Rachael Scott - Mortgage Advice Bureau

08/09/2026

The transition of Suncorp products to ANZ products has begun. Full merger is expected by June 2027.

It’s a shame to see a solid second tier lender swallowed into a Big 4, IMO.

I’ve noticed Suncorp have recently very much stalled in repricing loans for existing customers, perhaps an internal decision to do so while the merger gets underway in earnest.

If you think it’s time to review your existing Suncorp lending, I’m always available for a chat.

Suncorp Bank has formally told its customers, brokers, and aggregators that it will progressively move banking products, services, and digital platforms to ANZ.

08/09/2026

Could this be the most choice buyers get in years?

The national average price fell 0.7% in July, according to Cotality, but the number of properties for sale went up.

So if you've been waiting for the market to come to you, this may be the window.
→ 278,984 homes were on the market nationally in July, up 22.8% on a year earlier (SQM Research, 4 August 2026)
→ 78,098 of those had been listed for more than 180 days without selling (SQM)
→ Auction clearance was 49.7% in late July, against 68.5% a year earlier (Cotality)
With more homes sitting for longer, sellers are competing for buyers, and a buyer whose finance is already arranged is in a stronger position to negotiate.

It won't stay this way everywhere. Hobart listings are already down 10.3% on a year ago, the only capital where choice has gone backwards.

DM us CHOICE and we'll work out what your borrowing power covers, so you're ready to move while the choice is there.

04/09/2026

In a quite unusual move, NAB have, this afternoon in a broker update email, flagged that they expect the RBA will increase rates by 0.25% in September (the 29th). They additionally noted that current risk factors pointed toward a further rise in November.

It’s unusual as banks don’t tend to send out this kind of communication ahead of time - so I can only assume they feel pretty confident about the forecast.

Gird your loins!

04/09/2026

Is your lender cutting rates for everyone but you?

The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 4.35% in August, but 31 lenders cut variable rates for new customers between 1 June and 11 August, according to Canstar.

So if your own rate hasn't moved, it may be because the cuts are aimed at new borrowers, and existing customers usually need to ask.

→ 49 lenders now have at least one variable rate under 6%, up from 38 at the start of June (Canstar)

→ The average advertised owner-occupier variable rate was 6.64% on 10 August (Canstar), while new loans settled in June averaged 6.25% (RBA lending data). Part of that gap is discounting given on request and never advertised

→ The ACCC found the size of a borrower's discount depends partly on "how hard the borrower pushes for a discount"

If you haven't renegotiated since August 2021, Canstar puts you near 6.97%, and against a competitive rate that's about $62 a month for every $100,000 owing.
Those numbers are a guide rather than a target, because the right rate depends on your equity, your loan and your lender.

DM us RATES and we'll do the pushing for you, with your own lender or a new one.

General information only, not financial advice. Everyone's situation is different, so speak to a qualified professional before making decisions about your mortgage or finances.

03/09/2026

Huge congratulations to our very own Deb, nominated for Loan Admin of the Year. Nobody supports us like Deb. We love you Deb! 🥂

03/09/2026

AFG QLD Awards Day! MAB Brisbane office is proud to be nominated! 🥂

02/09/2026

Buying a home? Repeat after me: the sales agent is not your friend.

They’re legally obligated to get the highest price for the vendor. That’s their job, and they’re good at it.

This isn’t a complaint. It’s just how the system works.

The issue is when buyers share information that gets used against them:
→ “We’ve been pre-approved for $850,000” (now the agent knows your ceiling)
→ “We love this house” (now there’s no reason to negotiate)
→ “Our lease ends in 6 weeks” (now they know you’re under pressure)

Every detail you share can and will be passed to the seller.

The agent has a legal duty to do exactly that.

So who is actually in your corner?
→ A solicitor or conveyancer reviews the contract before you sign
→ A building inspector finds the $14,000 problem behind the fresh paint
→ A broker structures your loan and negotiates with lenders on your behalf
→ A buyer’s agent (if you use one) negotiates the purchase price for you, not against you

None of this means the selling agent is doing anything wrong. They’re doing their job well. You just need people doing theirs for you.

DM us “TEAM” and we’ll make sure your borrowing capacity is locked in before your next inspection.

