Barry Watkins - Clever Finance Solutions

Barry Watkins - Clever Finance Solutions Our primary goal is to showcase you in the best possible way to the most suitable lenders, ensuring an increased likelihood of approval.

Clever Finance Solutions listens to our clients needs and are committed to finding the best finance solution for their current and future goals. We aim to deliver exceptional customer service and are often told by clients that we have gone beyond their expectations. With access to over 30 lenders in the Australian marketplace, let us do the leg work for you to find the best finance solution and at no cost to you, the client. We organize financing for:
*Owner Occupied & Investment
*Trusts & Companies
*Self Employed & PAYG

We do:
*SMSF Lending
*Business Finance
*Vehicle, Plant & Equipment Finance & Leasing
*Retail, Commercial, Industrial, Residential & Rural Properties

An existing client came to us wanting a better interest rate on their loans. They are a rentvestor who has changed their...
15/09/2026

An existing client came to us wanting a better interest rate on their loans. They are a rentvestor who has changed their living circumstances, moving from living at home to sharing a rental property with others.

We approached their existing lenders to request a better deal. They advised that a better deal could not be offered. Then we reviewed our client's income and expenses to assess whether another lender could offer a better option.

The change in living circumstances ruled out one of the existing lenders. The client also has a large HELP debt, and different lenders assess it differently; some use the new government method for calculating repayments, while others use the old government method.

Once narrowed down, we undertook some valuations, as one of their previous loans was done with Lenders Mortgage Insurance, and we didn’t want to have to pay it again. The valuations varied in the results, but we found a lender we could make it work with at a lower interest rate.

The refinance was done with Suncorp, which gave the client offset accounts as they wanted, a better interest rate and lower ongoing repayments.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

Comparing investment loans by rate alone? What happens when the lower rate comes with higher fees, a shorter interest-on...
11/09/2026

Comparing investment loans by rate alone? What happens when the lower rate comes with higher fees, a shorter interest-only term, or a lender valuation policy that limits your borrowing strategy?

The advertised rate is only one part of the picture. Loan structure, annual fees, interest-only expiry and valuation policy can all affect your cash flow and future plans. We help Australian property investors and business owners compare the full cost, not just the headline number.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

“We couldn’t make an offer until ours sold.”We hear this concern when buyers find the right home, only to watch competin...
08/09/2026

“We couldn’t make an offer until ours sold.”

We hear this concern when buyers find the right home, only to watch competing bids move ahead while their current property is still on the market.

Bridging finance may help close that timing gap. The right structure considers your deposit, purchase costs, existing lending, and a defined sale-exit plan, so you can compare the cost of waiting with the cost and risk of moving sooner.

It isn’t about rushing into a purchase. It’s about understanding whether your finances can support the move before your current home settles, and knowing what needs to happen next.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

3 checks before we recommend a loan.We ask whether it:• supports your stated portfolio or business goal• preserves worka...
04/09/2026

3 checks before we recommend a loan.

We ask whether it:

• supports your stated portfolio or business goal
• preserves workable cash flow under changed conditions
• leaves you with a clear path for the next strategic move

That decision trail matters. It shows how we apply Best Interests Duty in practice, not as a box to tick, but as a clear process for assessing whether the loan supports your wider financial strategy.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

Stop treating your portfolio’s cash buffer as leftovers.When every property expense is paid first and the remainder beco...
01/09/2026

Stop treating your portfolio’s cash buffer as leftovers.

When every property expense is paid first and the remainder becomes your reserve, vacancies, urgent repairs or higher repayments can quickly put pressure on the whole portfolio. Reframe that buffer as a deliberate liquidity runway, sized to help one property absorb a setback without forcing rushed refinancing or a sale elsewhere. It is a risk-control decision, not money waiting for a use.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

If you’re an Australian property investor buying through a trust or company, one lender question can stall the whole app...
28/08/2026

If you’re an Australian property investor buying through a trust or company, one lender question can stall the whole application: “Who is actually borrowing?”

Before you apply, prepare a one-page ownership-and-liability map showing:

• Who borrows
• Who guarantees the loan
• Who directs the entity
• Who benefits from the structure
• What property secures the loan

This gives your broker and potential lenders a clearer view of the relationship between the borrower, guarantors, directors, beneficiaries, and proposed security. One missing link can change the lender’s answer, or the documents they require.

Save this before applying, then visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

How we turn “thank you for making it feel simple” into better lending decisions:A client recently sent us that message a...
25/08/2026

How we turn “thank you for making it feel simple” into better lending decisions:

A client recently sent us that message after we worked through a complex lending position together. They felt understood, knew why each option was being considered, and could see the next step clearly.

That clarity comes from a method we use every day:

• Translate the property or business goal into lending terms
• Compare structures beyond the headline interest rate
• Document the next step in plain English

For Australian property investors and business owners, the right finance strategy needs to fit the wider plan, not just secure an approval today.

Want a clearer path through complex finance? Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

A rate hold can make the wrong property look like a bargain.The RBA cash rate is only one part of the buying decision. D...
21/08/2026

A rate hold can make the wrong property look like a bargain.

The RBA cash rate is only one part of the buying decision. Dwelling approvals show whether new supply is coming. Private-house listings show how much choice buyers have today. Fewer approvals may point to tighter future stock, while more listings can give you room to negotiate. Limited stock can keep competition firm, even when rates are unchanged. Before you increase your borrowing, match your loan structure and risk to the supply conditions around the property. Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

Stop doing "set-and-forget" refinancing.An offset that only matches your current repayments looks safe on paper. But it ...
18/08/2026

Stop doing "set-and-forget" refinancing.

An offset that only matches your current repayments looks safe on paper. But it hasn't been stress-tested against rental drops, rate moves, or settlement-to-valuation timelines. That "yield" might be quietly killing your growth options.

Let's map a finance plan that keeps your cashflow resilient while preserving the ability to refinance or split when the numbers improve.

Visit our website to book a chat: cleverfinance.com.au

Loan applications have dropped, and one side effect is a price war.For several months, interest rate competition has bee...
14/08/2026

Loan applications have dropped, and one side effect is a price war.

For several months, interest rate competition has been quite light, while most lenders have taken the opportunity to widen their margins.

That's changed.

In the past two months, we have been contacted by lenders who have told us they will fight tooth and nail to win every possible deal, especially those with larger loan sizes. These rates being offered are only under the table, as they do not want it publicised to their competitors

If you've been sitting on a refinance or wondering whether to move, now is a good time to have a conversation.

Address

Suite 204, 250 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW
2000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300889139

Website

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