Key Finance

08/04/2026

What’s the outlook for Australian interest rates over the next 3 months?

At the moment, the RBA cash rate is 4.10%, and while inflation has eased from its peak, it’s still sitting above the RBA’s target range. The job market has also stayed relatively resilient, which means the Reserve Bank is likely to remain cautious in the near term.

So, what does that mean for borrowers?

Over the next 3 months, the most likely outcome looks to be either rates holding steady or the chance of one more increase if inflation proves stubborn. A quick drop in rates still looks unlikely for now.

Global events are also playing a part. Ongoing conflict overseas, oil price pressure, and a cautious approach from major central banks are all factors that could keep inflation higher for longer.

For homeowners, buyers and refinancers, the key message is to plan for rates to stay higher a little longer than many had hoped.

If you’d like to understand what this could mean for your loan options, feel free to reach out.

General information only, not personal financial advice.

03/02/2026

RBA increased rates by 0.25% to 3.85%.

Inflation has picked up and is likely to stay above the 2–3 per cent target range for some time. The unemployment rate remains low.

07/01/2026

From all of us, We sincerely wish you a prosperous, enjoyable and safe 2026.

17/11/2025

Fixed vs Variable Home Loan Rates – What’s the Difference? 🏡

Choosing between a fixed and variable interest rate can have a big impact on your repayments and cash flow, so it’s worth understanding the basics.

Fixed interest rate
Your rate and minimum repayments stay the same for a set period (e.g. 1–5 years).
Pros:

Certainty of repayments for easier budgeting

Protection if interest rates rise
Cons:

Less flexibility (limits on extra repayments/redraw)

Break costs if you refinance or repay early

You may miss out if rates fall

Variable interest rate
Your rate can move up or down with the market and lender changes.
Pros:

Usually more flexible (extra repayments, offset, redraw)

Benefit quickly if rates fall
Cons:

Repayments can increase if rates rise

Harder to predict long-term costs

This is general information only, not personal advice. Always consider your own goals and have a chat with me before deciding.

14/01/2025

🌟 Kickstart 2025 with Key Finance! 🌟

A new year brings new opportunities, and there’s no better time to focus on achieving your financial and homeownership goals. At Key Finance, we’re here to guide you every step of the way – whether it’s your first home, a dream investment, or refinancing for a better future.

✨ Why choose Key Finance?
✔️ Access a network of lenders to find the best deal for you.
✔️ Expert advice tailored to your unique goals.
✔️ Save time, stress, and money with our seamless process.

🏡 Make 2025 the year you move closer to your dreams.

📲 Contact us today and let’s make it happen! 0404 838 379

15/03/2024

19/02/2024

Have a talk to me if this sounds familiar.

15/02/2024

What happens when your fixed rate term ends?

Fixed rate terms last for a set period of time that is prearranged between you and your lender. Fixed rate periods last between one and five years.

When your fixed rate term ends, your loan will usually revert automatically to the standard variable interest rate unless you have provided instructions to refix your loan.

Lenders may not apply the lowest interest rate they offer when a loan reverts to a variable rate.

Once your fixed rate term ends, you may be able to refinance to a different lender.

We can help you understand what it will actually cost you to change lenders, and how much you could save.

08/02/2024

What comes first: The property or the loan?

It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses – but delaying the less compelling task of arranging finance will weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan.

Looking for a property to purchase is an exciting time. Choices regarding location, size, number of rooms and local amenities often see house hunters carried away in a deluge of daydreams and anticipation.

But, before you get carried away, it’s important to check off the essentials first. Although organising your finances may seem drab in comparison to perusing sales listings, gaining pre-approval with a lender will give you confidence about how much you can afford to borrow.

Arranging finance before finding the perfect property will put you in a good position when it comes time to make an offer. When you do find the house you have always wanted, you can present to the seller and estate agent as a prepared applicant who is serious and reliable.

It shows you mean business, and gives them peace of mind that your financing will not fall through. Don’t be afraid to let the selling agent know you have conditional loan approval in place.

Sellers are most interested in completing their sale fuss-free and with steadfast funding, and showing that you are capable of both will help put you at the top of a potentially competitive list of applicants.

In the instance that you find and secure purchase of a home without having your loan pre-approved by a lender, there are a few pitfalls that you risk running into.

If you don’t have financing to pay for your property, you run the risk of forfeiting your initial 10% non-refundable deposit you need to put down to secure the property. This may differ depending on what state you live in, but the point is it always pays to be organised and have pre-approval in place.

Leaving home loan applications to the last minute also leaves less time to find the most suitable loan and have it approved ahead of settlement.

02/03/2022

How To Buy Without A 20% Deposit

When you consider that a small flat in Sydney could set you back a million dollars at the moment, saving a 20% deposit to buy that flat – $200,000 – can seem an insurmountable task. That’s where insurance can help.

Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) may be an added expense, but it offers buyers the opportunity to dive into the property market earlier, without saving up an entire 20 per cent of the property’s purchase price as a deposit.

What’s in it for you?

For the borrower, it may seem LMI is just another expense to cover. But insurance can mean that some buyers will be able to enter the property market with, for example, only a five per cent deposit saved. In the example above, a $1,000,000 property, this brings the deposit down from $200,000 to just $50,000.

And, if the market is hot and prices are rising rapidly, paying LMI so that you can buy now could be cheaper than taking the time to save a bigger deposit. In the time it takes to save a higher deposit amount, property prices may well have surged by more than cost of the insurance so, for some properties and purchasers, it can make good financial sense to purchase earlier even with the added cost of LMI, especially when you consider the rent that you would pay while you’re saving.

The mortgage industry is a wide, wondrous world with a language all of its own. One of the many acronyms bandied about is ‘LVR’, which stands for ‘loan-to-valuation ratio’. Here’s what it means. When you are working out what amount you can borrow to purchase a property, the size of deposit...

07/02/2022

What’s A Simple Way To Increase My Borrowing Capacity?

Reduce your credit card limit.

Most people know that reducing their debts can increase their borrowing capacity. But did you know that lowering your credit card limit can increase your borrowing capacity?

Lenders don’t like risk

In working out how much you can borrow, lenders determine the likelihood that you might default on the repayments. In performing this risk assessment, they look at a number of factors including your credit history and job security. But something else they consider is your credit card limit.

Reduce your credit limit – raise your borrowing capacity

In the eyes of a lender, the higher your credit card limit, the more chance you have to get into financial difficulty. So, if you want a simple way to increase your borrowing limit, get rid of any surplus cards, and reduce your credit card limit to the absolute minimum you need. Want to find out your mortgage borrowing capacity? Talk to me today.

Reduce your credit card limit. Most people know that reducing their debts can increase their borrowing capacity. But did you know that lowering your credit card limit can increase your borrowing capacity? Lenders don’t like risk In working out how much you can borrow, lenders determine the likelih...