31/08/2026

September offer from our partners at AIA Health.

Because your home loan isn't the only place we can help you save money!

New client offer

Get up to 8 weeks free when you take out a combined Hospital & Extras or Hospital Only policy by 30 September 2026.*

*On eligible products. Terms & Conditions:https://www.aia.com.au/content/dam/au-wise/en/docs/terms-and-conditions/aia-health-offer-sep26-afg.pdf

Get ongoing rewards for a healthier lifestyle with AIA Vitality

All AIA Health policies come with AIA Vitality our science-backed health and wellbeing program which supports members to make healthier lifestyle choices, by rewarding them for understanding and engaging with their health. By engaging with the program and reaching AIA Vitality Silver Status or higher they’ll unlock health insurance benefits like:

* A hospital excess refund benefit when they hold a policy for at least 6 months.
* Up to 80% back on Extras (up to annual limits).

DM 'Health', to take advantage of this offer!

31/08/2026

“Renting is throwing money away.”

Sure. But at 6.2% on a $600,000 loan, you’ll pay roughly $37,000 in interest in year one.

That’s dead money too. Nobody talks about it.

Here’s how buying vs renting actually compares right now:
→ Owning a $750,000 home costs about $1,021 a week (repayments, rates, insurance, maintenance)
→ Renting the same house at the national median costs $705 a week
→ That’s a $316 a week gap, and only $136 of it is building you equity in year one

So why buy? Because the gap never gets wider than this. Rents have climbed more than 40% over the past five years (Cotality). Your loan is based on a debt that shrinks over time, not a rising market. And while a variable rate can move, if rates fall later you can refinance down.

Fast forward ten years and you’ve paid down about $95,000 in principal. At 4% annual growth you’re holding around $605,000 in equity. Even in a completely flat market, about $245,000. The renter holds nothing.

One honest caveat: if you’ll likely sell within five years, buying and selling costs can eat the upside. Short holds favour renting.

The real question isn’t “should I buy?” It’s “do the numbers work for my situation?”
DM us “NUMBERS” and we’ll run the buy vs rent maths for your income, deposit and target area.

Disclaimer: This is general information only and not financial, credit or tax advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Everyone's situation is different — speak to a qualified professional before making decisions about your mortgage or finances. Results referenced in this document are illustrative only and may vary based on individual circumstances, including but not limited to loan amount, interest rate, credit profile, lending policy, and market conditions at the relevant time. Past performance or outcomes are not a reliable indicator of future results. Individuals should seek independent financial, credit, or legal advice specific to their circumstances before making any decision.
Sources: Cotality – rent data · RBA – cash rate

28/08/2026

“The taxman pays for your investment property.”

That’s one of the most repeated lines in Australian property, and it’s wrong.

Here’s how the maths actually works on a $600,000 investment property:
→ Annual rental income: $32,544
→ Annual expenses (interest, rates, insurance, management, maintenance): $40,380
→ Annual loss: $7,836
→ Tax refund at 30%: $2,351
→ You’re still $5,485 out of pocket

That’s $105 a week from your salary to hold the property. Every week.

The tax deduction doesn’t make you money. It softens a loss. For every dollar you lose, you get back roughly 30 cents. You wear the rest.

Negative gearing works when capital growth does the heavy lifting. But if growth is flat and you haven’t stress-tested the cash flow, you’re funding someone else’s retirement plan with yours.

The bit most investors skip: loan structure. Interest-only vs principal and interest, which account gets the offset, how your investment debt interacts with your home loan. Getting it wrong at the start can cost thousands.

DM us “INVEST” and we’ll run the numbers on your actual borrowing capacity and cash flow before you commit.

Disclaimer: This is general information only and not financial, credit or tax advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Everyone's situation is different — speak to a qualified professional before making decisions about your mortgage or finances. Results referenced in this document are illustrative only and may vary based on individual circumstances, including but not limited to loan amount, interest rate, credit profile, lending policy, and market conditions at the relevant time. Past performance or outcomes are not a reliable indicator of future results. Individuals should seek independent financial, credit, or legal advice specific to their circumstances before making any decision.
Sources: ATO – negative gearing & CGT reform