAA is the difference between the non-homeowner and homeowner assets test threshold for the age pension at the time the entry contribution is paid.

The extra allowable amount is currently $146,500. Whether you are considered a homeowner affects the amount of assets you can own without impacting your pension entitlement.

If you are not considered a homeowner, your entry contribution is included as an asset, but it is not classed as a financial investment and won�t be considered as a source of income. You may also be eligible for rental assistance.

Shop around

Just like when you buy a property, you should do your homework before settling on a retirement village. Take a tour and talk to residents about what they like and dislike about the place. Think about what you want out of your retirement and whether the complex caters to those needs.

- If you want to entertain, do you have space in your unit or is there a communal area you can use?
- Is there a gym or swimming pool where you can exercise?
- Can you have guests stay over and, if so, for how long?

This can be a key consideration for grandparents who may take care of grandchildren. You should also ask about transport help. Many complexes provide a private bus service to shops and clubs for residents who don�t wish to drive.

Generally, the more comprehensive the services the more you pay in body corporate fees, so make sure you understand the fee structure and what�s included before signing on the dotted line.

Community spirit

One of the biggest attractions of retirement living is the instant community. Many villages provide social opportunities ranging from outings to quiz nights, dinners and interest clubs. Participation is entirely optional but there is usually no shortage of opportunities to get to know and socialise with your neighbours.

Aged care included

Many retirees plan ahead and scout out a village with an on-site aged care facility to avoid another relocation in their latter years. Just be mindful the level of care someone needs is determined by an Aged Care Assessment Team and that not all facilities offer high care should you or your partner require it.

A place in aged care may also require separate payments, or entry fee, and many facilities will have waiting lists. It�s also common for one partner to have greater needs than another, so couples with health or mobility issues need to ensure the complex they settle on caters to their needs.

When you leave

When a resident moves out, it is generally because they have passed away or relocated to an aged care facility. Financially, it is usually the beneficiaries of the resident�s estate who are most impacted.

When a resident sells up they, or their estate, are generally charged an exit fee, or a deferred management fee, which is usually charged annually at 2.5 to 3.5% of the original sale price, capped at 10 years.

Some complexes may also require a percentage of any capital gains made. Make sure you read the fine print of the original sale contract and seek advice from a specialist retirement lawyer.

*Retirement Villages Association Retirement Living Survey 2011

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Bathurst Finance Broker

The start of a new year, 2018 is the time for action, brings some time to reflect, identify and focus on areas where more activity should be directed.

Mobile business for Oberon, Bathurst, Lithgow and Orange.

Our Finance brokers have skills and expertise in the areas of Car finance, Home loans, Investment loans, Commercial lending, small business, credit advice and strategy as well as SMSF lending for retirememnt strategies.

We have the ability to come you at a conveneient time to suit your family and work life. After hours and weekends easily catered for. You can also attend our office in Bathurst for a confidential discussion about your current and future goals. Our joy is in great personal service, suited lender products and credit advice to help your decisions for achieving your aspirations.