home loan Archives - Zippy Financial

Scared to apply for a home loan? You’re not alone. Fear of rejection has stopped one in five Aussies from applying for finance over the past year. We explain what’s driving this fear, and how you can boost your chances of getting approved.

No one enjoys rejection. But despite this, there are plenty of times in life when we put ourselves in a position where rejection is a possibility.

From applying for a new job to asking the love of your life to marry you, the risk of a knock back isn’t too far away.

Yet we give it a go because the rewards of success outweigh the disappointment of being turned down.

It’s the same when it comes to applying for a home loan.

Sure, you could get a ‘no’ from a lender. But if you get the thumbs up, you’re on the way to buying a home!

This is worth bearing in mind because a new survey by Finder shows that over the past year, one in five (19%) Australians have avoided applying for finance, including home loans, out of fear they’d be knocked back.

The rejection concern that bothers borrowers

According to the research, one key aspect of being knocked back for a loan raises particular concerns for people – and that’s what rejection could do to their personal credit rating.

Let’s set the record straight here.

Being rejected for a loan is unlikely to affect your credit score – a knockback won’t even appear on your credit file.

The thing that is much more likely to impact your credit rating is applying for a loan in the first place.

When you submit a loan application, the lender will usually take a look at your credit report. This is called a ‘hard enquiry’.

It is these enquiries that can lower your score, and they can stay on your credit file for up to five years.

That’s why it makes sense to minimise the number of loan applications you make.

Better still, try and stick to one application and get it right the first time. And that’s where we can really help you out.

How to overcome fear of home loan rejection

Applying for a home loan can be nerve-wracking. After all, there’s a lot riding on loan approval.

But if fear of rejection is holding you back, there is a simple solution. And that’s getting in touch with us.

We can walk you through your credit report to explain any issues that could raise concerns with a lender. And if your credit score is a little low, we can share tips on how to improve it.

Keep in mind though that your credit score is just one piece of the picture that banks look at.

We look at your total position in terms of home loan readiness.

Your income, household expenses, any other debts, and a variety of additional criteria that vary between lenders, all go into the mix of factors that decide whether you get the green light for a loan.

We’ll review it all, help you iron out any kinks in the application, and then line you up with a lender (and loan) that’s a good fit for you.

Get in touch with us today!
Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

Zippy Financial is an award-winning mortgage brokerage specialising in home loans, property investment, commercial lending, and vehicle & asset finance. Whether you are looking to buy your first home, refinance or build your property investment portfolio, the team at Zippy Financial can help find and secure the right loan for you and your business.

About the Author:

Louisa Sanghera is an award-winning mortgage broker and Director at Zippy Financial. Louisa founded Zippy Financial with the goal of helping clients grow their wealth through smart property and business financing. Louisa utilises her expert financial knowledge, vision for exceptional customer service and passion for property to help her clients achieve their lifestyle and financial goals. Louisa is an experienced speaker, financial commentator, mortgage broker industry representative and small business advocate.

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is general in nature and is presented for informative purposes. It is not intended to constitute tax or financial advice, whether general or personal nor is it intended to imply any recommendation or opinion about a financial product. It does not take into consideration your personal situation and may not be relevant to circumstances. Before taking any action, consider your own particular circumstances and seek professional advice. This content is protected by copyright laws and various other intellectual property laws. It is not to be modified, reproduced or republished without prior written consent.

As property prices hit record highs across a number of cities, it’s no surprise that new home loan balances are also nudging towards fresh peaks. Today we’ll reveal what the ‘average’ new home loan is in your state, and provide you with some handy tips to help bring down your balance sooner.

High interest rates and a cost of living crunch haven’t stopped home values rising 8% nationally over the last 12 months.

According to CoreLogic that’s added an extra $59,000 to the average Australian home’s value.

It’s great news for home owners, but not so good for buyers, who may have to take out a bigger loan to fund a property purchase.

