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GUIDING YOU THROUGH
LIFE'S FINANCIAL JOURNEY We pride ourselves on our fast, professional and personalised approach.

We give best advice coupled with tailored simple and flexible finance & insurance solutions.

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We look forward to forming a lasting and rewarding relationship with you, and perhaps most importantly, we look forward to helping you achieve your dreams.

02/06/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆

Australia’s office property market is showing early signs of recovery, and institutional investors are taking notice.

MSCI’s Pacific head of private assets research Ben Martin-Henry said the turning point may have arrived.

“The death of the office has been overstated. We appear to have reached the bottom. We’ve had capital growth in the last 12 months in office funds of around 2 per cent. That’s a significant change.”

However, the recovery is not even. Performance remains highly asset-specific, with prime-grade stock in established CBD precincts leading the rebound while secondary assets and new developments continue to struggle to attract capital partners and tenants.

01/06/2026

𝟱 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄

Caravanning has become a popular way to travel in Australia, offering freedom and flexibility. While a caravan loan can help manage the upfront cost, ongoing expenses can surprise first-time owners. Before deciding how much to borrow, it’s important to understand the long-term costs of owning a caravan and factor them into your budget.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Caravan ownership includes ongoing costs like registration, which varies by location and van size, and annual insurance to cover damage, theft, and liability. Insurance costs depend on usage, value, storage, and claims history, so it’s important to check coverage details, especially for on-site and travel protection.

𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀

Not all vehicles can tow a caravan, and matching weight limits is both a legal and safety requirement, sometimes requiring an expensive vehicle upgrade. Towing also increases fuel use, especially on long trips, and may require extra equipment like hitches, brake controllers, and mirrors, adding to overall costs.

𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Caravans need regular servicing for safety, including checks on brakes, tyres, gas, electrical, and water systems. Ongoing wear and tear—especially in older vans—can also lead to repair costs, so setting aside a maintenance budget each year is recommended.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘀

If you can’t store a caravan at home, storage fees may be needed, with covered options costing more. On the road, caravan parks and campsites also add ongoing costs, especially powered sites in peak season, so it’s important to factor in storage and accommodation expenses when budgeting.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀

Many caravan owners add extras like solar panels, batteries, water tanks, and outdoor gear, which can quickly increase costs beyond the purchase price. These upgrades can add thousands in the first year, so it’s worth planning for them upfront and considering them in your loan.

A Finance Broker can help you compare your options across a range of caravan loan products to find one that suits your budget and the way you plan to travel.

30/05/2026

𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

Australia’s commercial real estate market is attracting growing attention from global private capital, with Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026 identifying it as one of the world’s most liquid real estate markets.

Relative stability, strong governance and high-income returns are driving ongoing interest from both offshore investors and an expanding local pool of buyers.

The report suggests there is renewed interest in retail assets anchored by essential services, early signs of office recovery led by prime-grade stock in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, and a growing appetite for data centers as critical infrastructure driven by AI and digital demand.

If you’re considering commercial property as part of your investment strategy, a finance broker can help you compare your options.

29/05/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝘀 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

After three interest rate cuts in 2025, many borrowers expected some relief. However, the Reserve Bank of Australia increased the cash rate again in 2026, bringing renewed attention to the choice between fixed and variable home loan rates.

For both existing borrowers and prospective buyers, fixing a rate can provide certainty, but it also comes with trade-offs. Before deciding which option may suit your situation, it’s important to consider these three key factors.

𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁

A fixed rate loan locks in your interest rate for a set period, typically between one and five years. During that time, your repayments stay the same regardless of what the RBA does with the cash rate. For borrowers who value predictability and want to budget with confidence, this can be beneficial.

However, fixed rates are generally priced with future rate movements already factored in. When lenders expect rates to rise, fixed rates often move ahead of the cash rate, meaning you may be paying a premium for that certainty from day one.
It’s also worth noting that fixed-rate loans typically come with restrictions. Most limit how much extra you can repay during the fixed period, and breaking the loan early can trigger significant break costs.

𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 - 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Variable rate loans move up or down in line with changes to the cash rate and lender funding costs. When the RBA cuts rates, variable borrowers typically benefit quickly. But when rates rise, repayments increase too.

The trade-off for accepting that uncertainty is flexibility. Variable rate loans generally allow unlimited extra repayments, access to offset accounts, and the ability to refinance without penalty if a better deal becomes available.

For borrowers who want to pay down their loan faster or keep their options open, variable rate loans often provide more room to do so.

𝗦𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴

Many borrowers feel pressure to choose between fixed and variable, but a split loan allows you to do both. With a split loan, a portion of the balance is fixed, and the remainder sits on a variable rate.

