Ethan Clague - Mortgage Broker

Ethan Clague - Mortgage Broker I help Australians make better property decisions before they buy. First home buyers • Refinancing • Investment

Australia-wide | Free initial chat

21/05/2026

Most investors just hope their property goes up in value.

A better strategy is increasing the value and rent yourself.

Renovating the bathroom and adding a granny flat completely changed the numbers on my property.

17/05/2026

A lot of people are waiting for the “perfect” time to buy property.

Usually because of rates, cost of living, or uncertainty.

But periods like this can actually create better opportunities.

During the post covid boom, buyers were paying huge premiums and rushing decisions because of FOMO.

Now investors have more time to negotiate and buy strategically.

The best opportunities rarely feel comfortable at the time.

15/05/2026

Negative gearing SCRAPPED.
No reason to panic.

12/05/2026

A lot of investors are sitting on usable equity without even realising it.

Their property has grown, but the equity is just sitting there doing nothing.

Experienced investors will often refinance early, access available equity, and park it in an offset account ready for the next opportunity.

That way when a good deal appears, they are ready to move instead of scrambling later.

The investors who scale usually prepare before they need to.

08/05/2026

One of the biggest things that catches investors off guard is borrowing capacity.

It drops faster than most people expect.

A big reason is the buffer banks apply.

Even if your rate is around 6 percent, the bank might assess your loan closer to 9 percent.

That higher rate reduces how much you can borrow.

Example.

You might feel comfortable with your repayments, but the bank is assessing you at a much higher level.

As you add more properties, this compounds and borrowing capacity shrinks.

This is why many investors hit limits earlier than expected.

Understanding how lenders assess deals is key if you want to keep scaling.

07/05/2026

Putting every extra dollar into your loan feels safe.

But it can slow you down.

Once that money is in the loan, it is harder to access.

Example.

That same cash could be used to renovate, increase rent, or help you buy again.

It is not about avoiding debt.

It is about making your money work.

05/05/2026

Most investors are told to pay down debt fast.

That works for a home. Not always for investing.

Interest only can give you more flexibility.

Instead of locking money into the loan, you keep cash available.

Example.

Lower repayments can help fund your next deposit or build a buffer.

It is not about avoiding debt.

It is about using your cash to move forward.

01/05/2026

Borrowing capacity drops faster than most people expect.

You do not just repeat the same borrowing amount each time.

Every new loan reduces what the bank will lend you next.

Example.

You might borrow $900k for your first property, then only $600k for the second.

Even if the property is performing well.

That is why planning matters early.

The investors who scale are thinking two or three properties ahead, not just the next one.

30/04/2026

Chasing the lowest interest rate can actually slow you down.

The cheapest lender is not always the best for borrowing capacity.

Example.

One lender might save you a small amount on rate, but reduce your borrowing by $100k.

That can be the difference between buying your next property or not.

When you are building a portfolio, structure matters more than small rate differences.

Most investors realise this too late.

27/04/2026

Everyone is slowing down because of cost of living.

I am doing the opposite.

Times like this are usually when the best opportunities show up, not when they disappear.

Example.

One investor waits for things to feel safe. Another keeps buying when sentiment is low.

A few years later, they are in completely different positions.

I am not trying to time perfect conditions. I am trying to stay in the market.

The investors who build portfolios think like this.

16/04/2026

Two investors on the same income can have almost a $200,000 difference in borrowing power.

Most people think borrowing capacity is just based on salary.

In reality, different banks assess borrowers very differently.
In the example behind me the income and situation are identical. The only thing that changes is the lender.

One bank allows borrowing of around $1.25 million while another comes in closer to $1.06 million.
That is nearly a $200k difference just based on which lender is used.

When you are building a property portfolio, the lender you choose can have a big impact on how far you can actually scale.

Address

Sydney, NSW

Telephone

+61403333614

Website

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