Rodney The Rhino - Aussie Mortgage Broker

03/06/2026

First Home Buyers Win

If you're an inner city first home buyer, with strong incomes, and limited deposit, the recent federal budget, just handed you a free kick that very few people seem to be talking about.

That free kick is the level of competition that has been removed from the buyer pool. And it has removed two very motivated groups from your market, while creating increased opportunity in a very specific bracket.

That bracket is:
- established homes
- >$1m

The changes around negative gearing, and the capital gains discount, means that investors are being pushed to buy new properties.

And of course, in Brisbane, participants in the First Home Guarantee Scheme, are limited to dwellings under $1,000,000.

That means, the pressure in the established home bracket above $1,000,000 has all but disappeared.

And given that the median dwelling price in Brisbane is now over $1.1m, this gives power back in the buying process for inner city first home buyers on strong income, but have lower deposits due to higher costs of living.

Sadly, it means giving up access to the government schemes, but it does mean you should be able to buy more home for your money.

Here's an example:

Consider a first home buyer couple with salaries of $120,000/p.a and $140,000. They've cleared their HECS debts, and have closed their credit cards, as part of a strategy to maximise their borrowing capacity.

They pay $250/mth for Private Health cover, but other than that, their expenses are fairly standard for a couple living in a suburb such as New Farm.

This couple could buy a home to $1,250,000 with a deposit of $100,000. And they would do it with a Deposit Boost Loan.

Here's how it works:

$1,250,000 - Purchase Price

$1,230,350 - Total Loan includes:
- $1,000,000 - 80% LVR Loan
- $ 230,350 - 18.43% Deposit Boost Loan
*includes Low Deposit fee of $27,500

Funds required:
-$45,225 - Qld Stamp Duty
-$ 5,125 - Transfer & Mortgage Registration
-$ 2,500 - Average Conveyancer Fees
-$47,150 - Deposit & Funds to Complete

$100,000 - Total Buyer Contribution

None of this comes cheap of course with a combined interest rate for the two loans of 6.55% and monthly repayments of $8,644 but how much longer are you willing to wait to buy your first home in a market, that despite expected short term slowing, looks to continue to get even more expensive?

11/05/2026

What is Debt Recycling?

Debt recycling is a strategy used by Australian homeowners to convert non-deductible debt (like a home loan) into tax-deductible debt (investment debt).

Debt Recycling answers the age old question, should I invest now, or pay off my home loan first. With Debt Recycling, you can do both at the same time.

Instead of just paying down a mortgage with surplus cash, you use that cash to pay down the non-deductible home loan and then, you redraw that equity to invest in income-producing assets like shares or property. Because the new debt is used for investing, the interest generally becomes tax-deductible, effectively turning "bad debt" into "good debt".

How the Process Works
1. Build Equity: Pay down your home loan using all available cashflow you can.

2. Split the Loan: Create a separate loan split or sub-account within your mortgage. Set the total loan limit at the lesser of, 80% of your home value, your maximum borrowing capacity, or a lesser amount if you don’t yet feel completely comfortable. You can always increase this later.

3. Redraw to Invest: Draw funds out of the new investment split and, with the assistance of your financial advisers, use them to purchase income-producing assets such as ETF’s, Shares or investment property.

4. Recycle Returns: Direct all investment income (dividends, rent) and any tax savings, on top of your regular repayments, into the non-deductible portion of your home loan to accelerate the debt elimination cycle.

5. Rinse and Repeat: Every year, review your debt, equity and asset positions position with your broker, financial planner and accountant. Continue the cycle until your non-deductible home loan is eliminated and replaced by tax-deductible investment debt.

To create a nice balance between wealth and life building, you might consider using 75% of each year’s equity gain for increased investment, and the other 25% towards building the part of life that matters to you. This will mean something different for everybody. For some, it will be an overseas holiday, or new car, while for others it might be, going back to school or starting a family.

• Professional Eco-System: At minimum, the three people you should speak to before implementing a debt recycling strategy are: your financial planner and accountant to assess suitability against the goals you have, and a mortgage broker who actually understands all the risks, benefits and systems required to make debt recycling work. Debt recycling, is not a set and forget strategy. And it is most definitely not for everyone, despite what some social media influencers try to tell you.

30/04/2026

16/04/2026

4am morning walk by the river with my little one.

14/04/2026

Gamified Growth

As a debt recycling specialist, back in my financial planning days, annual reviews with my clients was always the most fun part of what I did.

