Antony Allan - Rate One - Senior Mortgage Broker

03/11/2026

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.85%, marking its fifth rise this year.

The latest inflation figures have reinforced concerns that price pressures are proving difficult to contain. Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed annual inflation rising from 4.0% in August to 4.3% in September, while underlying inflation increased from 3.5% to 3.6%. Both measures remain above the RBA's 2%–3% target.

The RBA had already highlighted the risks of persistently high inflation. In the minutes of its September meeting, the Board identified three key risks: higher oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict, growing cost pressures from the global AI boom and greater constraints on the Australian economy's capacity to meet demand. Members warned that these pressures could keep inflation elevated and indicated they were prepared to raise interest rates further if necessary.

Another rate rise is likely to add to the pressure on mortgage holders, particularly those already managing higher repayments.

However, competition between lenders means there may still be opportunities to negotiate a better rate or refinance. If you'd like to understand how the latest increase affects your repayments or explore your options, I'm here to help.

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
https://antonyallan.com

29/10/2026

Write down your savings goal - make it known and give yourself a timeline to get there!

Once you start to gain momentum, I am sure you will go even faster – like a snowball rolling down a hill! 🏂

There are several things you could do to help you save a deposit. One is to just tighten your belt and, if you live with your partner, try to just live on one wage!

Another could be to write down all of your costs now and compare them to all the costs you will have when you have moved into your new home. 🏠

Presuming the new home will have costs much greater than where you are living now, you will need to save at least that difference to be just breaking even when you have moved in. 💲

If you can’t save that money, how will you expect to keep up with your bills and costs when you have moved in? 🤷‍♀️

Writing down all of those costs (your living expenses) will also help you focus your attention on where your hard-earned cash is going and where you are bleeding money. 💰

Make a note of where you can save money. 📝
i.e. Review that car insurance, do you really need Disney+, Netflix, Foxtel, and Amazon Prime? 📺

Cut down on those lunches you have and prepare something from home…. etc. 🥪

I have even suggested to a couple, preparing to apply, to take a small notepad and write down everything they spend every day for a fortnight. Then in the evening, go through each other's lists. You will be surprised at what you are spending your money on! 🔎

There's no wrong answer here if it helps you to achieve your goal! ✅

Addressing your spending here will also help you when you start applying for your loan. 🙌

Living expenses are one of the hottest topics in lending for brokers. Banks just love to go through your bank statements and determine what you are really spending! 🏧

There's nothing worse than finding out that your living expenses are too high and therefore a killer of your borrowing capacity! 🤦‍♀️

09/10/2026

06/10/2026

Your lender probably won’t tell you if there’s a better option...

You review your insurance. You review your phone plan.

When did you last review your biggest monthly commitment?

It might be worth seeing what else is available.

Get in touch to see how I can help!

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
🌐 antonyallan.com

29/09/2026

📈 FOUR RATE RISES IN EIGHT MONTHS. IS YOUR HOME LOAN STILL COMPETITIVE?

The RBA has today increased the official cash rate by 0.25% to 4.60%, the fourth rate rise this year and the highest cash rate Australia has seen in 15 years.

For mortgage holders, now is a very good time to review your home loan rather than simply accepting another increase in repayments.

Your current lender may no longer be offering you a competitive deal. Refinancing could potentially mean securing a better rate, reducing repayments, consolidating debt, or restructuring your loan to better suit your circumstances.

🏡 When was the last time you reviewed your home loan?

I can compare your current mortgage against options from a wide range of lenders and see whether there’s an opportunity to put you in a better position.

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
https://antonyallan.com

21/09/2026

Did you know some lenders may accept your rental ledger instead of genuine savings when assessing your home loan application?

That can be a big help for first home buyers.

You’ll still need the funds for your deposit and other costs, but you may not need to prove that you’ve held those savings for a minimum of 3 months.

What will lenders usually look for?

✅ At least 6 months of rental history
✅ Every rent payment made on time or early
✅ The loan applicant(s) named on the rental ledger
✅ A consistent track record of paying your rent in full

Essentially, the lender wants to see good financial conduct and evidence that you can meet regular commitments.

So, if you’ve been renting and paying on time, your rental history could be more valuable than you realise.

Thinking about buying your first home? Get in touch, and I can look at which lenders and options may suit your situation.

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
🌐 antonyallan.com

14/09/2026

Tailored Mortgage Solutions for Every Stage of Homeownership!

Home loans for your first home, refinance or investment, made easy!

09/09/2026

Paying off your mortgage years early can save substantial interest – although finding extra money isn't easy in today's environment.

Elevated interest rates and cost-of-living pressures mean many households are already watching every dollar.

That can make large extra repayments unrealistic, but smaller changes to how you manage your mortgage can still help you get ahead over time.

Small moves can add up

Potentially, you could:
• Consider paying half your monthly repayment every fortnight. Depending on how your lender calculates repayments, this may result in the equivalent of an extra monthly repayment each year.
• Use your offset strategically. Keeping spare cash there can reduce the balance on which interest is calculated.
• Put windfalls towards the loan. Tax refunds, bonuses or other unexpected money can chip away at principal.
• Keep repayments higher if rates fall. The extra amount can accelerate your progress.
• Review your interest rate. A lower rate may free up money that can be redirected towards your mortgage.

Before making extra repayments, check your loan's conditions and maintain an appropriate cash buffer.

Want to get ahead on your mortgage? Get in touch, and we can look at whether your rate, loan features, or repayment setup could help you make faster progress.

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
https://antonyallan.com

01/09/2026

August 2026 Residential Property Report is now available...
Click the link to view/download... 🙂

Our free monthly property report, the Month in Review identifies the latest movements and trends in property markets across Australia written by our Herron Todd White experts.

27/08/2026

Falling prices are changing the balance between buyers and sellers – but the slowdown isn't affecting every property equally.

Australia's median property price fell 0.7% in July, the largest monthly decline since December 2022, according to Cotality.

Prices were down 1.9% over the July quarter.

But there's an interesting divide underneath those headline numbers.

Expensive homes are falling faster

Over the three months to July:
Upper-quartile home values fell 3.2%.
Lower-quartile values actually rose 0.3%.
Buyers remain constrained by affordability, mortgage serviceability and cost-of-living pressures, while confidence is weaker than earlier in the year. (see table in comments)

Sellers have taken longer to adjust, although Cotality says expectations are now beginning to shift.

For buyers, softer conditions may create more negotiating room – particularly at the higher end.

For sellers, realistic pricing may become increasingly important.

Knowing your borrowing ceiling before you negotiate can be especially valuable in a shifting market. Get in touch and we can work through the numbers.

📩 [email protected]
📞 0468 421 972
https://antonyallan.com