Home Loan Hub

Home Loan Hub Home Loan Hub is a Mortgage Broking Firm with over 19 years experience in the Finance Industry.

Melbourne house prices fell 3.1% last quarter whilst the broader Victoria grew 8.0%. That gap tells you something import...
31/08/2026

Melbourne house prices fell 3.1% last quarter whilst the broader Victoria grew 8.0%.

That gap tells you something important about where the market is right now.

Ballarat is up 14.3%. Bendigo 12%. Geelong 7.2%. These are the real numbers and they are happening while the headlines say Victoria is struggling.

Affordability is the main driver of this discrepancy. Melbourne's median house price is $936,000 whereas Ballarat’s is $650,000, Bendigo $680,000 and Geelong’s is $770,000. The lower entry price requires a lower deposit, which means buyers who are priced out of Melbourne they can still buy in Victoria.

The national numbers show the same pattern. Prices fell 0.7% in July. But over the last three months the most expensive homes dropped 3.2% while the most affordable homes rose 0.3%.

Rental yields are also a large part of this phenomenon with more regional locations performing better, for example Ballarat with a 4.2% yield versus Melbourne's with 3.3%, where investors can get a higher income on a cheaper asset.

The affordable part of the market is where the growth is right now so if you want to know what you can borrow and where that allows you to buy, contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

You might be earning the same income you were six months ago, but that does not mean you can borrow the same amount.Borr...
21/08/2026

You might be earning the same income you were six months ago, but that does not mean you can borrow the same amount.

Borrowing capacity changes constantly, even when your income does not. Rates have risen three times this year. Lender policies have tightened. Your credit card limits, car loan, HECS debt and everyday spending all factor in.

The part most people miss is that lenders assess capacity differently. The same applicant can get very different answers depending on where they apply.

If you are planning to buy, refinance or invest, it is worth knowing exactly where you stand before you start making plans so contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

The most expensive mistake people make with their home loan is not the lender or rate they start with. It is never revie...
17/08/2026

The most expensive mistake people make with their home loan is not the lender or rate they start with. It is never reviewing and refinancing it again.

Lenders do not reward loyalty as they lower interest rates and price competitively to get new customers but leave existing ones on higher rates. This is called the loyalty tax and it costs Australian borrowers billions every year.

On a $700,000 loan, a 0.5% difference in rate is around $3,500 a year. Over five years that is $17,500 more that you could have in your pocket.

The other version of this mistake is getting the cheapest rate possible but undervaluing the structure of your loan, this could mean no offset, restrictive redraw, fees that eat the savings, or a structure that stops you from using equity later. A slightly higher rate with the right structure often beats a lower rate with the wrong structure.

To fix these mistakes review your loan annually, compare it against what lenders are offering new customers and make sure the structure still matches with your long term goals.

If it has been more than 12 months since you last reviewed your loan contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected] because you are likely overpaying or restricting yourself.

The RBA has held the cash rate at 4.35% for the second time this year, following three consecutive hikes in February, Ma...
11/08/2026

The RBA has held the cash rate at 4.35% for the second time this year, following three consecutive hikes in February, March and May as annual CPI has slowed to 3.8% in June from 4.0% in May.

This decision shows stability for many borrowers as rates have stopped moving for now, which makes it easier to plan. Many buyers over the past year have been more concerned about not knowing where rates were heading than the rate itself.

The property market has cooled as home values in NSW, VIC, ACT and QLD have softened with WA, NT and TAS recording small gains.

The stalling of the market means that lenders are now competing harder for new business, and there are genuinely good deals available right now. Despite the RBA keeping the cash rate steady, some notable lenders are dropping their rates.

If you have not reviewed your loan recently, contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected] because you are probably paying more than you have to.

Most people think when rates go up it means prices will go down and that is not what happens. Interest rates change borr...
10/08/2026

Most people think when rates go up it means prices will go down and that is not what happens. Interest rates change borrowing capacity, borrowing capacity changes what people can buy and that changes how different of properties perform.

When rates rise, borrowing capacity falls. So someone approved for $900,000 last year might only get $750,000 today. But the demand for property doesn’t disappear just because rates rise, instead the demand shifts towards the more affordable properties where the cheaper properties grow and the more expensive ones stall.

On the other hand, when rates fall the opposite happens and borrowing capacity increases which move buyers up the price range and the more premium properties experience the most growth.

An example of this is 2022/23 where rates climbed and we saw the prices in NSW and VIC stall while WA and QLD grew. This is because buyers that were priced out of the expensive cities bought in areas they could still afford.

With most major banks forecasting rate cuts from 2027, now is the time to understand where your borrowing capacity sits and what that means for where you buy. Contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

One of the most common decisions property buyers face is whether to buy a new build or an existing property. Both have r...
24/07/2026

One of the most common decisions property buyers face is whether to buy a new build or an existing property. Both have real advantages and real drawbacks so the right choice depends on your situation.