Client's who did the hard work to build their net wealth, should reap the rewards of those efforts.

Not just in the future, when they're ready to retire, because not everyone gets to, but also, rewards for hitting milestones.

Of course, that doesn't mean you should burn up all your future for short term pleasure either.

In your next annual review with your broker, don't just discuss rates and repayments, have a look at all the opportunities, that equity growth offers you and consider, how to maximise the benefits that makes the most sense, in the current context of your life.

- Is now, the right time to upgrade from your first home, to something bigger, with more room for kids or entertaining;
- If, you're considering investing, is there enough equity to fund, an overseas adventure, at the same time;
- Or, if you have the space, could you build a granny flat out the back, so your spouse can have their parents, close by, without having your mother in-law sitting at your kitchen table, every morning when you get out of bed.

The options are myriad, and when talking to your broker about your home loan and your growing equity, they should also consider the long term goals you've established with your financial planner.

Your mortgage broker and financial planner, both work for you. Have them collaborate to help you win.

04/03/2026

Granny Flat Gold

We need more granny flats, not less!

The granny flat discussion should be more about families than investment opportunity.

As a Gen-X parent of Gen-Z teenagers, I think the granny flat concept will become even more valuable, over time, for many families.

Granny flats allow:
- ageing parents to retain assisted independence instead of being sent to a nursing home, the minute they become a little, vulnerable, or;
- greater oversight of parental welfare, or;
- children to develop stronger emotional bonds with their grandparents, and the myriad of benefits, that brings, or;
- reduced living expenses, when grandparents replace after school care.

Once mum and dad pass, the granny flat allows adult children:
- to gain increased independence without losing half their incomes to live in a rundown shoebox, or;
- make career decisions based on life goals, rather than housing availability, or;
- save more effectively for their first home deposit.

Or how about this option?

I am a girl dad.

A granny flat would enable my girls to do all of the above, but also make the maximum allowable contributions to their super, before they have kids of their own, so that they're not punished financially in the future, for their decision to become mum's.

Granny Flat's allow us to build stronger families and by extension, stronger communities.

Isn't that what we're all chasing?

02/03/2026

How to Buy a First Home in Brisbane in 2026

Now that the median house price in Brisbane has smashed through the $1Million Dollar price ceiling set by the Governments First Home Guarantee Scheme, I thought it would be handy to revisit the low deposit options that now exist for First Home Buyers, who earn enough to service their first home loan but don't have the $285,000 required deposit to avoid Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

There are two options that really stand out in this space:

$1,180,000 - New Brisbane Median House Price

Option 1: Traditional Low Deposit Option with LMI

$108,000 - Minimum Deposit Required for 5% Deposit Loan

$7,681 - Monthly Home Loan Payment

Option 2: Boosted Deposit Loan Option with Risk Fee

$75,000 - Minimum Deposit Required

$8,319 - Monthly Home Loan Payment

$33,000 - Difference in Minimum Required Deposit

Option 2 is $638 a month more expensive than option 1, BUT if you don't have access to Bank of Mum and Dad money, it will take you more than 4 years (51months) to help bridge the extra $33,000 deposit gap required to buy at current levels.

By that time, at just 10% growth per year, today's $1.18m median home will be $1.72m and your new 5% Deposit will be $168,000.

Want help exploring which option is best for you?

Just send me a message asking for help.

* 5% Deposit cost includes stamp duty and legals etc.

06/02/2026

🎈 Balloon Day. A reminder that Finance isn’t just about servicing, valuations and economic forecasts. It’s also about helping families turn a house into a home full of memories.

21/01/2026

First Home Buying Basics

Step 1: Buying Your First Home.

Step 2: Buying It Back From The Bank.

Step 1 doesn’t have to take 5 years.
Step 2 doesn’t have to take 30.

Let’s chat.

14/01/2026

Client Review

Liam and his partner were absolutely amazing to work with.

In an insane property market like we have now, staying flexible, can make the difference between buying your first home now, or buying later and paying much, much more.

We ended up with a very different strategy than I initially thought we'd be using but by pulling a couple of levers, we were able to find a lender, whose policies not only fit their lending needs but also satisfied their social awareness needs.

By moving a couple suburbs over, we were able to get them into a house now that better suits their medium to long term needs rather than buying a cheaper unit and having to move again later.

Who knows? You might be closer to buying your first home than you thought.

Let's find out...