On the plus side, not everyone is having to upsize their home loan.

In some cities, new mortgage sizes are staying pretty still or becoming slightly smaller.

What’s the average in your state?

Across Australia the ‘average’ new mortgage is at a record high of $626,055 as of May 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. That’s up from $584,607 just 12 months earlier in May 2023.

That means you’d need to be able to make mortgage repayments of about $3,875 per month (assuming that you take out a 30-year principal and interest home loan at 6.3%).

However, ABS data shows plenty of variation in new loan sizes in different states and territories.

Here’s what’s happening across the country:

NSW – the average new home loan size is currently $767,584, up from $720,029 in May 2023.

VIC – average new home loan is $601,891, slightly up from $598,949 in May 2023 but well below the peak of $651,364 in January 2022.

QLD – the sunshine state’s average new home loan size is $586,627, a solid increase on the May 2023 average of $521,609.

SA – average new home loan of $541,775, a big jump on the May 2023 average of $467,438.

WA – average new home loan of $538,860, up from $472,080 in May 2023.

TAS – the Tassie market has seen very little movement in new loan sizes. The current average is $462,324, just a few thousand dollars shy of the $465,313 average in May 2023.

ACT – the average new home loan across Canberra is $614,242, up from $589,130 in May 2023.

NT – in the Top End, the average new home loan has increased slightly, currently sitting at $437,427 compared to $424,873 in May 2023.

How to potentially whittle away your home loan sooner

No matter where in Australia you are buying a home, managing a home loan can be stressful at a time when interest rates are high.

So, it’s important to look for ways to help ease the pressure.

Choosing an offset home loan, for example, can let you put spare cash to work by helping to lower your monthly interest charges.

It can also allow you to build up a savings buffer while also reducing the overall interest you pay on the loan, and thus, bring the balance down quicker.

If you are unlikely to have substantial savings, looking for a loan that lets you make small, extra repayments at no additional cost can be a way to pay down the loan sooner, and save on interest costs.

Even something as simple as switching from monthly to fortnightly loan repayments could deliver savings on your interest repayments over the course of the loan.

Paying half the monthly amount every fortnight can mean paying the equivalent of an extra month’s repayments each year, helping you forge ahead with the loan without too big an impact on your household budget.

What matters is that you speak to us about a mortgage that suits your unique needs. One that gives you the benefits of the loan features you need, plus a competitive interest rate.

So if you’ve got your eye on a potential new home – or just want to find out your borrowing capacity so you can start searching – get in touch with us today.

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

The new financial year has kicked off with a bang for first home buyers! A whopping 45,000 more places have opened up for them under the Home Guarantee Scheme, as well as 5,000 more spots for single parents. Here’s how it could help you buy a home sooner.

Home ownership has long been the great Australian dream, but high property prices are making it tough to save a 20% deposit for many young families.

That’s where the federal government’s Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) comes in.

It gives first home buyers a leg up into the property market even if they have just a 5% deposit, and it’s proving to be very popular.

In fact, it’s helped more than 160,000 Australians buy or build their own home since the scheme launched four years ago.

Places in the HGS are capped each year, but the good news is that an extra 50,000 spots have just been announced for the 2024-25 financial year.

Not sure what the scheme is about?

Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved by answering a few FAQs.

What is the Home Guarantee Scheme?

The HGS helps first home buyers and single parents buy a place of their own even when they have a small deposit.

Essentially, the government acts as a guarantor for the home buyer’s loan, so there is no need to pay lenders mortgage insurance, which can be a big saving on upfront costs.

In fact, not paying LMI can save buyers anywhere between $4,000 and $35,000, depending on the property price and deposit amount.

Who does the scheme help?

The HGS covers three separate programs, each with a different type of home buyer in mind.

The First Home Guarantee helps eligible first home buyers get into the market with as little as a 5% deposit. From 1 July 2024, an extra 35,000 places became available.

The Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee is dedicated to helping first home buyers who live in regional areas buy a home with just a 5% deposit. An extra 10,000 places have opened up for the 2024-25 financial year.

The Family Home Guarantee supports eligible single parents to buy a home with as little as a 2% deposit. This will help up to 5,000 families this financial year.

Am I eligible for the Home Guarantee Scheme?

You’ll need to tick a few boxes to be eligible for the HGS.

In particular, there are limits around the maximum purchase price for a home under the scheme. The upper limits vary between cities and across regional areas from state to state, and are adjusted each financial year.

One way to find out if you’re eligible is to call us and we can walk you through the various requirements.

Do all banks support the Home Guarantee Scheme?

No. Lenders choose to be part of the HGS, and while there is a reasonably wide choice of banks to pick from, not all lenders have signed up.

The Real Estate Institute of Australia says the “best way to see if you can qualify for the scheme and seek pre-approval is to speak with a mortgage broker”.

To date, mortgage brokers have secured up to 80% of the HGS placements, and we can guide you through the application process, answer any questions you may have about buying a first home, and recommend a home loan option suited to your needs from the lenders that are part of the scheme.

Call us today to find out more about buying with a 5% deposit – and zero lenders mortgage insurance. You could be in your own home a lot sooner than you expected!

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Property prices are expected to keep climbing higher through to mid-2025 – though not everywhere, according to a new report. We reveal where prices are tipped to go up, and where prices are expected to fall.

What a crazy financial year it’s been for property prices.

Despite a cost of living crunch and high interest rates, home values Australia-wide have soared 8.3% over the past 12 months, according to CoreLogic.

Will prices keep heading north? Or can we expect the market to cool at some stage?

These are key questions for home buyers who may be weighing up whether now is the right time to buy.

To get some answers, we turned to Domain’s latest forecast report, which sets out expected property price movements over the next 12 months.

The big picture: prices set to keep rising

According to Domain, several factors are set to push Australian home prices higher over the next year.

On one hand, we’re seeing a tight supply of new homes being built, combined with lower than usual numbers of homes listed for sale.

On the other side of the ledger, strong buyer demand is being fuelled by a growth in migration.

As Domain puts it, the “push-pull between affordability and availability” will be the factor that shapes Australia’s property market between now and June 2025.

Price growth is expected to differ between cities

That’s not to say home prices across Australia will move in the same direction and at the same pace.

Let’s take a quick tour around the nation to see what Domain believes lies in store for home buyers (and apologies to Hobart and Darwin residents – neither city was covered in the released report).

Brisbane

Brisbane’s property market has notched up an impressive 16.3% price growth over the past year. And Domain says there’s more growth to come.

With a forecast for 6-8% price growth, Brisbane’s median house price could hit a record high of up to $998,500 by mid-2025. Apartment values are expected to increase by 4-6%.

Sydney

If Domain’s prediction of 6-8% price growth proves accurate, Sydney’s median house price will hit a new record high of up to $1.76 million by this time next year.

Apartment prices (median) are also expected to reach a new record of up to $855,000 based on forecast price growth of 4-6%.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s housing market is expected to remain a little cooler, with growth between 0-2% expected – leaving median house prices between $1.03 million and $1.05 million. Unit prices are expected to do better, potentially rising by up to 4%.

Regional Victoria is the only market where Domain expects house prices to cool, with falls of 0-3% expected by mid-2025.

Adelaide

Adelaide could be on track to become a million-dollar city if Domain’s forecast of 7-8% price growth pans out. It could see Adelaide’s median house price hit a record high of up to $984,000 by June 2025.

Unit prices are anticipated to grow by up to 6%, helping the city’s median apartment price push through the $500,000 barrier.

Perth

There’s no denying Perth has had a bumper year, with a 22% jump in home prices over the past 12 months. And according to Domain there’s plenty of gas left in the tank.