A new build is a property that is either recently completed or a house and land package. You get a brand new property that comes with minimal maintenance, full builder warranties and full depreciation benefits if you are investing. Also, for a house and land package you only pay stamp duty on the land value which can save tens of thousands compared to buying an existing home at the same price.

The trade off is that you are often buying something that does not yet exist and you cannot always see exactly what you are getting until it is built. New estates can also take time to develop the surrounding infrastructure and amenity.

An existing property gives you certainty as you can inspect it, understand the neighbourhood and move in quickly after settlement. Established areas also tend to have more mature infrastructure already in place which for owner occupiers this is often a significant factor.

The trade off is higher stamp duty on the full purchase price, potential maintenance costs and far less tax advantages for investors compared to new stock.

For investors the numbers generally favour new builds. For owner occupiers who want to live somewhere established with proven amenity, existing properties often win.

If you want to find out which property is best for your situation, contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

As the new financial year commenced on 1 July, here are some of the taxation and superannuation changes worth noting: Ta...
10/07/2026

As the new financial year commenced on 1 July, here are some of the taxation and superannuation changes worth noting:

Tax cut – the tax rate on incomes between $18,201 and $45,000 drops from 16% to 15%, saving around $268 a year.

Instant $1,000 work deduction – claim $1,000 in work related expenses without receipts from 1 July.

Super concessional cap up – the cap for tax deductible super contributions rises from $30,000 to $32,500.

Payday super – employers must now pay super with every pay cycle instead of quarterly.

Division 296 tax – super balances above $3 million will face an additional 15% tax on earnings above that threshold.

$20,000 instant asset write off – small and medium businesses with turnover below $10 million can permanently write off purchases up to $20,000.

Transfer balance cap increase – seniors can start a larger tax free retirement pension from 1 July.

Paid parental leave – extended by 10 days to 26 weeks for children born or adopted after 1 July.

If you want to understand how any of these changes affect your financial or borrowing position, contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

In a deal with the Greens, the government has proposed banning SMSFs from borrowing to buy residential property. If pass...
03/07/2026

In a deal with the Greens, the government has proposed banning SMSFs from borrowing to buy residential property. If passed, the ban would take effect in August and would apply to new loans only with existing SMSF property loans expected to be grandfathered and commercial property borrowing remaining unaffected.

This is a sudden and significant shift. As recently as last year, Labor stated it had no intention of banning SMSF borrowing with the change has coming as part of negotiations to get the capital gains tax and negative gearing changes from the recent budget through the Senate.

For many investors, particularly couples in their 30s, 40s and 50s with strong super balances, SMSFs offered a genuine path to property investment with tax advantages that simply do not exist outside super. Following the budget changes to negative gearing and CGT, an SMSF was also the only structure where you could still negatively gear an existing residential property.

The proposed ban hits aspirational investors the hardest, especially those who needed borrowing to participate in the first place. Those who can already buy property outright in cash are largely unaffected.

If you were considering buying property in an SMSF as an investment strategy contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected] because now is the time to explore your options before any changes take effect.

Not all investment properties are created equal. The difference between a good and a bad investment comes down to a few ...
26/06/2026

Not all investment properties are created equal. The difference between a good and a bad investment comes down to a few key factors that are easy to overlook.

A good investment property is in a location with strong rental demand and rental yield. A property that is never vacant and generates high relative income will ease the pressure on your cash flow.

It has high potential for capital growth, this comes down to the fundamentals of the area, most importantly population growth, infrastructure investment, land supply and amenities which are the drivers that push prices up over time.

It is low maintenance with no or minimal strata. Older properties with outdated features, big gardens, structural issues and strata levies on top of your mortgage can significantly drain returns over time.

A bad investment property is the opposite, in a poor location, generates low rental yield, high maintenance, limited growth drivers and has low rental demand.

If you want to purchase a good investment property, contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected].

Most people set up their home loan and then don’t look at it again for years.But in a just 2 years:• interest rates move...
19/06/2026

Most people set up their home loan and then don’t look at it again for years.

But in a just 2 years:
• interest rates move
• lenders change their policies
• your income, equity and goals change

Banks save their best rates and incentives for new or recently refinanced loans. If you have had your loan for 2+ years you’re probably paying more then you need to.

A home loan review can:
✅ lower repayments
✅ improve loan structure
✅ access better loan features

So if you have had your home loan for 2+ years contact us at 0410 512 254 or [email protected] and we can review your loan and show you the better options available.

Address

Sydney, NSW
2155

Telephone

+61420244440

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Home Loan Hub posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Home Loan Hub:

Shortcuts

Share

Category