This approach can offer a degree of repayment certainty on the fixed portion while retaining some of the flexibility of a variable loan, including the ability to make additional repayments and use an offset account on the variable portion.

The split that suits you will depend on your financial situation, your outlook on rates, and how much flexibility you need. There’s no single right answer, and the best mix will differ from borrower to borrower.

Speaking with a mortgage broker can help you compare your options across a range of lenders and loan structures.

27/05/2026

𝟰 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿

EOFY is one of the most popular times to buy a car. However, before you sign anything, here are four things worth understanding about how car finance works.

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹 - Finance arranged through a dealership can be convenient, but it’s not always competitively priced. Comparing options before you visit the dealership puts you in a much stronger position.

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 - Having finance pre-approved means you know exactly what you can spend and can focus on negotiating the best price on the car itself.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 - A large residual payment at the end of a loan term can lower your monthly repayments, but means a significant lump sum falls due later. Make sure you understand the full structure before you commit.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 - Lenders will assess your credit file as part of the application. Checking your report before you apply means no surprises and gives you time to review anything that could affect your approval.

A Finance broker can help you compare your options across a range of car loan products before you set foot in a dealership.

26/05/2026

𝟰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱

A Home Loan application can be declined for different reasons depending on the lender. Understanding the most common causes can help borrowers improve their chances before applying.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀

Lenders check your credit report, including payment history, defaults, and credit enquiries. Missed payments, defaults, or too many recent applications can hurt approval chances. Checking your report and fixing issues beforehand can help improve your application.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Lenders assess income, debts, and expenses to determine borrowing capacity, and high commitments can reduce how much you can borrow. Credit card limits are counted in full, even if unused. Reducing debt and unused credit can help improve borrowing power.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Lenders prefer stable income and may be cautious with variable or self-employment income, which often requires two years of financial records. A broker can help find suitable lenders.

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮

Lenders usually require a 10–20% deposit, and the property type or valuation can affect approval. A Mortgage Broker can help before applying.

24/05/2026

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀

The expanded 5 per cent deposit guarantee scheme is increasing competition at the lower end of the market.

Since the scheme was expanded on 1 October last year, properties below the price caps have grown 6.7 per cent in value, nearly twice the 3.6 per cent recorded for homes above the thresholds.

Sydney shows the sharpest divide, with homes under the $1.5 million cap rising 4.1 per cent over six months while those above fell 1.1 per cent.

The share of suburbs with a median house value below the price caps has dropped from 48.6 per cent nationally in September to 39.5 per cent by March.

23/05/2026

𝟯 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻

Buy now, pay later services have become a familiar part of how many Australians pay for things, from clothing and electronics to medical bills and car repairs.

For smaller purchases, in particular, they can be very appealing with instant access, no interest, and repayments spread over a few weeks.

However, as the number of people borrowing through these platforms has grown, so too has the question of whether a personal loan might actually be a better fit. The two products work differently, and the right choice depends on what you’re buying, how much you need, and how you plan to manage repayments.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲:

𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲

Most buy now, pay later services are interest-free but may charge late, account, or processing fees. They can be a low-cost option for manageable short-term purchases, but costs can quickly add up if repayments are missed, multiple purchases are active, or longer repayment plans with interest are used.

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀

Buy now, pay later services usually have lower borrowing limits and short repayment periods, which can strain budgets for larger purchases. Personal loans allow bigger amounts to be repaid over longer terms, making repayments more manageable despite interest costs, and are often better suited for major expenses like car repairs, appliances, medical costs, or travel.

𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄

Buy now, pay later repayments can affect loan or mortgage applications, as lenders may see multiple active payments as reduced disposable income. Since 2024, Australian BNPL providers must follow credit laws, meaning missed payments or defaults can appear on credit files. Anyone planning to apply for finance should be mindful of their BNPL usage, and a finance broker can help compare suitable lending options.

21/05/2026

𝟱 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Lenders assess far more than just your income. Taking a few steps before you apply can make a real difference to your chances of approval.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 – Look for errors, defaults or missed payments before a lender does.

𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 – Lenders assess cards at their full limit, not just the balance you carry.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 – Regular deposits into a savings account signal good financial habits.

𝗣𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁𝘀 – Car loans, personal loans and buy now, pay later balances all reduce your borrowing capacity.

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – Multiple enquiries on your credit file in a short period can raise concerns for lenders.

A Mortgage Broker can review your Financial Position and help you compare your options before you apply.

Address

111/470 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Prahran, VIC
VIC3004

Telephone

+611300731864

Website

http://www.firstselectfinance.com.au/

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