With price growth of 8-10% possible over the year ahead, Perth could notch up a record-high median house price of between $840,000 and $856,000 by this time next year. In the unit market, prices are expected to jump 4-5%.

Canberra

Canberrans can expect mild house price growth, with values forecast to climb by up to 4%.

Unit prices in the nation’s capital are expected to increase by 1-4%.

What to weigh up

Domain’s forecasts are just that – predictions, not facts.

Along with factors that could push prices higher, the property listing site also cautions that a tighter jobs market and stagnating incomes could put downward pressure on prices.

Long story short: the right time to buy is when you feel ready to get into the market.

We can’t say for sure how property prices will move.

But we can provide clear answers on your borrowing power, help you understand if you’re in a position to land home approval, and help you find a home loan that’s right for your needs.

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Put the party pies on ice and postpone those rate-cut celebrations for a while yet. The much-touted rate cuts we’ve been waiting for may not arrive until 2025. Here’s why rates could be staying higher for longer, and how to take action yourself.

June saw the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keep the cash rate on ice – yet again.

Rates haven’t budged since November last year, and with the RBA not due to make another rate call until August, interest rates will remain in a holding pattern for at least two more months.

For home owners struggling to manage their home loan at current interest rates, it begs the question: ‘what happened to all the talk about rate cuts in 2024?’

Here’s what’s happening.

One reason why rates aren’t moving

Just a few months ago, some of our biggest banks were predicting interest rates would start to slide sooner rather than later.

The Commonwealth Bank and Westpac, for instance, expected rate cuts as early as September.

That’s now looking increasingly unlikely.

The reason lies with inflation.

The RBA is intent on getting inflation down to 2-3%.

Unfortunately, inflation is not playing along.

It’s currently sitting at 3.6%. So close, but not quite there.

When are rates likely to fall?

The RBA expects it could be “some time yet” before inflation is happily nestled in that 2-3% range – the point at which long-awaited rate cuts may start to kick in.

It’s not much of a date for home owners to work towards, though the big banks have a few time frames of their own.

Westpac and NAB now both see rates heading south from December. And while CommBank recently stated it expected rates to fall in November, there are signs it’s losing hope for a 2024 rate cut.

“Given the challenging underlying inflation backdrop, as well as a labour market that is loosening more gradually than expected, the runway is shortening between now and November,” CBA’s head of Australian economics, Gareth Aird, said.

“The risk to our call is increasingly moving towards a later day for an easing cycle.”

Meanwhile, ANZ doesn’t expect a rate cut before 2025. Ditto Citi economists and a growing number of other experts.

Long story short, even if we do get a December 2024 RBA rate cut, it’s probably fair to say we won’t see those cuts flow through to home loans until early next year.

And a note of caution: the RBA mentioned in its June statement that it is “not ruling anything in or out”.

It’s a grim reminder that a rate cut is not guaranteed before another rate hike.

This is why it’s so important to take action of your own.

How to manage higher rates

Revisiting your household budget, identifying areas where you can cut back, and tucking spare cash into an offset account to save on loan interest are all steps worth considering.

And don’t forget, tax cuts for 13.6 million Australians kick in from 1 July.

That could provide extra cash each pay day to help pay off your home loan.

It’s also a good idea to speak to us for a home loan review.

We can let you know if you still have the loan that’s right for your needs, or if you could save by switching – without having to wait for RBA rate cuts.

Better still, rising national property values may mean you could be in a great position to refinance.

Talk to us today for more tips on managing your home loan repayments and possibly trimming your loan rate. It may mean the party pies can come out sooner!

Phone: 1300 855 022

Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

After two years of relentless rate rises, the question that every mortgage holder has is… When are interest rates finally going to start falling?

If we were answering this question even just one month ago, the outlook was a little different. That is the thing about the mortgage market: it is evolving every single day, responding to the economy and evolving as new trends and data points become available.

As of May 2024, this is what is expected of the mortgage market for the rest of 2024.

