BOC Finance

02/10/2026

It wasn’t any great surprise the RBA increased the official cash rate to 4.60% earlier this week. Inflation is still not where it needs to be in 2-3% target band so the RBA pulls on the only lever available to them…….the cash rate.

So what should WE do?

Review our finances starting with the biggest expenses in our household budgets. For many, this isn’t their daily latte or buying the premium mince at the supermarket. It’s their mortgage!
If you’re a mortgage holder and you haven’t reviewed your interest rate - act now! You will be pleasantly surprised how much you can save. I reviewed a clients loans just last week and we managed to find $1,000 in interest savings……..per month!

Don’t know where to start?

Jump online and look at sites like Canstar and RateCity where you can get a good idea of how competitive your current home loan deal is.

Still unsure?

Reach out to me and I’ll be happy to conduct an obligation free home loan health check for you. 15 minutes of your time could mean thousands in savings and a better nights sleep.

02/10/2026

Nothing is impossible! ❤️
This is why I do what I do…….making dreams come true!

13/09/2026

You don’t know what you don’t know…

Lending rules aren't as rigid as most people think. Here are the top 5 lending policy niches I am seeing right now:

1. 98% LVR Lends – Inclusive of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) to lower the upfront deposit barrier.

2. 1% Interest Rate Buffer – Applied on select refinances instead of the standard 3% serviceability buffer.

3. Alt-Doc Loans – Requiring only one of the following to verify self-employed income:
- Accountant’s letter; OR
- Last 2 quarters of BAS; OR
- 6 months of trading account bank statements.

4. 40-Year Loan Terms – Extending the loan term to lower required monthly repayments and boost serviceability.

5. Common Debt Reducer – If your partner or spouse is not a party to the loan, shared living expenses and liabilities can often be halved to maximise your individual borrowing capacity.

These options aren't a one-size-fits-all solution, but they show that lenders are taking a far more common-sense approach to credit assessment right now. More importantly, they show that despite not being “acceptable” in one lenders eyes, you could be perfect for another.

Have a great week everyone!

Antony
📞 0409 859 297
✉️ [email protected]

11/08/2026

The RBA has hit pause again ⏸️

For millions of Aussie homeowners, today’s pause by the RBA brings a rare moment to exhale. It’s not a rate cut, and the financial pressure remains very real but a temporary breather is better than another hike.

Here is what “on hold” actually means for everyday borrowers right now:

- Breathing Room: No immediate surge in monthly repayments.

- Cautious Relief: A chance to stabilise household budgets, even if for just a month.

- Ongoing Pressure: High living costs and tight budgets are still testing resilience across the board.

It’s a high-wire balancing act for the RBA, balancing inflation control against household stress and gel-political events around the world. For now though, borrowers should just take the win where they can get it and use the brief reprieve to really look at their borrowing options.

Please reach out if you want help exploring your options.

10/06/2026

The “Available Redraw” trap that catches weekly mortgage payers off guard.

If you pay your mortgage weekly or even fortnightly, you might be looking at a financial illusion every time you log in to your banking app.

Paying weekly or fortnightly is an excellent strategy but here’s how a smart habit can accidentally land a borrower in arrears:

Most banking systems operate on a strict monthly billing cycle. For example, if your required payment is $4,000 a month, the bank’s computer only “charges” that amount once a month on a specific date.

If you pay $1,000 a week:

- By week three, you’ve put $3,000 into the loan.
- Because the monthly due date hasn’t hit yet, the bank’s system often views that $3,000 as an “extra payment.”
- It tops up your “Available Redraw” balance to reflect it.

The Trap:

If you log in, see that balance, and withdraw all of your redraw for an emergency or a purchase, you haven’t just taken your savings.
You’ve inadvertently stripped out the weekly instalments meant to cover your upcoming monthly repayment.

When the monthly repayment due date arrives, the system looks for the $4,000, finds a shortfall, and automatically flags your account as in arrears.