People are going to fall further behind on their home loans

As expected, when interest rates increased by over 4% in less than two years, the number of households struggling to make their repayments increased.

At Suncorp, home loans in arrears of 90 days or more have climbed $85 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $510 million. It now accounts for 0.73% of the bank’s gross loan assets. At CBA, home loans of 90 days or more were 0.61% in March, up from 0.52% in December 2023 and 0.43% at the end of 2022.

It is expected that loan arrears will continue getting worse, which could lead to more bankruptcies and repossessions. Traditionally, this has prompted more housing stock on the market and a correlating slowdown in property price growth.

Interest rates won’t rise

For those of us who currently have a home loan or who are looking to buy a property and take out a loan shortly, what we want to know is: can interest rates possibly get any higher?

In early May, Judo Bank economic head Warren Hogan suggested they could! He predicted that there could be as many as three cash rate hikes over the remainder of this year, potentially seeing the cash rate soar above 5% and home loan rates hitting 7%-8%. He pointed to stubbornly high inflation as the cause. Fortunately, he is in the minority with his forecast, and he did say he would closely monitor data and trends over the coming weekend and months, adding: “Hopefully, I’m wrong.”

Interest rates might fall

Experts and economists are expecting that’s we will see interest rates start to fall in 2024. The Big 4 bank’s current predictions are:

ANZ – November rate cut
CommBank – September rate cut
NAB – November rate cut
Westpac – November rate cut

This is very welcome news for any and all Australians who have a mortgage or plan to have one. A rate cut of 0.25% is equivalent to a saving of around $100 a month on an average $600,000 home loan.

Activity levels are falling

According to Pexa, In the first quarter of 2024, the number of new loans issued fell 17% on the previous quarter. Refinancing levels in the same quarter are down 16.4%.

There’s no denying that higher interest rates have boxed plenty of Australians into their current loans, as they cannot afford to refinance or to move house.

However, many don’t realise there are options to restructure debt and rearrange their financial situation to be more streamlined. We work with hundreds of Australians every year to negotiate lower rates on their home loans, optimise their financial situation and help them pay off bad debts and increase their asset base along the way. If you would like an obligation-free chat, contact us today!

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Disclaimer: This information is provided without considering your specific objectives, financial situation, or needs. Therefore, it’s essential to evaluate its suitability in light of your individual circumstances before taking action.

We all love the idea of landing a bargain property, but for most home buyers, the real issue is whether they are overvaluing a place and paying too much in the process.

Buying a home is exciting, but it’s perfectly natural to be nervous given that you are likely committing to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (or millions!). But with a bit of research, and some other handy tips, you can help protect yourself when the bidding or negotiation begins.

Why it is important to pay a fair price

Paying above the odds for a home can have serious financial impacts. The more you pay, the more you may need to borrow to fund the purchase. That can mean paying higher loan repayments, potentially leaving your budget stretched, especially if interest rates rise.

The worst case scenario is you get caught out by a bank valuation that comes in lower than the purchase price, leaving you facing a funding shortfall.

The question is – how do you know if the asking price for a home is in line with the market or if it is completely over the top?

Research helps you nail the market

One way to understand what a home is worth is to have a pre-purchase valuation. This involved a professional valuer examining the property and arriving at a value based on factors such as the location, size and condition of the home. The catch is that a valuation can cost between $200 to $600. It also takes time to organise and in a fast-moving market, the delay could see you miss out on a property.

A cheaper option is to do plenty of your own research. Websites like realestate.com.au or domain.com.au can show the median house and apartment values for individual suburbs. This will give you as good starting point, though as each home is different, you will need to drill down further.