The Fix:

Not all bank systems are created equal. Some modern lenders dynamically “hide” your current month’s weekly payments from your redraw to protect you while others don’t.

If you ever need to clear out your redraw balance, the safest rule of thumb is to always leave an amount equal to one full month’s repayment untouched.
Set that permanent buffer, and you’ll never let a timing mismatch mess with your credit file.

08/06/2026

$1.45m down to $1.06m.

If you’re shopping for an investment property right now, the goalposts have moved significantly.

Lenders aren't waiting around for the government's proposed negative gearing changes to become law. They have already started stripping the negative gearing tax add-backs from their serviceability calculators if you're buying an established property.

The practical reality? A buyer who had a pre-approval of $1.35m just a few weeks ago is now looking at a max borrowing capacity of $1.06m if they buy an existing house instead of a new build. That’s a $290,000 hit to your buying power!

If you are currently holding an older pre-approval or hunting for an established property, you need to get your numbers run again immediately to avoid being caught out.

14/05/2026

🤯 Don’t Panic—Pivot Instead ↗️

Since the federal budget was announced on Tuesday night, there has been a flurry of opinion, speculation, and (let’s be honest) a bit of panic.

The fact is, while these changes represent a major shift, they don’t mean the end of property investment. It just means we need to pivot our strategy.

Here is the reality check:

✅ Existing Owners are Safe: If you already own an investment property (or signed a contract before 7:30 PM Tuesday), you are grandfathered. Your negative gearing remains exactly as it was.

The New Strategy for Future Purchases:

If you’re looking to enter the market or grow your portfolio now, it’s about looking closer at your “Pivot Points”:

👉 The New Build Advantage: Purchasing a brand-new property remains exempt from the new restrictions. You get the full negative gearing benefits AND a choice on your CGT discount down the track.

👉 The Structure Pivot: Exploring different ownership structures (like certain trusts or SMSFs) that may sit outside these specific residential restrictions.

👉 The Yield Play: Shifting focus from capital growth alone to high-yield properties where the income covers the majority of costs, minimizing the impact of “quarantined” losses.

In times of uncertainty, the only way to find certainty is to educate yourself, explore your options, and seek guidance from professionals who live and breathe this stuff - Accountant, Mortgage Broker and Solicitor (or what I like to call “The Golden Triangle”)

05/05/2026

Don’t let today’s rate hike keep you awake at night. Use your energy to get a better deal…..a fairer deal.

All it takes is a 15 minute conversation and we can put some much needed money back into your pocket.

Want to chat?

Drop me a DM or email [email protected]

24/04/2026

Why your Pre-Approval might be a “Ghost” of the past.

Numbers matter, but timing might matter even more right now.

Most buyers view a 90-day pre-approval as a “locked-in” guarantee. In a stable market, it is. But with the RBA showing a high probability of a May hike to 4.35%, that 90-day window can be a trap.

Here’s how the “Pre-Approval Trap” works:

1. The Invisible Re-assessment: Many lenders can reassess your capacity the moment a rate hike occurs. That $800k limit you had in March could silently become $780k in May.

2. The Buffer Effect: Lenders don’t just test you at the current rate; they apply a 3.00% serviceability buffer. Every 0.25% increase in the cash rate typically reduces a median household’s borrowing capacity by roughly $20,000.

3. The Auction Risk: If you bid at auction based on an old number, and the bank’s final formal approval comes in lower due to a rate change, you’re on the hook for the difference.

How to stay ahead:

• Treat pre-approval as a live document. Don’t wait for it to expire to check your numbers.

• Build a “Rate Buffer.” If you’re at your absolute limit today, you’re at risk tomorrow. Aiming slightly below your max can save a settlement.

• Ask about “Dollar-for-Dollar” exceptions. If you are looking to refinance, some lenders are making concessions on assessment criteria to help you bridge the gap.

Don’t let a ‘ghost’ pre-approval haunt your settlement. If you want to confirm your actual borrowing capacity before you head to your next open home, send me a message and let’s verify the numbers.
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06/04/2026