Factors that can impact market value

Some factors can see broadly similar properties have very different market values. Things to watch out for include:

The lot size a house sits on.
The number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
The condition of a home.
Availability of parking (off-street parking is a plus!)
Orientation. North-facing homes receive more natural daylight, and so often require less artificial lighting or heating.
Energy efficiency. PropTrack found that three out of five (59%) buyers say eco-features such as solar panels are important to help save on power bills.
The street. Be wary of streets that become a commuter parking lot on weekdays.
Views and outlook.
Zoning and planned developments.

Bearing all these features in mind, check out recently sold properties like the one you are interested in buying. Pay particular attention to the final sale price, not the asking price. It is the selling price that sets the market.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate

If you have done your homework, you should have a reasonable idea if the asking price of a place is close to the mark or if it is wishful thinking. Remember, you may also have scope to pay less by negotiating on price. Bear in mind though that the longer negotiations take, the greater the danger of someone else jumping in and snatching the property.

Get in touch with us about pre-approval

Give us a call to discuss some of the benefits of home loan pre-approval. It can help you act quickly when you see a home you are interested in buying, and it sets a buying limit so that you can negotiate with confidence.

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

It’s a fair bet that your home loan repayments are one of your biggest household expenses, yet it is surprising how many borrowers haven’t kept up with what their home loan rate currently is.

A report by Mozo shows that 42% of mortgage holders have no idea what interest rate they are paying on their home loan. And it is an oversight that can cost homeowners dearly.

How does your loan rate shape up?

It is not just that a large number of borrowers can’t pinpoint their loan rate. Mozo also found one-in-five homeowners has never compared rates since taking out their loan.

Your home loan may have had a competitive rate back in the day, but in a rapidly changing mortgage market, that may no longer be the case. And with the cash rate at its highest since late 2011, there is little room for complacency.

For a quick check of how your home loan rate stacks up, head to your latest loan statement to find out what it is. It should show the rate that you are paying, or call us and we will let you know.

By way of comparison, the average home loan interest rate for owner-occupiers is currently 6.4% and 6.3% for new home loans, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Why it pays to regularly review your home loan

Staying on top of your home loan is not just about the rate you pay. Your loan might have been the right choice for you a few years ago, but our lives evolve, and your mortgage may not have the features you need for your current lifestyle and budget. That’s why it is worth taking a close look at your loan at least annually, or whenever you experience a major life change such as starting a new family.

Understanding how your home loan is performing for both rate and features is easy. Speak to us about a home loan review. As part of our review, we can let you know:

The rate you are paying
If your loan offers the features you want; and
Whether you could save by refinancing.

Is refinancing right for you?

If you have been wondering if you could do better on your home loan, give us a call today to discuss your refinancing option. We will help you work out if refinancing is the right step for you and how much you could save by switching to a new loan and/or lender.

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Disclaimer: This article contains information that is general in nature. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs before making any decisions based on this information. This article is not to be used in place of professional advice, whether business, health or financial.

There is something very special about moving into a newly built home or putting the finishing touches on a major renovation. Maybe it is the look and feel of new paint and fresh flooring, or just knowing you have kicked a worthwhile goal.

Whatever the motivation, plenty of Australians are rolling up their sleeves, with the value of building approvals jumping 14.7% from December 2023 to January 2024. Meanwhile, on the renovation front, we are not just pimping our pads for looks and lifestyle. Almost half the home renovations carried out in 2023 were designed with a ‘green’ focus to improve energy efficiency, according to Houzz Research.

The upshot is that planning a new build or renovation can be exciting and rewarding. But long before you kick back and enjoy it, you may need to decide how to pay for it all. And a constriction loan could be the right tool for the job.

How do construction loans work?

Construction loans work a bit differently from regular home loans. Instead of receiving a lump sum from the lender, which is usually the case with a traditional home loan, a construction loan drop feeds funds in line with various stages of the project.

If you are building a new home, a lender will typically make progress payments across give main stages:

Laying the slap
Erecting the frame
Reaching lock-up
Fitting out the home, and
Completion of construction.

This arrangement can offer valuable advantages.

For starters, paying out smaller sums during the construction period may provide a level of protection for the borrower against a building being paid for work that is not completed. In addition, while the project is underway, the loan interest is only calculated on the funds drawn down, not on the final total value of the loan.

During the constriction period, you will generally be asked to make interest-only payments. This can be a lot kinder on your budget than principal plus interest payments, especially if you are renting while builders are at work.

What to watch for with construction loans

Building projects do not last forever, and neither do construction loans. When your home or renovation is complete, your construction loan will typically roll into a regular home loan.

It can all sound very simple, and usually it is. However, a key challenge with construction loans is that they are not offered by every lender.

It is important to speak to us at an early stage. We can help you identify lenders with construction loan options that meet your needs and budget, plus guide you through the application process. Our support can save you time and leave you free to focus on the project.

If you are looking to build or renovate, talk to us about your funding options and we will aim to help you get the ball rolling on your construction project sooner.

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

Connect with Louisa on Linkedin.

Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).

Do you need a home loan in a hurry? You could be in luck. Plenty of lenders are keen to crunch loan approval times, but there is a lot of borrowers can do to potentially speed up the process too.

Finding a home to buy can take time, and when the right place comes along it can feel as though you need to sign the sale contract fast to stake your claim. But from there, you are going to need a home loan, and that’s where timing becomes critical.

The good news for home loan applicants is that average turnaround times have reached new record speeds at some of the bigger banks, while processing periods for smaller lenders have also reduced, according to the latest Broker Pulse Survey. But don’t let that lull you into a sense of complacency.

It is important to have your loan ready to go to by settlement, usually six weeks after you have signed and exchanged congrats (however this period of time can potentially be negotiated with the seller). Otherwise, if you don’t have finance sorted by settlement date, the seller may be able to charge interest and penalty fees.

So, there can be a lot riding on getting your home loan approved in a timely fashion.

The general rule for loan approval times

How soon your home loan can be arranged often varies between lenders. Some lenders boldly claim that it can take as little as an hour, but that is not usually the case.

To play it safe, allow about four to six weeks from the time you submit your application to have the funds available.

But if you require funds sooner than that, then it could be a matter of us helping you line up a lender with quicker turnaround times (and then having us hassle them a bit for good measure).

What is usually more important is that you focus on the home loan that matches your needs, rather than racing in for a mortgage that can be arranged in record time.

5 ways to help speed up the home loan process

Borrowers can do plenty to try and speed up the loan process. Here are five steps you can take to help keep application and approval times tight:

1. Talk to us first

We can explain your borrowing power, let you know how big a deposit you may need, and check if your finances are in the shape it takes to get the green light from lenders. We also have access to resources that estimate how long approval times currently are with potential lenders.

2. Get your paperwork together

Gather all the documents a lender is likely to ask for, including copies of payslips, birth certificates and other ID, plus bank account statements for the past 36 months. If you are unsure, this is a step we can help you with.

3. Try and hold off on any major changes

Big life changes, such as starting a new job or business just before you apply for a loan, can leave lenders asking questions. Try to maintain your budget – your usual spending/saving patterns – and your current job, to avoid a ‘please explain’ from lenders, which could delay the loan approval.

4. Double-check that you have completed the application accurately

Any mistakes on your application form can see the paperwork returned to you for corrections, putting the brakes on the whole process. Once again, we can help minimise any potential discrepancies in your application.

5. Ask us about loan pre-approval

Waiting until you have paid a deposit to apply for a mortgage can be a high-stakes high-stress strategy. Loan pre-approval is a way to help you speed up the loan application process while also potentially boosting your bargaining power with vendors.

Call us today for more tips on getting your loan across the line, we would love to help you move into your new home sooner!

Phone: 1300 855 022
Email: clientservices@zippyfinancial.com.au

About the Author:

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Louisa Sanghera is a Credit Representative (437236) of Mortgage Specialists Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No. 387025).